This photo was taken at Reid River circa April 1942 (courtesy RAAF Museum). The Virginian, serial # 40-1508, served only briefly with the Headquarters detachment of the 22nd Bombardment Group.

After the unit's B-26s had flown across the Pacific to Australia, they set up at bases around the Townsville area, including Reid River. From these they launched raids against targets such as Lae, the Japanese seaplane base at Deboyne Island, and even as far away as Rabaul, staging through Port Moresby.

On 9th June 1942 The Virginian was coming off Lae with 1/Lt Wallis Bench at the controls. At low level, and at full power Bench firewalled the throttles to out-run A6M2 Zeros which were attacking him from the rear and sides. The bomber cart-wheeled into the ocean about 30 miles east of Salamaua, killing all seven crew.

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