americansinqueensland

In 1948 Bundaberg honored soldiers lost in a wartime plane crash with a funeral procession and burial, attracting letters of appreciation from the Australian and United States air forces. Letters to Bundaberg Mayor of the day Alderman F.H. Buss recently rediscovered in Council’s historic archives reveal the gratitude for the service following the tragic discovery made five years after the plane was lost on 21 November 1943. According to the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, the soldiers were traveling on a Douglas C-47 Skytrain, christened ‘Star Duster’, and were on their way to Brisbane after collecting mail in Rockhampton. “On the last leg to Brisbane, while cruising west of Monto, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a canyon,” the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives report reads. “As the aircraft was declared missing, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended a few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.” The State Library of Queensland said the twin-engine United States Douglas Dakota transport plane had disappeared without a trace until a discovery was made in June 1948. “… a farmer found the wreckage in a gully on Magpie Station at Yarrol, in the Monto district of Queensland,” the State Library said. “The plane was carrying 4 American crewmen, 2 American military passengers, and 7 Australian military passengers.” Other parts of the wreckage would remain undiscovered for decades including the right wing which was found in 1961, about one km from the main wreckage, and other debris such as a door and stabilizer which were found in 1991. Australia @ War has published a military document relating to the crash found in NARA records, dated 29 June 1948. “The starboard motor was located 300 to 400 yards from the main wreckage, as no damage to trees was evident it appears that this motor came adrift in mid-air,” the report said. While the crash victims were unable to be identified, a moving historical image of the funeral procession held in July 1948 shows the reverence and respect with which they were treated by the Bundaberg community. The procession moved through the town area before the soldiers were laid to rest in the Bundaberg War Cemetery. The grave sites are maintained within the Bundaberg Cemetery on Takalvan Street by War Graves Australia. Source: www.bundabergnow.com/2022/05/07/wartime-plane-crash-victi...

Members of the US servicemen's boxing team, Brisbane, February 1943. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 102776 On February 27, 1943, two allies in war became rivals in the ring, as the Australian and American servicemen came together for a night of boxing. This inter-Allied competition was held at the old Brisbane Stadium (which stood on the corner of Albert and Charlotte Streets in Brisbane's CBD). There were an estimated 5,000 people in attendance, including the Governor of Queensland, Sir Leslie Wilson, and the Brisbane Lord Mayor, Alderman Chandler. On the previous evening, the Australians held an "elimination series" between the Army and the Air Force to decide who would make the final team. In the end, the Australian team featured several experienced and professional boxers, including Fred Corton, Lionel Orrell, and Bill de Blein. American-born Todd Morgan was the trainer of the United States boxing team, himself a former world lightweight champion. Morgan was confident, describing his team of sailor and soldier boxers as being "pretty hot". American servicemen boxers in Brisbane. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 104178 There would be 14 fights in total, each bout would be awarded points - 3 for a win, 2 for a draw, and 1 for a loss. The Australians had an extra impetus to win; in a previous stoush back in May 1942, they suffered a bruising defeat against the Americans, winning only 4 of 12 bouts. This time around the Australian fighters proved too strong for the Americans, who despite fighting valiantly, won only 5 of the 14 bouts, finishing with 24 points compared to Australia's 32. The biggest upset of the tournament, according to The Sunday Mail, was when Colin Moody defeated "the star of the American team" Eddie Markham, a light heavyweight. The tournament raised £1626 for the Queensland Patriotic and Comforts Funds. Myles Sinnamon - Project Coordinator, State Library of Queensland Source: www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/allies-war-rivals-ring

On 22 December 1947, 30,000 people watched a State funeral procession held in Brisbane for an unknown US soldier, who was transported on a gun carriage from the US Mausoleum No.4 at Redbank to King George Square in Brisbane. The soldier had been chosen to represent a total of 1871 US service personnel who were being repatriated to the US from cemeteries in Ipswich (1406 souls*, site now Manson Park), and Rookwood in Sydney (465 souls). Their steel caskets were carried to the Newstead wharf, and were loaded onto the American ship USAT Goucher Victory. At this time calls were made for a memorial to commemorate America’s WWII assistance to Australia, and the presence of the Americans in Brisbane. The Australian-American Memorial at Newstead Park was erected by the Australian-American Association, which had started public fundraising in March 1950, and construction in May 1951. Source: www.qldwarmemorials.com.au/memorial?id=1405

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