BEAUFIGHTER CRASHED
10 MILES INLAND FROM JUNCTION BAY
BETWEEN MILLINGIMBI & COOMALIE CREEK, NT
ON 21 NOVEMBER 1943

Mark XI Beaufighter, A19-145 (RAF Serial No. JM185) of 31 Squadron RAAF, piloted by Flight Sergeant Henry Harrington Gaunt (406890), went missing on a flight between Millingimbi and Coomalie Creek airfield in the Northern Territory on 21 November 1943. It was eventually discovered many years later in 1993, about 10 miles inland from Junction Bay. (Map Reference 12.25 - 134.02). The Navigator who was also killed in this accident was Pilot Officer Trevor John Jones (425671).

The aircraft had earlier taken part in a successful shipping strike at Taberfane. On the return flight, it refuelled at Millingimbi, but failed to arrive at Coomalie Creek. One set of remains were recovered from the site. These were later determined to be those of Pilot Officer Jones. His remains were buried at the Adelaide River War Cemetery, Grave C.A.9.

The aircraft had been delivered to the RAAF in July 1943.

In Memory of

HENRY HARRINGTON GAUNT

Flight Sergeant
406899
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on
Sunday, 21st November 1943. Age 23.

Son of Sydney Harrington Gaunt and Mary Howell Gaunt; husband of Lesley Andree Gaunt, of Kojonup, Western Australia.

Memorial: NORTHERN TERRITORY MEMORIAL, Northern Territory, Australia
Grave Reference/Panel Number: Panel 9.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank Phil Herdman of the Arnhem Land Historical Society for details on the above incident.

I'd also like to thank Daniel Leahy and Doug Tilley for their assistance with this web page.

REFERENCES
"Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito - In Australian Service"
By Stewart Wilson

RAAF Casualty Database
by Daniel Leahy

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 15 December 1999

This page last updated 23 February 2020