Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Gulf of Carpentaria: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-41
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cairns - Cairns
MSN:
1098
Location:
Gulf of Carpentaria
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Involved in an anti-submarine mission off the Australian coast, the Catalina was carrying a crew of ten on behalf of the 11th Squadron. En route, the captain declared an emergency due to an in flight fire. Control was lost and the seaplane crashed into the Gulf of Carpentaria, killing all ten occupants.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina into the Albemarle Sound: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
08251
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Albemarle Sound
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While overflying the Albemarle Sound at low height, the seaplane hit the water surface, water-looped and sunk. All eight crew members were killed and the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Attu

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
08409
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Attu Island
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The seaplane was engaged in a cargo flight with a load consisting of 1,350 gallons of fuel in several drums and four bombs. Shortly after take off from the Attu-Casco Cove Coast Guard Station, at a height of few metres, the seaplane was unbalanced by a strong gust of wind coming from the right, lost height and crashed into the sea. All occupants were able to leave the cabin and a crew was slightly injured. The aircraft sunk by 90 feet deep 18 minutes later.
Probable cause:
Military officials stated that winds were strong at the time of the accident and that sea was raging. Four other planes were able to take off before this one but with great difficulty.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Poole: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGDA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Poole - Poole
MSN:
AH-563
YOM:
1941
Location:
Poole
Dorset
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight in the region of Poole. While landing in the Poole harbor, the seaplane christened 'Dog-Able' went out of control and crashed. Three crew members were killed while three others were injured.
Those killed were:
R/O Reginald Martin,
R/O Fred Mitchell,
Mr Loweman, flight engineer.
Source & photo:
http://www.pooleflyingboats.com/archive/Momentum-for-the-Postwar-Era-at-Poole.pdf

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Becharof Lake: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
7297
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Becharof Lake
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the airplane struck a mountain slope located between Mt Martin and Becharof Lake. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Gasmata: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-22
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
285
YOM:
1942
Location:
Gasmata
West New Britain
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a maritime patrol flight when he sent a brief mayday message and informed ground that a fire broke off in the cabin. Shortly later, the seaplane crashed into the Solomon Sea, some 50 km south of Gasmata. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (11th Squadron):
W/C Francis Blomfield Chapman, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Noblett Stephens, copilot,
F/O John Trevor David Todd, navigator,
Sgt John Edward Dewhurst, flight engineer,
LAC Robert George Docking, flight engineer,
F/O Stanley Alfred Deacon, radio operator,
F/O Malcolm Bradshaw, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt Lloyd George Stanley, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Colin Neville Anderson, armourer.
Probable cause:
In flight fire.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Whidbey Island NAS: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
04475
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Whidbey Island - Whidbey Island
Location:
Whidbey Island NAS (Ault Field)
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Water-looped on landing and sunk off Whidbey Island NAS. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina into the Pacific Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2334
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Dillingham – North Island
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Lost without trace in the Pacific Ocean while performing a flight from Dillingham (Oahu Island, Hawaii) to North Island-Halsey Field NAS, San Diego.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Green Island: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-25
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
273
YOM:
1942
Location:
Cairns
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The Catalina was returning to its base following an anti-submarine escort for a convoy in the Coral Sea bound for Milne Bay. While cruising over the region of Green Island, off Cairns, the seaplane crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
W/C John William Daniell, pilot,
Sgt Norman Notley Moore, pilot,
S/L Eric Hamilton Barkley, copilot,
F/O Lewis Melvin Dunham, observer,
F/O Stuart Patrick King,
Sgt Keith Arnold Watson, flight engineer,
Cpl John Corbett Stain, flight engineer,
Sgt Allen Richard Eather, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Alexander Eric John Elsbury, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt John Daniel O’Grady, rigger,
Cpl Douglas Griffen Shaw Russell, armourer.
Probable cause:
The assumption that the accident was caused by a fuel exhaustion was not ruled out.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina in North Island NAS: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
08163
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
North Island - North Island
Location:
North Island-Halsey Field NAS (San Diego)
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from North Island-Halsey Field NAS, while climbing, the seaplane stalled and crashed in flames. Five crew members were killed while six others were injured.
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