General News
21 November, 2025
Chance meeting reveals bomber landing story
AN outdated magazine and an unexpected meeting with an Aboriginal elder has solved a difficult chapter of Cape York Military history.
Researcher of forced landings and crashed military aircraft during World War II in the Far North, New Guinea and the Pacific, Michael Musumeci, had a chance meeting with Aboriginal elder Louisa Daphney whilst in Kowanyama recently and the conversation turned into a cultural storytelling of an event some 80 plus years ago.
An old magazine with a number of photographs, was all that Louisa needed to tell of her mother’s storytelling and confirm added details.
During World War II, a US Bomber came down in western Cape York, north of the Mitchell River Mission after running low on fuel from a bombing mission in New Guinea.
The bomber came down on a flood plain, with nil injuries sustained to the crew, and after some time with the assistance of a support units the aircraft was made operational again to fly.
But it was the many Aboriginals including women and children who cleared the land from anthills, trees, large rocks and debris to ensure the aircraft could safely lift off.
Louisa was well aware of the story, as her late mother has passed it on through her storytelling about the many community members who cleared the land, and also explained the area in great detail.
Louisa says the local people became friends with the Americans who were forced down in their big bomber.
The local people helped them while they were stuck in the bush, camping near a river, and getting the plane ready, as well as clearing a large area to fly off from. They shared their food and supplies and made sure they were well cared for before they left.
The chance meeting between Mr Musumeci and Louisa not only provided added information in the research but also pinpointed the general location where the event had occurred 83 years ago.
“I’ve been researching this American Bomber that made a forced landing in early 1942 in the Western Cape York during the Second World War for some time,” he said.
“Louisa was able to provide some in depth valuable knowledge from her mother’s storytelling and also provide the area where the aircraft made its wheels-up landing.
“She stated that her mother was one of many from the community of the Mitchell River mission who went to the site, who helped and cleared the area for the aircraft to fly out of once repaired.
“History like this being passed down through storytelling from generation to generation is something that has assisted in making sure this is documented and not lost.
“I am very grateful and very lucky I ran into Louisa who was well aware of the historical incident and was also overwhelmingly helpful towards the research being conducted.
“It is hoped this will be documented in a book that is being compiled.”
