Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

This information adapted from ADF Serials (www.adf-serials.com.au)

Frank Thorn was aircrew on a Lockheed Hudson A16-126 which was lost to enemy action when a Japanese fighter aircraft attacked a fomation comprising 6, 23, 24 Sqn RAAF Hudson aircraft.  A16-126 crashed near Gusmata Island West New Britain PNG on 11/02/42.  All crew lost.  At this point in the war the Allied forces were being overwhelmed by the Japanese advance and aircraft were being evacuated to avoid destruction or capture.

Crew: F/O G Gibson SN 657, P/O F L O Thorn SN 401471, Sgt A E Quail SN404748 and Sgt B I Coutie SN405543 missing presumed killed.  
Note: These three Hudson flights from 6 Sqn, 23 Sqn and 24 Sqn would be formed as 32 Sqn with these action reports recorded under 32 Sqn RAAF.

Frank Thorn was a former Victorian interstate cricketer and Northcote medium-pacer. Thorn represented Victoria in Sheffield Shield matches, taking 24 wickets for 644 runs. He had the satisfaction of twice dismissing Bradman. He dismissed Don Bradman for five in the Sheffield Shield when Bradman was aiming to hit a world-record seventh consecutive first-class century in 1938–39. He had been a Northcote senior player for 10 seasons, making his last appearance with the club in November 1941.

Thorn’s Hudson crashed into the jungle inland from Gasmata on New Britain. On May 5, 2008 the crash site was discovered in the jungle on New Britain. On the rear fuselage was the serial number "A16-126" confirming the identity of the aircraft. On June 29, 2008 the discovery was officially acknowledge by the Australian Defence Force (ADF).