75248 Corporal Patrick Gervase Scroope
4th Mobile Works Unit &
6th Airfield Construction Squadron
Royal Australian Air Force
Papua New Guinea/Pacific Theatre
World War II

Below:
Memorial at Milne Bay

Below:
Corporal Patrick Scroope

Below:
Recovering the engine from a wrecked P40 Kittyhawk

Below:
Airfield construction

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Resupply MILNE BAY

Below:
Native village scene

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Tent mates - Patrick 2nd from left (?)

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Tent mates again - less shade this time

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Donkeys used to carry resupply

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Village - beach scene

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Road through copra plantation

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Weapons practice - Vickers Machine Gun

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Villagers

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Victory March (location not known)

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Drummers in headdress

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Village beauty

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Coastal village huts

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Church parade

Below:
Patrick and brother "Jack" (John Leo) who was a QANTAS employee "left behind" when the firm withdrew from NEW GUINEA

Below:
Most likely the results of the Japanese air raid on PORT MORESBY'S WARD AIRFIELD on 12 Apr 1943

Below:
Unit photograph - 4th Works Maintenance Unit
[Later redesignated 6th Airfield Construction Squadron]

Below:
Recovering engines from wrecked planes

Below
Bristol Beaufighter of 30 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force
See further information below

Below:
The same plane showing damage from a Japanese bomb.
See further information below

29 Jan 1942

Shipped from United Kingdom

20 Apr 1942

AP

18 Aug 1942

Assigned to 30 Squadron RAAF, Squadron coded L

17 Aug 1942

[This aircraft] One of the 24 Beaufighters flown from RICHMOND NSW to BOHL RIVER near TOWNSVILLE QLD for operational training. 19-A11, among others, landed at BUNDABERG QLD to refuel, staying overnight, flying to BOHLE RIVER the next day.
Crew: Pilot SGT M. Morgan, Navigator SGT F. Cassidy (Dick p17)
Passengers LAC Meers, LAC Dusting.

12 Sep 1942

Flew to Wards airstrip, PORT MORSEBY, NEW GUINEA

1 Oct 1942

Starboard engine damaged by Japanese anti-aircraft fire at SANANANDA but was able to return to Wards Airstrip on one engine.
Pilot FLGOFF Willard, Navigator F/Sgt Nelson

5 Oct 1942

RSU repaired)

15 Feb 1943

30 Sqn [i.e., returned to unit]

3 Mar 1943

Participated in the Battle of the Bismark Sea.
Crew: Pilot: FLGOFF George Drury, Navigator: SGT Dave Beasley.
A19-11 was attacked by a pair of covering Zeros when about to strafe convoy ships but escaped by diving to surface level and opening the throttles.

22 Mar 1943

Suffered damage to wings during operations. FLGOFF Drury was renowned for returning from operations with palm fronds hangin from his aircraft. (Dick p88)

28 Mar 1943

15 ARD

7 Apr 1943

30 Sqn.

12 Apr 1943

Major daylight raid by 45 bombers and 60 fighters on PORT MORESBY NG with 9 bombers concentrating on Wards airstrip, A19-11 was damaged when a Japanese bomb bounced off rear starboard wing before exploding. (photo Parnell p24 and Dick p89) [Parnell's photo below]

The dates for the following entries seem confused, but are ordered as they were reported.

27 Apr 1943

All attempts to obtain remainder of parts have failed, aircraft has been stripped to make others serviceable.

30 May 1943

15 ARD

30 May 1943

Conversion to components approved.

References

ADF-Serials, http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a19.htm extracted 1 Jun 2022.
(The detailed information concerning this aircraft taken from this source)
Beaufighters over New Guinea ‐ No 30 Squadron RAAF 1942-43, George Turnbull Dick, RAAF Museum, Melbourne, Ventura Publications, 2002.
Coomalie Charlie Commandos ‐ 31 Squadron Beaufighters at Darwin 1942-43, Banner Books, Maryborough, Parnell, N. M., 1980.