This page is dedicated to James Harvey (Pilot of A29-414), 78 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force.
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Harvey in front of his aircraft, A29-414 |
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Exactly 65years from the day of the crash that wrote off A29-448 James Harvey's family were on hand to witness it first flight. |
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pictured in front of the aircraft are James Harvey's widow Gladys, son Robert and Grandsons Travis and Nathan |
James Denman Harvey flew for the Royal Australian Air Force, 78 Squadron and held the rank of Flight Sergeant during his time flying A29-414. The first flight he logged in A29-414 was on the 3rd August 1943 at Richmond, NSW and the first combat flight occurred on the 6th December 1943 from Kiriwina Strip, Kiriwina Island. A29-414 logged 35 flights before crashing at Tadji Strip, New Guinea on the 25th April 1944. James Harvey continued flying with 78 SQN and was discharged on the 22nd August 1945 with the rank of Warrant Officer, unfortunately James Harvey passed away a couple of years ago.
All the aircraft he flew with 78 SQN were P-40's.
Below are details from James Harvey's logbook during his time flying A29-414
| DATE | SERIAL NO. | SQN | LOCATION | RANK. |
| 03/08/43 | A29-414 | 78 | RICHMOND NSW | F/SGT |
| 03/11/43 | A29-414 | 78 | CAMDEN NSW | F/SGT |
| 04/11/43 | A29-414 | 78 | ARCHERFIELD QLD | F/SGT |
| 04/11/43 | A29-414 | 78 | ROCKHAMPTON QLD | F/SGT |
| 06/11/43 | A29-414 | 78 | TOWNSVILLE QLD | F/SGT |
| 07/11/43 | A29-414 | 78 | COOKTOWN QLD | F/SGT |
| 07/11/43 | A29-414 | 78 | COOKTOWN QLD | F/SGT |
| 08/11/43 | A29-414 | 78 | HORN ISL QLD | F/SGT |
| 12/11/43 | A29-414 | 78 | WARDS STRIP, PORT MORESBY | F/SGT |
| 12/11/43 | A29-414 | 78 | MILNE BAY, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 13/11/43 | A29-414 | 78 | VIVIGANI, GOODENOUGH ISL | F/SGT |
| 06/12/43 | A29-401 | 78 | KIRIWINA STRIP, KIRIWINA ISL | F/SGT |
| 12/12/43 | A29-414 | 78 | KIRIWINA STRIP, KIRIWINA ISL | F/SGT |
| 19/12/43 | A29-414 | 78 | KIRIWINA STRIP, KIRIWINA ISL | F/SGT |
| 21/12/43 | A29-414 | 78 | KIRIWINA STRIP, KIRIWINA ISL | F/SGT |
| 23/12/43 | A29-414 | 78 | KIRIWINA STRIP, KIRIWINA ISL | F/SGT |
| 26/12/43 | A29-414 | 78 | KIRIWINA STRIP, KIRIWINA ISL | F/SGT |
| 27/12/43 | A29-425 | 78 | KIRIWINA STRIP, KIRIWINA ISL | F/SGT |
| 01/01/44 | A29-414 | 78 | KIRIWINA STRIP, KIRIWINA ISL | F/SGT |
| 02/01/44 | A29-414 | 78 | KIRIWINA STRIP, KIRIWINA ISL | F/SGT |
| 13/01/44 | A29-409 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 15/01/44 | A29-402 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 17/01/44 | A29-414 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 19/01/44 | A29-414 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 23/01/44 | A29-414 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 25/01/44 | A29-404 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 27/01/44 | A29-414 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 01/02/44 | A29-414 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 04/02/44 | A29-414 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 06/02/44 | A29-414 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 09/02/44 | A29-414 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 01/02/44 | A29-414 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 11/03/44 | A29-400 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 11/03/44 | A29-414 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 11/03/44 | A29-414 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 12/03/44 | A29-414 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 12/03/44 | A29-414 | 78 | NADZAB, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
| 18/03/44 | A29-405 | 78 | CAPE GLOUCESTER, NEW BRITAIN | F/SGT |
| 21/03/44 | A29-414 | 78 | CAPE GLOUCESTER, NEW BRITAIN | F/SGT |
| 27/03/44 | A29-467 | 78 | CAPE GLOUCESTER, NEW BRITAIN | F/SGT |
| 27/03/44 | A29-422 | 78 | CAPE GLOUCESTER, NEW BRITAIN | F/SGT |
| 30/03/44 | A29-414 | 78 | CAPE GLOUCESTER, NEW BRITAIN | F/SGT |
| 24/04/44 | A29-414 | 78 | CAPE GLOUCESTER, NEW BRITAIN | F/SGT |
| 25/04/44 | A29-414 | 78 | TADJI STRIP, NEW GUINEA | F/SGT |
Below are mission reports from James Harvey
| Date | Location | Serial | Mission |
| 06/12/43 | Kiriwina | A29-401 | Staffing Wulai Isl secondary target pontoon bridge over Kupiura River third target Malalia Village |
| 12/12/43 | Kiriwina | A29-414 | Dive bomb Gasmata Strip 16 aircraft two returned due engine problems |
| 19/12/43 | Kiriwina | A29-414 | Escort 12 Vultees 24 Squadron on an attack to Gasmata jetty 20 aircraft |
| 21/12/43 | Kiriwina | A29-414 | Escort 8 Bostons on strike to Cape Hoskins 12 aircraft one landed due engine problems |
| 23/12/43 | Kiriwina | A29-414 | Strafing buildings north end Cape Hoskins Strip 12 aircraft |
| 26/12/43 | Kiriwina | A29-414 | Top cover to 76 Squadron on offensive sweep to Cape Hollman area 12 aircraft |
| 27/12/43 | Kiriwina | A29-425 | Top cover to 76 Squadron on offensive sweep to cape Golts area then to Lolobar Isl 12 aircraft 4 returned engine problems |
| 01/01/44 | Kiriwina | A29-414 | 20 aircraft with 76 Squadron patrol a line Father Reef to Bambus on northern coast New Britain to intercept any enemy forces returning to Rabaul |
| 02/01/44 | Kiriwina | A29-414 | Offensive sweep northern end central New Britain amounting to 80 hrs 30 mins 6 aircraft returned due engine trouble |
| 13/01/44 | Nadzab | A29-409 | 18 aircraft offensive patrol Upper Ramu Valley, Bogadjim Road to north coast of New Britain from Madang to Saidor |
| 15/01/44 | Nadzab | A29-402 | 12 aircraft bombing and strafing mission to Erima |
| 17/01/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | 12 aircraft bombing and strafing mission to Mining Ridge to Kankiryo |
| 19/01/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | 11 aircraft top cover for 12 Vultees to Camp Saddle |
| 23/01/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | 12 aircraft top cover 2 Vultees to Matatoi No.1 aircraft returned due elec. trouble |
| 25/01/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | 18 aircraft maintained constant patrol from Lae to Kaiapit between 0700 and 1200 hrs |
| 27/01/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | 12 aircraft top cover and close escort for B-25's and Vultees to Cape Croisselles |
| 01/02/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | 12 aircraft bomb and Strafe mission to Teterei, Biliai Station, Biliau Village, Germalei 8 aircraft bombed and strafed 4 aircraft as top cover |
| 04/02/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | 12 aircraft medium cover 24 B-25's bombing mission to Dagua |
| 06/02/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | Constant Valley patrol from first light to 1930 hrs |
| 09/02/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | 12 aircraft top cover for two squadrons Bostons bombing mission over Mindiri Village |
| 10/02/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | Armed recee over Madang area Kassnah to Gum River |
| 11/03/44 | Nadzab | A29-400 | Escort C-47's to Cape Gloucester and return in conjunction with 80 and 75 Squadrons |
| 11/03/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | Escort C-47's to Cape Gloucester and return in conjunction with 80 and 75 Squadrons |
| 11/03/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | Escort C-47's to Cape Gloucester and return in conjunction with 80 and 75 Squadrons |
| 12/03/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | Escort C-47's to Cape Gloucester and return in conjunction with 80 and 75 Squadrons |
| 12/03/44 | Nadzab | A29-414 | Escort C-47's to Cape Gloucester and return in conjunction with 80 and 75 Squadrons |
| 18/03/44 | Gloucester | A29-405 | 4 aircraft armed recee Commodore Bay to Numundo Plantation |
| 21/03/44 | Gloucester | A29-414 | 4 aircraft bomb and strafe evacuation point on Garove Isl |
| 27/03/44 | Gloucester | A29-467 | 8 aircraft armed recee for barges Meleno Plantation to Hummock Head |
| 27/03/44 | Gloucester | A29-422 | Escort and cover PT boats in Ubili area |
| 30/03/44 | Gloucester | A29-414 | Armed recee Pondo to Hummock Head |
| 25/04/44 | Tadji | A29-414 | Aircraft crashed and overturned after landing short of strip pilot OK |
| 03/06/44 | Cyclops | A29-458 | As Blue 2 was one of 15 Kittyhawks of 78 Squadron on patrol over Biak Isl in section of four at 9,000 to 10,000 ft approximately 12 enemy aircraft were sighted and in the ensuing combat, 7 Oscars and two Kates were shot down and one K143 Oscar and one Kate was damaged for the loss of one Kittyhawk (F/Sgt W.H.Harnden A29-401). |
