The dead were Flying Officer Keith Maxwell Graham of Franz Josef, Sergeant Eric George Priest of Thames, Flight Sergeant Leo Parkes Marshall of Raurimu, central North Island, Sergeant Melville Pascoe Lawrence Moxsom of Morrinsville, and Sergeant Douglas David Read of Kohukohu, Northland.
All the men were presumed to have perished. The search party at the time buried the remains and a service was conducted for the servicemen.
Superintendent Stuart Wildon, from New Zealand police's international service group, said today once police became aware there were unburied remains near the crash site, possibly of New Zealand servicemen, it was important to ensure that they were properly taken care of.
"The initial indications, supported by the view of the local villagers, were that the remains were connected to the crash in 1945, and although the forensic work has now drawn no links between the remains and the New Zealand servicemen, it was important that proper steps were taken until that was established".
Mr Wildon said forensic dental work carried out by the Defence Force determined that the remains were likely to be those of a female and elderly man, though how or when they died was not known.
"Because this matter involved the possibility that the remains were those of New Zealand servicemen, it was reported to the Wellington Region Coroner, Ian Smith who has been informed of the forensic results.
"The file will now be closed and arrangements are being made to hand the remains back to the people of Malaita Island where they were found."
- NZPA
