Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina near Half Moon Bay: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
04439
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Half Moon Bay
California
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:
The crew was performing a training flight when the seaplane hit a mountain located east of Half Moon Bay. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Johnston Atoll

Date & Time: May 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2453
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Johnston Atoll
United States Minor Outlying Islands
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:
Lt Ricketts was handling all controls. He made a normal power landing and immediately applied throttle for take off. At a speed of about fifty knots, the plane swerved to the left and then continued into a violent water loop in this direction. The hull of the plane was broken open and partially severed at the navigator's compartment. The plane sank immediately, but personnel were able to escape, injured.
Crew:
Lt Max V. Ricketts, pilot,
William B. Krause,
D. L. Heffelfiner,
D. A. Robertson,
J. L. Pittman,
K. H. Johnson,
Sgt D. T. Rowe,
Cpl J. F. Rooney.
Source: http://www.vpnavy.com/vp11_mishap.html

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Pearl Harbor: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
05018
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pearl Harbour - Pearl Harbour
Location:
Pearl Harbor
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While performing a training mission off Pearl Harbour, the seaplane went out of control and crashed into the sea. All nine crew members were killed.

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

Date & Time: May 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-20
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
386
YOM:
1942
Location:
Bwagaoia (Misima Island)
Milne Bay
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While performing a maritime patrol flight off PNG, the seaplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea off Misima Island. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
S/L Godfrey Ellard Hemsworth, pilot,
Sgt Jack Ronald Counter, pilot,
P/O Leopold Guy McClintock, observer,
Sgt John Percy William Bandy, wireless operator,
LAC Norman Robert Banvill, mechanic,
Cpl Colin Marsden, flight engineer,
LAC Kenneth John Arnott, flight engineer,
LAC Eric Dorman, rigger,
LAC Erwin Bruce Brown, armourer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Bougainville Island

Date & Time: May 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-18
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
350
YOM:
1941
Location:
Bougainville Island
Autonomous Region of Bougainville
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol mission off PNG. En route, the seaplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. All nine occupants were rescued and taken POW. On November 4, 1942, all of them were executed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Dutch Harbor

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
7286
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Dutch Harbor
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed and burned on take off. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Geraldton

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2409
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Geraldton
Western Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The seaplane landed hard off Geraldton, took water and was later brought to the shore where it struck rocks and was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was heavy loaded (some 30,000 pounds). All seven crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Heavy landing.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Livermore: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
7266
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Alameda - Norfolk
Location:
Livermore
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The seaplane left Alameda NAS on a cross country flight to Norfolk-Chambers NAS, Virginia. Few minutes after take off, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain near Livermore. Six crew members were killed while the seventh was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire.

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

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
7269
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Alameda - Norfolk
Location:
Livermore
California
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:
The seaplane left Alameda NAS on a cross country flight to Norfolk-Chambers NAS, Virginia. Few minutes after take off, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 11 km east of Livermore. All eight crew members were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Makapu'u: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2487
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kaneohe Bay - Kaneohe Bay
MSN:
390
YOM:
1941
Location:
Kaneohe Bay NAS
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
At the end of the day, the crew was returning to Kanehoe Bay NAS following a 12,3 hours maritime patrol mission off Hawaii. On approach, the visibility was low due to the night and poor weather conditions. As the captain thought by mistake he was approaching the Barber's Point Light where he was approaching the Makapu'u light located southernmost, he started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to hit the slope of a hill located near Makapu'u. All nine crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Error on part of the crew who mistook two different lights while approaching the Kaneohe Bay NAS. This misinterpretation engaged the aircraft in a premature descent and thus in an insufficient altitude. The lack of visibility caused by night and poor weather conditions, as well as a certain fatigue of the crew (duty above 12 hours) should be considered as a contributory factor.
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