The book also quotes from an official report on the B-17 and its crew passengers:. On board the U.S. Aircraft B 17. E. 41/2435 were the captain, co-pilot, navigator, engineer, bombadier, radio operator, two gunners and 13 passengers: In part the report said: Landed at 1745 hours 18.4.42 on reclaimed land north of Sandgate Station [RAAF Station], No Damage or injury to personnel or equipment. Remained at Sandgate until 1600 hours 21.4. 42. Captain Montgomery, Lieutenant Holdridge and Master Sergeant Heard departed by air in U.S. A/c 41/2435 at 1600 hours 21.4.42 and proceeded Archerfield. Remainder of party left by U.S. Service transport 0800 hours 22.4.42 for Archerfield.

[Archerfield Aerodrome, on Brisbane’s southside, became a major United States Army Air Force (USAAF) repair and maintenance base for B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 Liberators, P-40 Kittyhawks, DC-3 Dakotas, and B-26 Marauders. Amberley, near Ipswich, was also a major USAAF base during 1942 and 1943.] 

The author writes:  While the R.A.A.F. base at Sandgate was operative, another base was operating in the Petrie, Strathpine areas, a distance of about 3.4 flying miles from Sandgate. At this area fighter planes were operative. One such squadron being the “80th Fighter Squadron” U.S. Air Corps.  They transferred to Petrie Field on the 10th May, 1942. They were flying P.39 planes (the P. was originally used for ‘Pursuit’ and this was later changed to ‘Fighter’ groups.)

[An estimated one million US service personnel passed through Brisbane during WW2. These included General MacArthur, who moved his headquarters to Brisbane from Melbourne in 1942.]

— See the booklet R.A.A.F. Sandgate, At the Mouth of the PIne, R.A.A.F Sandgate, compiled by W.O.J. Kielly for the Sandgate and District Historical Society and Museum. 1990. It’s a very good local history, full of facts. 

-readersvoice.com