DEPARTMENT OF AIR
D.P.S.
2. Beaufort aircraft A9-566 of No15 Squadron took off from Amberley at approximately 1330 hours on 11th March, 1945 to fly to Garbutt. (See page 13 of proceedings.)
3. The crew of A9-566 comprised:-
4. Weather conditions were adverse and the pilot of A9-566 ststed that if unable to land at Garbutt he would return to Rockhampton. (See page 13 of proceedings.)
5. At approximately 1600 hours advice was received at Amberley that Garbutt aerodrome was closed owing to weather. Efforts were made then made to contact Beaufort A9-566 without success. (see page 13 of proceedings) A9-566 did not land at Rockhampton or any alternative aerodrome. (See pages 13, 14, and 19 of proceedings.)
6. No message was received from A9-566 after take off. A Beaufort aircraft assumed to be A9-566 was seen circling over Bowen at appromimately 1635 hours. Reliable V.A.C.C. reportings of A9-566 are as follows:-
7. No further news of members of the crew has been received and in view of the locality in which they became missing it is not considered possible that they could be alive.
8. RECOMMENDATION
MINUTE PAPER
SUBJECT: PRESUMPTION OF DEATH OF CREW OF BEAUFORT AIRCRAFT A9-566
Reference is made to a Court of Inquiry held at Garbutt on 22nd March, 1945, a copy of the proceedings of which is at enclosure 17a on this file.
402140 Squadron Leader Arthur John SHARP (D.F.C.)
26792 Flying Officer Tristran Wilfred Pascoe WILLIAMS
407846 Warrant Officer MOSSOP, John Norton
408889 Warrant Officer THOMPSON, Ernest Andrew
72896 Leading Aircraftman FINLEY, Douglas Milne
(see pages 2, 3 and appendix "C" of proceedings)
(i) Over Hackay 1630 hours, course N.W.
(ii) 20 miles N.W. Hackey at 1620 hours.
(iii) 10 miles N.N.W. Proserpine at 1635 hours.
It is recommended that the members mentioned in paragraph 3 above be officially presumed to have lost their lives on 11th March, 1945.