Wed Sep 18 01:45:41 UTC 2024: ## Mystery of Missing Beaufort Bomber Haunts Family 77 Years Later
**Busselton, WA** – 77 years after a Beaufort Bomber disappeared off the coast of Western Australia, the mystery of its fate continues to haunt the family of one of the crew members. Flight Sergeant Peter Hastie, a 21-year-old airman, was one of five men aboard the aircraft that vanished on September 9, 1943.
Priscilla Smith, Hastie’s niece, was born years after his disappearance but remembers her mother’s heartbreaking account of her beloved brother. “She told me how he was her favourite brother and how he was full of fun and mischief,” Smith said. “She said, ‘Peter was a beautiful young man and had everything to live for.’ So it was just so tragic losing him.”
The bomber, A9-317, was on a routine patrol from the RAAF base in Busselton when it disappeared. A search and rescue effort was launched, but only a yellow rubber dinghy was found two days later. No bodies were found, leaving the families of the crew members to grapple with the uncertainty.
“I suppose the family always hoped they would hear something further about it, that someone would hear or see something, but I don’t think they ever did,” Smith said. “That’s the sad bit about it, [Peter] was only 21 years old and had his whole life ahead of him, as did the other men on the plane.”
Researcher Pamela Harrison is now working to uncover the truth of the missing bomber. She has written to several prominent figures, including Gina Rinehart and former Premier Mark McGowan, seeking funding for a search.
“All I want is to find the wreckage,” said Harrison. “This is about the boys on the plane and their families.”
The story of the missing Beaufort Bomber serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made during wartime, and the enduring pain of unanswered questions for families left behind. For Smith, the memory of her uncle remains a powerful legacy, one she intends to pass on to future generations.
First Piper 