MOUNT STANLEY BREWSTER BUFFALO WWII AIRCRAFT WRECK SITE
MOUNT STANLEY SCENIC RESERVE, GRANITE CREEK ROAD MUDGEGONGA, ALPINE SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
This place is included on the Victorian Heritage Inventory, for its potential to contain historical archaeological remains associated with military operations in Victoria during World War II. Under the terms of the Heritage Act 2017 there is protection for all historical archaeology sites and objects in the state.
Please visit the Heritage Victoria website to find out more about the Heritage Inventory
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MOUNT STANLEY BREWSTER BUFFALO WWII AIRCRAFT WRECK SITE - History
On the morning of 1 July 1942 a Brewster Buffalo single-engine fighter aircraft of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) crashed into the southern end of Mount Stanley during a flight between Laverton, west of Melbourne, and Wagga Wagga in New South Wales (Dunn 2018). Witnesses at Barwidgee Creek, near Myrtleford, saw the aircraft collide with the terrain and notified the local Post Office, who in turn notified the Myrtleford Police Station. The wreck was located on the morning of the crash and the body of the pilot - Second Lieutenant Henry Orous Null, Jr - was recovered and taken to Myrtleford Police Station. 2/Lt Null is now buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii (Leahy 2019b).
The aircraft is one of 509 Buffalo type aircraft built by the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation in the United States (Stewart 1998: 30). Only 20 examples of this particular model of Buffalo - the Model 339-23 - were ever built (Baugher 2001). They were intended for use by the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force (ML-KNIL) in their fight against the Japanese military in what is now Indonesia. The aircraft failed to arrive before the surrender of Java in March 1942 and were instead acquired by the USAAF in Australia. Of these 20 aircraft, 17 are known to have been used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) before the surviving aircraft were returned to the USAAF in 1943-1944 and were subsequently scrapped (Clarke and Cowan 2014; Dennis et al. 2008: 115).
It is assumed that salvage teams - either from the American or Australian military - may have visited the site during World War II to recover any useable equipment.
MOUNT STANLEY BREWSTER BUFFALO WWII AIRCRAFT WRECK SITE - Archaeological Significance
Documented evidence states that an American Brewster Buffalo aircraftcrashed on 1 July 1942 during a flight between Laverton, Victoria andWagga Wagga, New South Wales. An extensive amount of aircraft wreckagecan still be found at the site. This aircraft is one of 20 examples of a Buffalo type (Model 339-23) built by the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation in the United States of America. The current site is locatedat an altitude of approximately 750 metres at he southern end of MountStanley in north-eastern Victoria on crown lands (Park Vic). It isunique in its potential for establishing further research values, beyondcurrent historical record. This includes, the correct identity/serialnumbers of an aircraft, part numbers of individual Buffalo components,aircraft colours and personal/aircraft related artefacts regarding earlydays of the war4 in the south west Pacific. This demonstrates the site'ssignificance for historical archaeological features, deposits andartefacts.
MOUNT STANLEY BREWSTER BUFFALO WWII AIRCRAFT WRECK SITE - Historical Significance
The site is significant as it offers a connection to the American military operations in Victoria during the early stages of the Pacific theatre of World War II and the contribution Victoria made to the Australian war effort during this time. In addition, it provides an example of a rare aircraft with associated artefacts which was operated in Australia and during the failed defence of Singapore and Malaysia. The site will provide an opportunity yo gain further knowledge of the aircraft construction and its occupants relating to Australian, American and Dutch involvement.
Heritage Inventory Description
MOUNT STANLEY BREWSTER BUFFALO WWII AIRCRAFT WRECK SITE - Heritage Inventory Description
The site is the wreck of an American Brewster Buffalo aircraft that crashed on 1 July 1942 during a flight between Laverton, Victoria, and Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. An extensive amount of aircraft wreckage can still be found at the site. The site is located at an altitude of approximately 750 metres at the southern end of Mount Stanley in north-eastern Victoria.
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MOUNT STANLEY BREWSTER BUFFALO WWII AIRCRAFT WRECK SITEVictorian Heritage Inventory
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