Additional information for Chapter 5 - Getting away from trouble by sea and Chapter 6 Surviving the Japanese invasion

 

Information from the website Pacific Wrecks Inc at pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-25/salvo-sadie.html :

“Mission History

On April 24, 1942 took off from Charters Towers Airfield (Australia). Pilot Captain Frank Peter Bender armed with bombs as one of three B-25s on a flight via Cairns Airfield bound for 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby to stage for a combat mission planned the next day against Lae. When the trio of B-25’s reached the southern coast of New Guinea they turned westward but were unable to locate Port Moresby and turned around to fly eastward.

At dusk, the trio was short on fuel and the group jettisoned their bombs into the sea in anticipation of ditching. All three B-25s ditched into Mullins Harbour near Mariawate on the southern coast of New Guinea. When this B-25 ditched, several bombs hung up in the bomb bay detonated. Five of the crew went Missing In Action (MIA) either killed by the blast or when the bomber crashed. Also ditched was B-25C "Chattanooga Choo Choo" (exploded with 2 KIA, 3 MIA) and B-25C "Salvo Sadie" ditched further to the west.
 

Fates of the Crew

The entire crew of Captain Bender survived unhurt. The crew made their way ashore and were rescued (… and taken by) a truck to Fife Bay where they boarded MV Marek and continued to search for any of the other crew from B-25C "Tojo's Nitemare" and unsucessfully  attempted to salvage the wreckage of B-25C "Chattanooga Choo Choo" 41-129??.

The survivors of the triple ditching left the area on May 3, 1942 aboard MV Marek to Milne Bay, where they held a memorial service for the crew of "Tojo's Nitemare". On May 4, 1942 they departed aboard MV Matoma travelling westward via Abau Island before arriving at Port Moresby ten days later and were sent back to Australia.

 

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25C Mitchell
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25C Mitchell piloted by Bender
Flightpath Magazine "Underwater Trio" by Michael Claringbould
FindAGrave - Col Frank Peter Bender (grave photo)
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Frank Peter Bender
Thanks to Edward Rogers and Larry Hickey for additional information.”