On Black Sunday, 16th April 1944, 2/Lt Benskin became lost on the return
to Nadzab from Hollandia, and his ten-tonne machine was soon too low
on fuel to reach anywhere friendly. He told his gunner Sgt 'JJ' Westerman
that they would have to put down into a swampy expanse below while they
still had ample fuel to control a landing. From a couple of hundred
feet, the area looked deceptively smooth. Only when Benny's Baby
flared out did the prominence and height of the kunai grass become apparent.
The machine cut a swathe through it, being rotated a quarter clockwise
before coming to rest. It was 1750 hours, and nearly dark. The forward
fuselage was twisted by the impact, jamming the canopy shut. Somehow
Westerman levered it apart slightly, enabling Benskin to squeeze through
the left window. The men contemplated their situation. Benskin recalls,
"the first night was sheer agony - it was hard to believe that there
could be so many mosquitoes in the world. At any given moment we were
able to wipe hands down our sleeves and kill a hundred or so in one
pass. This was in addition to the leeches which constantly attached
themselves to our ears and lips".
This photo was taken the following day from a Stinson L-5. Benskin's
aircraft was one of 37 lost on Black Sunday - Aerothentic has published
a detailed book on the day's misadventures - click here to go to our
Products for details.
