CRASH OF A B-25C MITCHELL
AT CHARTERS TOWERS, QLD
ON 24 SEPTEMBER 1942
On 24 September 1942, B-25C Mitchell #41-12890, "Sunsetter" of the 71st Bomb Squadron of the 38th Bomb Group crashed at Charters Towers while on a training flight. "Sunsetter" crashed into the steel rope of the flying fox across the Burdekin River at the pumping station. The flying fox was used to carry fire wood across the river to feed the steam driven water pumps.
Four American airmen were killed when the B-25 Mitchell crashed into some trees while trying to reach Breddan airfield. Those killed were:-
Edward E. Johnson (12044148), 23 years
Earl W. Jett (0-725624), 21 years
Charles W. Taggart (18084313), 20 years
Richard T. Sharp (0-433739), 21 years
There is an incorrect story circulating that the four bodies were returned to America from Charters Towers in four coffins obtained from Herbert Hall. They were in fact initially buried at the US Military Cemetery at Belgian Gardens in Townsville.
Photo:- from granddaughter of Fred Drees via Ben Allen
Coffin leaving the Mortuary of F. Heatley & Sons, Undertakers in Stanley Street, Townsville
Photo:- from granddaughter of Fred Drees via Ben Allen
Funeral Ceremony at the Townsville US Military Cemetery at Belgian Gardens
Photo:- from granddaughter of Fred Drees via Ben Allen
Funeral Ceremony at the Townsville US Military Cemetery at Belgian Gardens
They were later exhumed and reburied at the USAF Military Cemetery at Manson Park in Ipswich in southern Queensland. During WW2, Americans who were killed or died in Australia were buried in local cemeteries, but in 1945, the bodies from around Australia were exhumed and temporarily reinterred at the USAF Military Cemetery in Ipswich or at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney. Then eventually all of these bodies were exhumed again and taken back to the United States by ship.
IPSWICH - MANSON PARK BURIAL RECORDS
Name | Edward E Johnson | Charles W Taggart | Earl W Jett | Richard T Sharp |
Rotation No. | 868 | 996 | 906 | 950 |
Grave No. | 794 | 1012 | 885 | 940 |
Serial No & Rank | 12044148 Pvt | 18084331 Pvt | 0-725624 2nd Lt | 0-437739 1st Lt |
Sex | M | M | M | M |
Occupation | US Army | US Army | US Army | US Army |
Religion | Protestant | Protestant | Protestant | Protestant |
Date of Death | 24 September 1942 | 24 September 1942 | 24 September 1942 | 24 September 1942 |
Date of Burial | 4 August 1945 | 6 August 1945 | 4 August 1945 | 5 August 1945 |
Name of undertaker | GRS – U.S. Army | GRS – U.S. Army | GRS – U.S. Army | GRS – U.S. Army |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I'd like to thank Peter Murray for his assistance with this web page.
I'd also like to thank Benjamin McAllister Allen for his assistance with this web page. He sent me the above photographs that the granddaughter of Fred Drees sent to him. Fred Drees was a member of the 38th Bomb Group who at times flew with Sharp and Jett.
REFERENCES
Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?
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This page first produced 31 December 2001
This page last updated 02 February 2020