Operation: Air Compass Swing

Date: 29th August 1945 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 4 Squadron (NZ) (motto: 'Always attack')

Type: PV-I Ventura

Serial: NZ4619

MSN: 6264

Base: Mokerang, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, Bismarck Archipelago

Location: Seeadler Harbour

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Jack Womack Mummery NZ/43496 RNZAF Age 21. Missing - believed killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. Joseph Hartley NZ/4314306 RNZAF Age 30. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Arthur William Doreen NZ/43468 RNZAF Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Richard James Anderson NZ/439387 RNZAF Age 24. Missing - believed killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Kenneth William Taylor NZ/44361 RNZAF Age 20. Missing - believed killed

Mess Orderly: Cpl. James Macleod Gibson NZ/391285 RNZAF Age 24. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Returned early from the flight at 15:45hrs. but did not make contact with control. Approached the airfield at 35 feet, rocking its wings as it flew down the runway with its undercarriage down.

After making a normal traffic pattern at only 75 feet attempted a steep turn. As it did so the Ventura slowly rolled and when inverted crashed in 180 feet of water in Seeadler Harbour ½ mile west of the end of the runway.

The wireless operator's body was the only one recovered, being buried on Bougainville but later reinterred at Bourail, New Caledonia. His five comrades are commemorated on the Bourail Memorial. With no contact from the crew before the crash and the wreckage inaccessible, investigators were unable to explain NZ4619's early return and abnormal approach.

Above L-R: Fl/Sgt. Jack Mummery, Fl/Sgt. Joseph Hartley, Fl/Sgt. Arthur Doreen, Fl/Sgt. Richard Anderson and Fl/Sgt. Kenneth Taylor (Courtesy New Zealand Aviation Museum)

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. Jack Womack Mummery. Bourail Memorial. Panel 6. Born at Palmerston North on the 26th July 1924, Educated at Palmerston North Boys' High School. Employed by the Agricultural Department at Palmerston North. Enlisted on the 8th January 1943 at Omaka. Pilot badge awarded on the 13th May 1944 and promoted to sergeant. Joined 4 Squadron at Nausori, Fiji, on the 10th June, and completed a tour of operations before returning to New Zealand on the 5th September. After a period of leave, Jack Mummery reported to New Plymouth on the 30th September, serving there, and at Swanson, Ohakea, and Whenuapai, until again embarking for overseas in the Pacific Area with 4 Squadron at Los Negros on the 18th May 1945.

Son of Peter Henry and Gertrude Hilda Mummery, of 68 Campbell street, Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand.

Fl/Sgt. Joseph Hartley. Bourail Memorial. Panel 6. Born at Tildseley, Lancashire, England on the 09th June 1915. Educated at Wellington Technical College and Victoria University, obtaining a Bachelor Commerce degree. Worked as a clerk for Wellington Harbour Board. Awarded his navigators badge on the 19th January 1945 and promoted to sergeant. On the 18th May embarked with 4 Squadron for service in the Pacific.

Son of Joseph and Emma Hartley; husband of Margaret Hartley, of Richmond Street, Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand.

Fl/Sgt. Arthur William Doreen. Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery. Grave 5.11. Born at Gisborne on the 07th June 1924. Educated at Gisborne High School. Employed in farm work for Mrs. H.B. Livingston at Manutuke. Enlisted at Omaka on the 08th January 1943. Wireless Operator Air Gunners Badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the 10th October 1943 in Canada. Joining 4 squadron at Whenuapai on the 19th March 1945, He embarked for overseas on the18th May and was posted to No. 10 Servicing Unit at Los Negros.

Son of Frank and Lucy Doreen, of Manutuke, Auckland, New Zealand.

Fl/Sgt. Richard James Anderson. Bourail Memorial. Panel 6. Born at Waitakaruru, Hauraki Plains on the 08th August 1921. Education at Dt. Stephens College, Bombay, Auckland. Transferred from the NZ Army to the RNZAF on the 01st August 1943. On the 02nd February 1945, he was awarded the Air Gunner badge, and while overseas on the 3rd August 1945 was promoted to Flight Sergeant. on the 25th November 1944 he was then on the I9th March 1945 posted to 4 Squadron at Whenuapai. He proceeded overseas with the Squadron on the 18th May 1945, and was posted to Los Negros.

Son of Puku Barney Anderson (died on the 04th January 1950, age 50) and Rene Anderson, of Punhoro Street, Otorohanga, Auckland, New Zealand.

Fl/Sgt. Kenneth William Taylor. Bourail Memorial. Panel 7. Born at Wellington on the 14th June 1925.He received his secondary education at the Auckland Grammar School and Wellington College. He was employed in farming by Mr. 0.R. Blackler at Ashburton. Enlisted at the Delta on the 15th January 1944. Air Gunner badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the 02nd February 1945. Embarked with No.4 Squadron on the 24th May for Los Negros, as Air Gunner of a Ventura aircraft.

Son of Robert John died 29th July 1983 age 89, and Amelia Sarah Taylor died 13th October 1994, age 97, of 188 Sydney Street, Wellington City, New Zealand.

Cpl. James Macleod Gibson. Bourail Memorial. Panel 8. Born at Dunedin on the 30th July, 1921. He was enlisted at Wigram on the 10th November, 1939, for mess duties and employed there until posted to Rongotai during December for similar duties. He then served at Omaka, again at Wigram, and later at Gisborne. until posted overseas to the Pacific Area on the 27th July, 1943. Corporal Gibson was employed at New Caledonia until proceeding to Guadalcanal during February, 1944, where he remained until his return to New Zealand on the 22nd August, 1944, when he was posted to the Port Depot at Remuera.Corporal Gibson embarked for the Pacific on the 4th March, 1945, and served at Espiritu Santos and Los Negros.

Son of James Gibson (died 1974) and of Agnes Margaret Kennedy Gibson (nee MacLeod - died 1947); stepson of Mr. G. T. Mouncer, of 19 Bridle Path. Lyttleton, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland..

Other pages that may interest you:

Pages regarding accidents

Pages detailing RNZAF losses

Other sources as quoted below:

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