13 September 1942 - Crash of a B-26 Marauder at Iron Range

"Kansas Comet" was one of fourteen B-26s from the 22nd Bomb Group that had taken part in their first operational mission, Mission LAL3 to Lae, which had departed Iron Range by 1530L hours on 12 September and arriving at Port Moresby by 1800L hours on 12 September. The Mission plan called for them to depart Port Moresby by 0950L hours on 13 September 1942 to carry out their bombing mission on Lae. They landed back at Port Moresby by 1230L hours on 13 September 1942.

On return from Mission LAL3, B-26 Marauder, #40-1433, "Kansas Comet", of the 19th Bomb Squadron, 22nd Bombardment Group, crashed short on the air strip at Iron Range due to a blown tire after hitting a tree stump, and ran into a ditch killing the Australian co-pilot Pilot Officer Graham Brindley John Robertson (RAAF, 412717). The pilot of this aircraft was Lt. Walter Krell. This aircraft may have also been called "Bunagoon" at some stage. Another version of this event has the aircraft crashing on take-off after striking an anthill.

When the aircraft swerved to the right it hit and wrecked an air compressor of Co. "C" of the 46th Engineer General Service Regiment killing the driver Rogelio G. Rodriguez who was parked watching the planes land.

The crew members of #40-1433, "Kansas Comet" listed in the Combat Crews for Mission LAL3 of 13 September 1942 were as follows:-

A report by the Medical Officer of the 46th Engineer General Service Regiment dated 13 September 1942 read as follows:-

Bill Ceglia told me about this accident as follows. His grandfather Joseph P. Ceglia was the regular tail gunner with Walter Krell in B-26 #40-1433, a.k.a "Kansas Comet"

28 year old P/O Graham Brindley John Robertson (412717) was buried in the "old" Mareeba Cemetery - Plot. Grave D593. GRM/4. He is the only Allied airman buried at Mareeba. All others servicemen who died in the area are buried at the Atherton War Cemetery. Graham Robertson, was the son of John Seymour Robertson and Constance Beatrix Robertson. His wife was Dorothy Frances Robertson, of Hay, in New South Wales.

It is believed that this is the remains of B-26 Marauder, #40-1433. This photo was taken by J.C. Wallace
in about October 1942. The back of this photo is stamped by a military censor and dated 11/42.

Crew Chief Johnny Wilson, from Kansas, came up with the name "Kansas Comet". In May 1942, at Garbutt airfield in Townsville, the aircraft's name was painted in yellow in capital letters about 5 - 6 inches high under the pilots side windows on both sides of the aircraft. Johnny Wilson would paint a little yellow bomb with a stencil, about the same height as the letters in a row underneath the letters after each mission. At the time of the accident there were approximately 20 of these bombs painted on the side of the aircraft.

"Kansas Comet" was painted a drab camouflage brown with a grey underbelly. At the intersection of the grey and the brown, a wavy, irregular line was used along the lower side of the fuselage.

There were two B-26's called "Kansas Comet", one being "Kansas Comet", #40-1433 and the other "Kansas Comet II", #40-1403.

Prior to departing for this raid, Walter Krell had been rushing about in a jeep to brief each pilot at his B-26, as each pilot waited in his respective dispersal bay. These bays were fairly spread out, quite a distance from one another. There was much synchronizing of watches to make sure that the various aircraft would start up and taxi out in a sequence. This procedure would ensure that all aircraft in this mission would arrive at the main runway in a certain order for takeoff. Space was very limited.

During this briefing Walter Krell had been wearing a very brief pair of athletic shorts. He had hoped to go back to his tent and put on a decent pair of trousers to fly in, but time ran out. Walter barely had time to get back to his B-26 and start up in order to stay ahead of the others. So he went on the bombing raid dressed in his shorts!

When the B-26 crashed both his legs were severely burned from the top of his GI shoes to the bottom of the athletic briefs.

For many years he couldn't expose his legs to the sun because they would sunburn very badly.

Walter had been told that he had a combination of first, second, and third-degree burns.

Dr. Fred Knight, 19th Flight Surgeon, treated Walter Krell's burns. Krell was admitted to the 12th Station Hospital and was still there in November 1942.

Prior to the accident Walter Krell had shared a rental house in Townsville with his navigator Gene Grauer, who had also gotten badly banged up in this accident. After they were discharged form the hospital they moved back into the rental house.

Walter and Gene had a jeep available for their transport. After about two weeks of recovery, Walter's legs were less painful to use, so he decided to go to Garbutt Field, found a parked B-26, and went flying with the crew chief accompanying him in the co-pilot's seat. He repeated this flying routine every day for about four or five days when one late night Dr. Markle suddenly burst into the rental house in the midst of a party and bawled Krell out for flying. Krell ignored the dressing down and continued to fly each day.

Dr. Markle caught Krell out again and gave him another dressing down, but this time he handed Krell a hospital discharge and told him that since he wouldn't follow his orders, he wouldn't return him to flying status. He then ordered Krell back to the Squadron at Iron Range. It was then up to the Squadron flight surgeon to put him back on flying status.

Researching crashes like this can be quite confusing as you get many, sometimes totally different variations of stories. Here is an extract from a WW2 diary of a Lt. Hansen which suggests that Walter Krell is burnt in B-26 crash at Port Moresby after hitting an ant hill. I believe he was at Townsville on that date and perhaps he has been told incorrect information about where the crash was or he made an assumption. Do they have anthills in Port Moresby??

Lt. L.A.Hansen US Army Air Corps
Serial Number 0-421697
2134 North 52nd Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Lockhart River Police are presently seeking relatives of a co–pilot that was tragically killed at Iron Range on the 13th of September 1942.

Co pilot Graham Brindley John ROBERTSON (RAAF Serial No 412717) was tragically killed when he was on a B-26 Marauder (named Kansas Comet) attached to the USAAF 22nd Bombardment Group based at Iron Range.

Iron Range during World War 2 was a fully operational US Bomber Base, which had a number of established airstrips to support the 90th, 22nd and 43rd Bombardment Groups, during the continued threat of the Japanese during WW2.

The B-26 Marauder was returning from a bombing mission over Lae, when they attempted to land on Gordon strip, crashing on the runway. It was presumed that the cause of the accident was that the aircraft had collided with a large termite mound, due to the airstrip still being under construction. This collision caused the aircraft to swerve out of control and crashing into a large compressor truck that had been parked near the runway, also killing an unknown ground crew member.

Heroic and frantic efforts were done by the crew, as they fled the crash scene in an attempt to remove ROBERTSON, but all failed in vain as the plane ignited.

Capt Walter A KRELL, the Pilot in the mishap suffered severe burns from his efforts in an attempt to save the life of ROBERTSON, but tragically ROBERTSON could not be saved.

A memorial plaque is soon to be implemented and attached to the already established iron Range Memorial Wall within the confines of the Iron Range Aerodrome.

The plaque will honour and dedicate Australian Co pilot Officer Graham Brindley John ROBERTSON (RAAF Serial 412717) whilst he was seconded to the USAAF 22nd Bombardment Group, whilst being based at Iron range

Research has also disclosed Robertson’s parents and wife’s details. His wife a Dorothy Francis ROBERTSON and Parents John Seymour ROBERTSON and Constance Beatrix ROBERTSON were reported to be residing in Hay NSW. All avenues of research have failed to locate any relatives

If you are able to assist with the location of any descendants, relatives, colleagues or a veteran of Iron Range please do not hesitate to call the Lockhart River Police Station on 40607120 or 40607050

MEDIA RELEASE

Iron Range to honour Australian RAAF Pilot Officer

The Iron Range Memorial Wall, now has another bronze plaque attached to its Wall. The plaque dedicates the tragic events of an Australian RAAF Co Pilot, Graham Brindley John ROBERTSON that was tragically killed at the Gordon Airstrip, Iron Range on the 13^th of September 1942

Pilot Officer Graham ROBERTSON (RAAF Serial 412717) was seconded to the USAAF 22^nd Bombardment Group, when their B26 Marauder Bomber (presumed to be named “Kansas Comet 2) crashed along the Gordon Airstrip Iron Range.

The bomber had just returned from a dangerous bombing mission over Lae.

After the crash, the crew although badly injured escaped, but Robertson was severely injured and trapped. In particular the Pilot Captain Walter KRELL tried in vain to save ROBERTSON but suffered serious and horrific burns. In an attempt to free ROBERTSON but to no advail.

The Memorial Wall, situated within the confines of the Iron Range Airfield, was erected in 2005 to dedicate all defence units attached to this area during World War 11, as well as two other separate tragic US aircraft incidents that took 21 US servicemen’s lives.

Skytrans Airlines, OZTOURS and Archer River Roadhouse have all conjointly donated finances to include this plaque on the Memorial Wall.

OZ TOURS Director Mike HINTZ stated; “I’m extremely honoured to be a part of such a positive project. The plaque is another added bonus in the files of our World War 11 Cape York history. It will also be an added highlight to the many tours we conduct throughout the Iron Range area for our visitors”

Lockhart River Police, Sgt Michael Musumeci who has been stationed at Iron Range for just under 3 years said:-

“With the added assistance of these outside companies we have been able to finalise further research on the history of World War 11 at Iron Range. The plaque will also leave a never ending dedication and tribute to this tragic event.”

Lockhart River police have also received further support from the Royal Australian Air Force based in Townsville and on the 25^th April 2007 a contingent of RAAF personnel attended Iron Range via Caribou to conduct an official service and dedication for Co Pilot ROBERTSON.

ROBERTSON is laid to rest within the confines of the Mareeba Pioneer Cemetery Far North Queensland.

I'd like to thank J.R. Wallace, Bruce Hoy, Bill Ceglia and Michael Musumeci for their assistance with this web page.

The Forgotten Fifth
A Classic Photographic Chronology of the
Fifth Air Force in Action in the Pacific in WW2
By Michael Claringbould