Crash of a North American B-25D-35 Mitchell near Adelaide River: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
A47-13
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
100-23952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a bombing exercise when bombs stored in the cargo compartment exploded in flight. While cruising at low level, the aircraft went out of control and crashed some 10 miles east of Adelaide River. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/O Stanley Davies, pilot,
F/O Arthur Keith Buckland, †
F/O David Gethen Lane, †
W/O John Samuel McLelland Campbell, †
W/O Arthur Keith Griesbach, †
Sgt Frederick Hugh Conaghan, †
F/O Kenneth Joseph Hadley.
Probable cause:
Explosion of a bomb for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Paddy's Landing: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-203
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hughes - Millingimbi
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Hughes Airport at 0352LT bound for Millingimbi, to provide air cover for a convoy in the Arafura Sea. As the crew failed to make the dawn rendezvous, SAR mission was conducted and eventually suspended three days later as no trace of the aircraft was found. On October 8, 1946, the wreckage was found in a mangrove swamp called Paddy's Landing at Adelaide River, in the Northern Territory. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
Colin Desmond, pilot,
Richard James,
Russell Lindsay,
Harold John,
Robert Gordon.