What happened
The PBY Catalina departed Cairns at 1040LT, refueled at Milne Bay, and launched on a solo mission against Kavieng at 1600LT. Arriving over the target area at 2300LT under bright moonlight at 9,000 feet, the aircraft conducted multiple bomb runs over Panapai Airfield and Kavieng, dropping 250 lb and 500 lb bombs alongside incendiaries while enduring anti-aircraft fire.
During the third run, a parachute flare ignited prematurely inside the airframe while its altitude setting ring was being adjusted. To prevent the potential detonation of remaining ordnance or structural failure from fire, the crew ditched the seaplane into Jacquinot Bay at approximately 2350LT. The occupants swam to shore near Malakua, leaving the aircraft lost.