Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off Guadalcanal Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4567
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
6095
YOM:
1944
Location:
Guadalcanal Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Honiara-Henderson Field bound for New Zealand. While cruising off the Guadalcanal Island in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea south of the island. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Sgt Charles St John,
Sgt Stanley Claughton,
F/Sgt Patrick Maher,
Sgt John Leonard,
Sgt Vere Mullany.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura into the Pacific Ocean: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4624
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Gisborne – Luganville
MSN:
6271
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route from Gisborne to Luganville, the aircraft suffered an engine failure and crashed into the sea, killing all five crew members.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Whenuapai: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1944 at 1050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4519
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
MSN:
5532
Location:
Whenuapai AFB (Auckland)
Auckland Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a circular training flight at RNZAF Whenuapai. On final approach, the right engine failed. The captain increased the power on left engine and with full flaps, attempted a single engine approach. The aircraft banked right, went out of control and crashed into trees. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant was seriously injured. He died a day later.
Crew (8th Squadron):
F/Sgt Edward Brightwell,
F/Sgt James Pederson,
F/Sgt Archibald Alexander,
Sgt Harold Mauger,
Sgt Russell Robbie.
Probable cause:
The right engine failed most probably because the fuel selector was connected on an empty tank. It appears the pilot in command was not sufficiently trained to face up to such situation and his general experience was insufficient. When the control was lost on final approach, the left engine was at full power and the flaps were down, making the aircraft more vulnerable. These elements were considered as contributory factors, especially as the pilot had not been adequately trained to fly in such a configuration.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura on Guadalcanal Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1944 at 0855 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4575
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Luganville – Honiara
MSN:
6139
Location:
Guadalcanal Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Took off at 0600LT from Luganville on a flight to Honiara. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. The last radio contact was heard at 0855LT when the aircraft was overflying the south part of the Guadalcanal Island. The twin engine aircraft hit a hill and its wreckage was found a day later. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (1st Squadron):
F/O Selwyn Houghton, pilot,
W/O Joseph Crisp,
W/O Geoffrey Robins,
W/O Albert Douglas,
F/Sgt Francis Larnach.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off Olevuga Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1944 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4561
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
6005
Location:
Olevuga Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
During an anti-submarine mission, one of the engine failed. The captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to ditch the aircraft when control was lost. Aircraft dove into the sea and crashed few miles off shore. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (1st Squadron):
P/O George Parker,
P/O Thomas Vautier,
F/Sgt Leo Comesky,
Sgt Barry Rosenberg,
Sgt Leslie Smith.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Mt Egmont: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1944 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4544
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
5744
Location:
Mt Egmont (Mt Taranaki)
Taranaki Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route, while flying in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the base of Mt Egmont (Mt Taranaki) located south of New Plymouth. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
F/O Jack Martin,
F/Sgt Arnold Hill,
Sgt Harold Day,
Sgt James McKay,
Sgt Frank Webb.
Probable cause:
According to the investigations, the aircraft was off course at the time of the accident, most probably due to a navigation error caused by an insufficient visibility.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off the Solomon Islands: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4614
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Honiara - Honiara
MSN:
6270
YOM:
1944
Location:
Solomon Islands
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over Rabaul with two other similar aircraft and left Honiara at 0525LT. While approaching the target, NZ4614 disappeared and apparently crashed into the Solomon Sea. The crew of both other aircraft started a SAR mission to find the wreckage but without success. All operations were eventually suspended on September 17 as no trace of the aircraft was found. As the Japanese forces evacuated the region in February 1944, it was concluded the crash was not caused by enemy action.
Crew:
F/Lt Roye Stevens,
F/O John Carson,
W/O Geoffrey Innes,
P/O Stanley Dawson,
F/O John McGuire.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura on Malekula Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4570
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Vila - Port Vila
MSN:
6138
Location:
Malekula Island
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Port Vila Airport on a maritime patrol flight but failed to return. SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage and the four dead bodies were found six weeks later on the slope of a mountain on Malekula Island.
Crew:
F/Lt Francis Rolston,
P/O Norman Underwood,
F/O Alexander McInnes,
LAC Peter Crees.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Goose Bay: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
2171
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dartmouth – Goose Bay – Chatham
Location:
Goose Bay
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission from Dartmouth to Chatham (Miramichi Airport) with an intermediate stop in Goose Bay. Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. All eleven occupants were killed.
Crew:
P/O William A. Harris,
P/O John C. Tanner.
Passengers:
Lac Harold A. Stephenson,
Lac Henry H. Bell,
Lac William G. Leard,
A/C Lionel C. Saint Louis,
Cpl Louis C. Foris,
Cpl Clarence N. Cole,
Sgt Myles E. Duquette,
Won Melville S. Wood,
P/O Donald W. Hume.

Crash of a Lockheed P-1 Ventura off Luganville: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1944 at 1227 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4538
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luganville - Luganville
MSN:
5740
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a bombing exercise over the Palikulo Bay, off Luganville. The twin engine aircraft left Luganville Airport in the morning, and while performing a turn, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that overturned and dove into the sea few yards off shore. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
F/L Gordon McLachlan,
F/L Bernard O'Fagan,
F/O Maxwell Harwood,
F/O Lionel Wood,
P/O Augustine Thurston,
Lt R. Fresb,
A. Stinson, air gunner.
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