- This topic has 1,564 voices and 5 replies.
- Posts
A military funeral for the crew and passengers of the ill-fated Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dakota A65-61 which crashed into the Carstenz Rages in Papua on 18th September 1945, was held at midday today, August 10th, 2005, at the Bomana War Cemetery outside Port Moresby.
The caskets of the remains found at the crash site…..
100_3702.jpgOver 50 men and women from the RAAF and Australian Defence Force including relatives of the victims whose caskets were laid next to their headstone were present to witness the moving ceremony.
It was an emotional moment for those present during the laying of wreathes with words and wishes for their relatives and friends long gone. Tears were shed, pictures taken, and words though few were uttered and recorded.
..family members, relatives present during the service today….
100_3719.jpgOne such relative was clutching one of the victim?s – Marie Eileen Craig – framed picture in her hand while tearfully saying; ?She?s my aunt, my father?s youngest sister. She was a nursing sister and the only female among the group.?
She said, though gone, Marie?s years of service as a Nursing sister has never been forgotten. ?We still remember her,? she said.
100_3700.jpgOn September, 1945 ? just after the end of WWII, RAAF Dakota A61-65, 29 people – nine RAAF, 19 army and Marie an RAAF nurse boarded that flight and headed for Townsville. However, they never made it.
Climbing high over the Carstenz Ranges of Papua, in terrible conditions, it crashed into West Papua's (now Irian Jaya) 5030-metre peak Puncak Jaya on September 18, 1945.
100_3713.jpgThe fate of those on board has been a mystery for decades. The wreckage was first spotted in 1967 by another plane. In 1971 the RAAF recovered some remains, which were buried in Port Moresby with full military honours.
But not all the bodies were found and harsh conditions prevented a proper search. During the past few weeks, a 10-man joint RAAF and Indonesia recovery team have scoured the wreckage and surrounds for the remains. They are satisfied they have found all 29 people who were on board.
100_3697.jpgThe Air Force will brought into Port Moresby approximately 55 family members of those who were lost in the crash to Port Moresby for the funeral service.
In honour of the passengers and crew of RAAF DAKOTA A65-91, a RAAF C130 Hercules aircraft will flew over the Bomana War Cemetery while they were lowering the caskets.LEST WE FORGET
100_3705.jpg
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.