Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder off Adamantas: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK139
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shallufa - Shallufa
MSN:
7387
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Shallufa Airbase at 1240LT to attack ships cruising off Milos Island. While approaching the target, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and crashed into the bay off Adamantas. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (14th Squadron):
F/Sgt Basil Herbert Yarwood, pilot,
Sgt H. Walker,
F/Sgt E. T. H. MacLean,
F/Sgt R. G. Davies,
Sgt F. Gotheridge,
Sgt W. J. E. Glenn.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder into the Aegean Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1943 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK150
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shallufa - Shallufa
MSN:
7377
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Shallufa at 1045LT on a maritime patrol flight over the Aegean Sea. En route, the aircraft was attacked by Flak based on a enemy merchant vessel and crashed into the sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew (14th Squadron):
P/O Colin Carl Truman, pilot,
F/Sgt Jack Irvine Thompson, copilot,
F/O B. T. Connell, observer,
F/Sgt Robert Edward Herbert Hope, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt K. Firth, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt W. J. Semple, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in Tenaha

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-7446
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Barksdale - Barksdale
MSN:
7446
YOM:
1941
Location:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, all crew members were forced to abandon the aircraft and to bail out due to an unexpected situation. While all eight occupants were safe and rescued, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Tenaha.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Port Moresby: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1495
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1495
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Port Moresby-Twelve Mile Airfield, the aircraft stalled and crashed near the Laloki River. Seven crew members were killed while eight others were injured. The aircraft christened 'Diana's Demon' was destroyed.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Duncan A. Seffern, pilot,
2nd Lt Robert R. Hatch, copilot 13.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder near Salamaua: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1421
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
1421
YOM:
1940
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'Yeah' left Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airfield to attack Japanese ships off Lae. Over the target, the aircraft was attacked by Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. With the left engine on fire, the pilot was able to leave the combat area but was eventually forced to ditch the aircraft 40 miles south of Salamaua. Three crew members were rescued while four others were killed.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Leonard T. Nicholson, pilot,
1st Lt Jack L. Childers, copilot,
1st Lt Norman E. Oefreese, navigator, †
Sgt Jack C. Moseley, bombardier, †
S/Sgt William M. Brown, flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Joseph P. Papp, radio operator, †
Cpl Thomas A. Moffitt, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Kukuobata

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1422
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
1422
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'So Sorry' left Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airfield to attack Lae. Over the target, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire that hit the elevator cables. The pilot was able to leave the area but was forced to attempt an emergency landing in Kukuobata, near Dobodura. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all eight occupants were rescued, among them three were injured.
Crew (22nd BG):
Gerald J. Crosson, pilot,
McCaskey,
Johnson 5.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Reid River

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1481
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1481
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the take off run, bound for Papua New Guinea, the twin engine aircraft christened 'Dumbo' swerved and went out of control. It veered off runway and came to rest in flames. While all seven crew members were injured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Crew:
Lt Arthur M. Hughes, pilot,
Lt Louis B. McCord, copilot,
Lt Lineberger, navigator,
Lt. Fred C. Federle, bombardier,
S/Sgt Stanley C. Kotek, flight engineer,
Sgt John H. Hargrove, radio operator,
Pfc Elliot Pasternack, air gunner.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder off Tunis: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK366
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berka - Berka
MSN:
7430
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Berka III in Benghazi on a mine laying mission in the Gulf of Tunis. En route, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Gulf of Tunis and was lost. Five crew members were killed while the captain was rescued and taken PoW.
Crew (39th Squadron):
P/O John Trueman Willis, pilot,
F/Sgt Samuel Hart Porteous, copilot, †
F/O Eric William Barr, observer, †
F/O Peter Benson Martell, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Herbert Frank Ford, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Frank Barratt, air gunner. †

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder near Alotau

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1446
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1446
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a bombing mission in the region of Alotau when he was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to the explosion of the right engine. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all eight crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Explosion of the right engine.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Mt Kokoda: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1529
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
1529
YOM:
1940
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Port Moresby-Schwimmer Aerodrome at 1015LT to attack the Buna Airfield. En route, weather conditions worsened and the aircraft disappeared above the Kokoda mountains shrouded in clouds. No trace of the aircraft christened 'Fury' nor the crew was found.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Franklin J. Anderson, pilot,
Sgt William Llewellyn Scanlan, copilot,
2nd Lt Sidney H. Willoughby, navigator,
1st Lt Edward H. Hansen, bombardier,
Sgt John H. McLean, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Thomas R. Powell, radio operator,
S/Sgt George W. Whitley Jr., air gunner.