Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Provided to VWMA for publication by “Historical Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force”.

Service History

Peter Botley CHALMERS was born in East Malvern Melbourne 08 Jul 1926. He completed schooling at Geelong High school in 1942 and employment listed as Clerk with Auctioneers and Salesman, residing in Geelong. He enlisted RAAF in Melbourne on 19 Sept 1944 as a trainee aircrew but re-mustered to a Meteorological Assistant and served in Madang New Guinea in Mar 1946 before discharging 07 Aug 1946 as part of the RAAF Demobilisation. Pilot Officer Chalmers re-enlisted into the RAAF on 26 Feb 1951 as trainee Pilot, and was awarded his wings on 30 Jul 1952. He was posted to 77 Squadron in Korea on 16 Nov 1952, and was MIA 26 Mar 1953, aged 26.

Mission Summary

Pilot Officer Peter Botley CHALMERS, Service No: O35079, DoB: 8 July 1926, MIA 26 March 1953, LKP TOKYO GRID CU7528 latitude and longitude 39 05 55.41N 127 33 07.75E.

On 26 Mar 1953, PLTOFF Chalmers was Number 3 of a 4 meteor aircraft flight tasked to conduct armed reconnaissance of the Wonsan –Singosan-Kumsongcommunications routes. PLTOFF Chalmers and his wingman (SGT Collings) commence their task from Wonsan. Almost immediately, PLTOFF Chalmers and Collings commenced a strafing run on vehicle south of Wonsan. After his pass, PLTOFF Chalmers was seen by SGT Collings to be streaming white smoke or fuel, shortly after PLTOFF Chalmers levelled at 200 AGL when his left wing dropped and his aircraft continued to the port descending and crashing into a hill. The aircraft exploded on impact and SGT Collings received no response from PLTOFF Chalmers after his strafing run. No ejection was seen and given the altitude, it is unlikely PLTOFF Chalmers could have executed a successful ejection. LKP is assessed as TOKYO GRID CU7528 latitude and longitude 39 05 55.41N 127 33 07.75E.

Extract from Review
CallsignDowning Mike
3# SGT Chalmers
4# SGT Collings

Mission Description

Mike 3# and 4# were tasked with armed reconnaissance of the Wonsan -Singosan-Kumsongcommunications routes. Element descended to 8000 feet south of Wonsan City and almost immediately Chalmers called that he was strafing a truck at CU7530. Chalmers attacked on a westerly heading and as he passed over the truck Collings noticed Chalmer'saircraft (A77-163) streaming white smoke or fuel. Collings called this to Chalmers who did not reply. The smoke then turned black which Collings also called, again receiving no reply. As Collings completed his strafe pass he reported that Chalmer'sMeteor levelled at approximately 200 feet AGL, shortly dropping its left wing to 900 bank angle, then turning and descending to crash into the west side of a small hill on a southerly heading. Chalmer's aircraft exploded on impact and burned out in about four minutes. A parachute was not observed. Chalmer's aircraft was outside the ejection envelope and an ejection would not have been successful.