24 Jun 2005

Australia recovers remains of servicemen who died in a plane in Papua just after WW2 finished

4:45 pm on 24 June 2005

The remains of 29 Australian servicemen, who died in a plane crash in Indonesia's Papua province, just after the end of World War Two, are being taken back to Australia.

An Australian Air Force Dakota was transferring wounded servicemen to Australia in September in 1945, when it crashed in the Carstenz Ranges in Papua.

A joint RAAF and Indonesian air force team travelled to the region last month and recovered all the remains as well as some personal effects of those on board.

A formal military funeral is planned for burial of the remains at the Port Moresby War Cemetery in Papua New Guinea later this year.