Diverted

While flying north, the Texas Terror was diverted to Garbutt Field (today RAAF Base Townsville), about 700 miles north of Brisbane.  At the base just outside of Townsville, the aircraft took on a group of seven passengers, both military and civilian, who were also headed to Iron Range.  These passengers were:

Colonel Carroll G. Riggs, U.S. Army, 197th Coast Artillery

Captain Peter E. Kiple, USAAF, 8th Fighter Group

Captain Carl. H. Silber, USAAF, 8th Fighter Group

1st Lieutenant John E. Cooper, USAAF, 19th Bombardment Squadron, 22nd Bomb Group

1st Lieutenant Raymond F. Dakin, U.S. Army, Coastal Artillery Corps

Technician 4th Grade Michael M. Goldstop, U.S. Army, 1156th Quartermaster Company

Mr. Robert C. Trevithick, civilian representative of Pratt & Whitney Division, United Aircraft Corporation

Colonel Riggs was a West Point graduate who commanded the 197th Coastal Artillery.  Most of this anti-aircraft unit was stationed around Townsville, but two batteries had been positioned to protect the airstrip at Iron Range.  The colonel was visiting those detachments, along with 1st Lt. Dakin, who had the payroll for the artillery crews.  Captains Kiple and Silber were in transit, heading to the 8th Fighter Group, which was at that time stationed in New Guinea.  1st Lt. Cooper was in a bomber squadron stationed at an airstrip near Iron Range.  Technician 4th Grade Goldstop of the 1156th Quartermaster Company was the last service member to board the plane.  Finally, there was a civilian, Robert Trevithick, an employee of Pratt & Whitney, a manufacturer of aircraft engines.

 

Captain Carl Silber, a crash victim with an Aussie friend.jpg

A photograph of Captain Carl H. Silber, a USAAF fighter pilot, posing with a kangaroo.  Captain Silber was a passenger on the Texas Terror.  (Courtesy Australia At War website; used with permission)