Arthur Charles LONG

LONG, Arthur Charles

Service Number: SX18963
Enlisted: 18 November 1942, Wayville, SA
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion
Born: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 25 September 1912
Home Town: Prospect (SA), Prospect, South Australia
Schooling: Certificate for entry to Secondary School
Occupation: Storeman
Died: Injuries, New Guinea, 7 September 1943, aged 30 years
Cemetery: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea
CWGC Grave No: Section C. Plot 1. Row C. Grave 9. Inscription: "HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE".
Memorials: Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 2 Service

18 Nov 1942: Involvement Private, SX18963, 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion
18 Nov 1942: Enlisted Wayville, SA
18 Nov 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX18963, 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion
Date unknown: Involvement

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Biography contributed by Stephen Bonald

On Tuesday, September 7th, 1943, at Jackson Field in Port Moresby, New Guinea, a B-24D Liberator bomber (The Pride of the Cornhuskers) from the 403rd Bomber Squadron, 43rd Bombing Group USAAF, crashed during take-off, likely due to pilot disorientation in the dark. The aircraft hit trees and slammed into a convoy of trucks carrying over 130 soldiers from D Company, 2/33 Infantry Battalion of the Australian Army, who were waiting to board C-47 transport planes to move to the front lines. The bomber’s 500-pound bombs and 2,800 gallons of fuel exploded, killing 15 Australian soldiers instantly and severely injuring 47 more, who later died. Another 90 soldiers were wounded but survived, all 11 crew members aboard the bomber (The Pride of the Cornhuskers) were killed. Private Arthur Charles Long – SX18963, was one of the 47 Australian Military personnel severely burned, succumbing to his injuries the same day at the 2nd / 9nd Australian General Hospital, Port Moresby .   

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