Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Luluk Bay: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
04411
Survivors:
No
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The approach to Luluk Bay was completed in poor weather conditions. The seaplane hit the water surface, went out of control and sank, killing all eight crew members.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Port Stephens

Date & Time: May 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-39
Flight Type:
MSN:
1100
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing off Port Stephens. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Adak Island: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7271
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Adak - Adak
Location:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Bering Sea, off Adak Island, while on a maritime patrol flight. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Sitka

Date & Time: May 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7289
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sitka - Sitka
Location:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Sitka Harbor, while climbing to a height of 30 feet, the seaplane stalled, crashed into the bay and broke in two. All occupants managed to escape while the aircraft drifted to the rocks and was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It appears that rotation was performed by crew while the speed was unsufficient.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Guadalcanal Island: 12 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
04403
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Honiara - Honiara
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While performing a maritime patrol flight off the Guadalcanal Island, the seaplane crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances. No trace of the aircraft nor the 12 crew members was ever found.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Makapuu Point: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
04445
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kaneohe Bay – Alameda
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Few minutes after its departure from Kaneohe Bay NAS, the seaplane crashed into the sea off Makapuu Point, Oahu. Seven crew members were injured while the captain was killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-3 Catalina into the Gulf of Mexico: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
0891
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising at a very low altitude, the seaplane hit the water surface and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, some 45 miles off the Corpus Christi NAS. Three crew members were killed while the fourth occupant was rescued.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Mukilteo: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
04470
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Upon landing in the Possession Sound, off Mukilteo, the aircraft went out of control and sank. A crew member was killed while four others were rescued.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Aita: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1943 at 2320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-43
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cairns - Cairns
MSN:
1096
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Took off from Cairns at 1500LT to drop supplies to coastwatchers at two locations: Aita, Bougainville (for Coastwatcher Jack Read) and Bunbun, New Ireland. Arriving at Aita at 2300LT, the drop zone was easily located with the Catalina flying at 10,000', with clear skies and no moon visible. They commenced the drop and made two left circuits, dropping two parachutes. Prior to the third drop, an impact was heard and engine revved to full power at 2320LT. The Catalina impacted trees and crashed on a ridge. Three crew members were killed while six others were rescued.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/Lt William James Clark, pilot, †
F/O John Nigel Elmhurst Potts, copilot, †
Sgt Dudley James Ward, flight engineer, †
F/O Clifton Stuart Dunn, navigator,
Cpl John Fenwick, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/O Colin J. Twist,
Cpl Ronald Hugh Alexander Wettenhall,
Sgt Frederick Gordon Thompson,
Cpl Herbert Yates.
Source: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/pby/A24-43.html

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Cairns: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-36
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cairns - Cairns
MSN:
1084
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful night anti-submarine mission off the Australian coast, the crew was returning to his base after a 23 hours and 23 minutes flight. On approach to Cairns' harbor, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea. Six crew members were killed while two others were rescued. The aircraft was lost but later converted to ground training aid.
Probable cause:
It appears that the loss of control on approach was caused by a double engine failure due to a fuel exhaustion.