Many original members of the 2/30th transferred out of the Battalion in early 1941. Several transferred to 8 ITB at Dubbo, and later served with the 2/33 Battalion in the Middle East and New Guinea.

On 7/9/1943, while preparing to emplane for an operational area with their unit, many members of the 2/33rd were seriously injured when a US plane crashed on take off at Jackson's airfield near Port Moresby. The plane, loaded with petrol and bombs, was taking off on the morning of 7th September, in near darkness. It was flying very low, when a wing tip struck a tree and the plane then crashed into several trucks carrying members of 2/33 Battalion and 158th General Transport Company.

59 people, including the plane's crew, were killed or died of their injuries, and 92 others survived the accident. Those suffering from serious burns, were admitted to 2/9 AGH at Port Moresby but several died later of their injuries. They were buried at Bomana War Cemetery.

One of five trucks, carrying members of 2/33 Battalion, which was destroyed when a US Liberator bomber crashed on take off. Australian War Memorial - ID No. 072911		Another one of the five trucks destroyed on 7/9/1943 at Jackson's airfield, near Port Moresby. Australian War Memorial - ID No. 057404

For further information about Bomana War Cemetery, go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site (Copyright Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

(Source: AWM Collection database)

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