Taken from the rear gun pit of an accompanying A-20A, this shot was taken in an early 1942 morning as Carolina heads out for a northern coastline New Guinea target, doubtless either Buna, Lae or Salamaua.

During its career with the 89th Squadron this early model Havoc carried two other names, being Dragon Lady and Riff Raff.

The Japanese never got Carolina, but the parts people did. After a full combat tour she was transferred to the RAAF on 24th October 1943 and then used as an instructional airframe.

Sgt Hugh Ellerbee was a crew-chief on the 89th BS line at Kila Drome, Port Moresby, at the time, and recalls,

"On every flight we met our planes at the revetment hoping nothing had gone wrong. If your plane limped back in you got it back in flying status if you worked all night on it. She had to be ready the next morning so we crew chiefs were on the line by daybreak doing our preflighting, etc. Most of our missions (which were numerous) began in early morning. I am pretty sure our pilots appreciated us as their lives depended somewhat on our ability to keep tile planes in A-one flying status".

 

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