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This RAAF Beaufort bomber was RAAF serial A9-603, and the photo was taken at Tadji, New Guinea, in August 1945, right at the end of the war. It was serving with No. 100 Squadron at the time.

The aircraft was named Cock 'O The North, and she is seen here with her crew.

Whilst U.S units were flying front-line combat in the Philippines, many RAAF aircraft like this one were conducting bombing missions against Japanese positions in New Guinea which had long been by-passed. The reasons were political ones, and still attract ongoing discussion in academic and military circles. Many argue that such missions were a waste of time and should never have been flown, exposing aircrews to risks which were pointless at best, and dangerous or more at worst.

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