The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Soputa, Papua, 1942-11-27. Staff members of 2/4th Field Ambulance sort through the wreckage of hospital wards at the unit's Main Dressing Station (MDS) in the aftermath of an attack by thirteen Japanese Zero aircraft. The Zeros, attacking in three waves, had strafed and bombed the MDS, killing two Medical Officers (MOs), NX473 Major Ian Firth Vickery and VX14704 Major Hew Fancourt Graham McDonald, and five of the unit's seven cooks. At the same time, the Japanese aircraft attacked 7th Division Headquarters and the US Army's 126 Combat Clearing Station which were located nearby. In all, 22 men were killed and more than 50 wounded. The attack on the MDS occurred in spite of the fact that a large Red Cross sign had been spread out on the ground to indicate to enemy aircraft that it was a medical unit. (Donor A. Hobson)
Soputa, Papua, 1942-11-27. Staff members of 2/4th Field Ambulance sort through the wreckage of tented hospital wards at the unit's Main Dressing Station (MDS) in the aftermath of an attack by thirteen
Soputa, Papua, 1942-11-27. Staff members of 2/4th Field Ambulance (left and background, right) stand near the wreckage of the kitchen at the unit's Main Dressing Station (MDS). The kitchen had been de
Soputa, Papua, 1942-11-27. A large Red Cross sign lies spread out on the ground at the Main Dressing Station (MDS) of the 2/4th Field Ambulance as an indication to enemy aircraft that it is a medical
Soputa, Papua, 1942-11-27. At the Main Dressing Station (MDS) of the 2/4th Field Ambulance, an unidentified member of the unit stands in front of a large Red Cross sign which has been spread out on th
Myola 1, Papua, 1942-10. The three majors of the 2/4th Field Ambulance sitting in or near their tents at the unit's Main Dressing Station (MDS). The majors, all Medical Officers (MOs), are (left to ri
Soputa, Papua. 22 December 1942. Grave of NX473 Major (Maj) Ian Firth Vickery, a Medical Officer (MO) serving with 2/4th Field Ambulance, Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC). Major Vickery was killed
