Koepang

"Aub " Koch

Shot Down by Japs Near Koepang

A MAN well known in New Guinea and Papua as a Guinea Airways pilot, Captain Aubrey A. Koch, was in charge of a Qantas Empire flying-boat which was shot down into the sea by Jap. fighters, between Darwin and Koe pang, on January 30. Ten passengers and three of crew were killed, and 3 passengers and 2 crew were rescued, and Captain Koch was one of the lucky five. He is recovering from severe machine-gun wounds.

Japan’s war methods are based on Hun practice. Huns and Japs unhesitatingly destroy unprotected civilians—as, for example, these 18 unarmed people in an unarmed flying-boat, “Aub” Koch was a popular and very efficient NG pilot. It is recalled that it was he who flew over from Lae to Port Moresby in GA’s seaplane in 1937, went up to the Strickland River and brought out the late Jack Hides and Dave Lyall, on’ their last tragic expedition, and trans ported them, back again, after they had lodged applications for certain gold mining rights.

Women and children at Hawaii are being urged to evacuate the islands, the Director of Territories and Island Pos sessions of USA (Mr. Guy Swope) said on February 10.

One of the most highly-respected of Papua’s pioneers, Mr. James Grahamslaw, died in Port Moresby on January 19, after a long illness, at the age of 82. He had been resident in Port Moresby for over 30 years, where he followed his trade of master plumber, and was regarded as a good citizen and a good friend. His son, Mr. Thomas Grahamslaw, is Collector of Customs at Samarai, and there are five daughters, resident in Australia. His wife died only a few months ago.