Crash of a North American B-25D Mitchell in Batchelor

Date & Time: May 22, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
N5-152
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
93-12591
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the take off run, the aircraft hit a gun pit, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in a field. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (18th Squadron):
P/O B. Wetters, pilot,
Cpt Eccles, pilot,
Cpt Jesserun, navigator,
F. Weber, wireless operator,
Vernon McLean, air gunner.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell off Seram: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1943 at 0850 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N5-135
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
82-5547
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a bombing mission against enemy warship cruising off the coast of Maluku. During the attack, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea, killing all five crew members.
Crew (18th Squadron):
1st Lt A. F. Oudraad, pilot,
2nd Lt J. B. F. de Knecht, copilot,
Sgt Neville George William Morris, bombardier,
Sgt A. H. de Jongh, radio operator,
Sgt Geoffrey Albert O'Hea, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

Crash of a North American B-25D Mitchell off Nightcliff: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
N5-140
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Darwin - Darwin
MSN:
85-5145
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful reconnaissance mission over North Timor, the twin engine aircraft was returning to its base in Darwin when on approach, it crashed into the sea one mile off Nightcliff, in the suburb of Darwin. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (18th Squadron):
S/Maj G. Tijmons, pilot,
Sgt K. van Bremen, copilot,
S/Maj F. J. van Wylick, radio operator,
F/Sgt Ronald James Hill, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt George Bryanton Weller, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a North American B-25D Mitchell off Point Jahleel

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
N5-133
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
87-7878
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a reconnaissance mission over the Kaimana Bay. While returning to its base, the twin engine aircraft was attacked by the pilots of two Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. An oil line on the right engine was damaged so the right engine was cut. The captain was able to leave the combat area and decided to divert to Darwin. While approaching the Australian coast, due to fuel shortage, the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft off Point Jahleel, on Melville Island. While the aircraft sunk and was lost, all five crew members were rescued.
Crew (18th Squadron):
2nd Lt R. L. N. Swane, pilot,
1st Lt A. J. de Wolf, copilot,
2nd Lt C. E. Begeman, bombardier,
Sgt Rouvroye, radio navigator,
Sgt William Charles Donald Moore, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by two Japanese fighters.

Crash of a North American B-25B Mitchell in Delaport: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FK176
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nassau - Nassau
MSN:
3012
YOM:
1940
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Nassau on a local night training cession. While flying at low height, the airplane crashed onto a house located in Delaport, some 7 km northeast of the airfield. All four crew members escaped uninjured while three people in the house were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25D Mitchell into the Timor Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
N5-144
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
87-7882
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a bombing mission over Dili. Approaching the target, the aircraft was attacked by few Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. Two crew members, among them the pilot, were killed and the aircraft was hit on the right engine and the tail as well. The crew was able to leave the combat area but was eventually forced to ditch the aircraft into the Timor Sea, some 150 miles south of Dili. The aircraft sunk and was lost while four crew members were rescued a day later by an Australian destroyer.
Crew (18th Squadron):
2nd Lt B. J. Grummels, pilot, †
C. M. Fisscher, copilot,
Cpl Van Der Weert, radio operator,
Sgt Hoek, flight engineer,
F/Sgt Ronald Stuart Horridge, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Robert Gordon Tyler, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fighters.

Crash of a North American B-25C Mitchell in MacDonald: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
N5-132
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
82-5554
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from MacDonald Airfield, while climbing, the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion some 3-4 miles from the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (18th Squadron):
Schalk,
Hiele,
Janssen,
Kessels,
Maarschalkerweerd,
Abeleven,
MacPherson.
Source & photo: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/nt83.htm

Crash of a North American B-25B Mitchell in USA

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FK178
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
3011
YOM:
1940
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in USA. The aircraft was on its way to England to be delivered to the Royal Air Force. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Greer: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
40-2276
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
62B-2945
YOM:
1940
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While flying by night, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
According to the USAAF, the loss of control was caused by the structural failure of a wing.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell II in Norwich: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1942 at 1252 LT
Operator:
Registration:
FL179
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Norwich Airport, the right engine failed. The pilot tried to maintain sufficient speed but the aircraft stalled and crashed in Attlebridge, few miles short of runway. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to investigations, the right engine failed following a bird strike on approach. Analysis revealed that the bird hit the engine and blocked the carburetor, causing the engine to fail.