Date & Time: Jul 17, 1943 at 0100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
08051
Flight Phase:
Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honiara - Honiara
MSN:
0870
YOM:
1941
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
0
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The seaplane left Honiara-Henderson Field at 1900LT on July 16 for a 12 hours anti-submarine mission. By night, while cruising along the Vella LaVella Island, the left engine caught fire. The captain attempted to ditch the aircraft few hundred yards off shore but the aircraft crash landed and sank immediately. All 13 crew members were rescued.
Crew:
Lt James W. Anderson, pilot 12.
Source: http://www.vpnavy.com/vp54_mishap.html
Probable cause:
Engine fire.