Ambon-Pattimura | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft arrived at Ambon Airport at 0850LT and the captain decided to wait for another RAAF C-47 flying from Darwin to have a briefing with the other crew about the enroute weather conditions. The aircraft left Ambon at 1040LT bound for Darwin but failed to arrive. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace from the aircraft nor the 25 occupants was found.
Crew (35th Squadron):
F/O F. Robinson, pilot,
F/Lt N. J. Hazle, copilot,
F/O G. R. Connell, wireless operator,
Sgt F. Bodley, navigator.
Passengers:
Sgt W. Mullins,
LAC L. H. Wilson,
Pvt F. R. Carter,
Pvt B. Pearchall,
Cfn H. Arnold,
Pvt K. Kripper,
Cfn W. K. Arcus,
Pvt R. Albertson,
Sig J. E. Pollard,
Spr S. E. Evans,
Pvt R. Giochan,
Cpt T. Walgett,
Cpl L. R. Lishmind,
Pvt R. Bowles,
Pvt F. McCarthy,
Pvt R. Burg,
Cpt F. R. Barnett,
Gnr H. Robins,
Spr J. Wilson,
Cpl R. Green,
Able Seaman.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II near Ambone: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-65

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ambon - Darwin

MSN:

414-1918

YOM:

1940

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Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Ambon Airport, the twin engine airplane was attacked by the pilots of two Japanese Air Force Mitsubishi Zero. With one engine on fire, the captain ordered his crew to bail out but only two were able to abandon the aircraft. Two others were killed when the airplane crashed, bursting into flames. Both crew who survived became PoW and were executed on November 22, 1942. Crew from the 2nd Squadron.

Probable cause:

Shot down by two Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Ambone: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1942 at 0515 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-196

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

414-6461

YOM:

1942

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Circumstances:

The crew was attacking a Japanese ship cruising off Ambone. The ship ended in a huge explosion when the Hudson was hit by debris. Out of control, it crashed into the sea and was lost. Three crew members were killed instantly while the fourth occupant died later.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
P/O John Hester Venn,
Sgt W. J. James,
Sgt B. A. Kilpatrick,
Sgt L. A. Omsby.

Probable cause:

Hit by debris after ship bombing.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II in Tondano: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-64

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Aerial photography

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Ambon - Ambon

MSN:

414-1917

YOM:

1940

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The airplane departed Ambon-Laha Airfield on an aerial photography mission over the North Sulawesi Province. South of Manado, it was shot down by a Japanese Mitsubishi Zero, dove into the ground and crashed near Tondano. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (13th Squadron):
F/Lt Maurice Philip Willing,
Sgt William Henry Field,
Sgt Reginald Dixon Rutter,
LAC James Moore Cunneen.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Ambon: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1942 at 1640 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-29

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Ambon - Ambon

MSN:

414-1880

YOM:

1940

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Shortly after takeoff from Ambon-Laha Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea few hundred metres offshore. Three crew members were killed and a fourth was injured.
Crew (13th Squadron):
F/O John Turnbull, pilot, †
F/O Robert Kelvin Allen, †
Sgt Walter John Lay, †
Sgt B. E. Hack.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a loss of control after the port engine caught fire and the starboard engine failed during the initial climb.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II off Darwin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1941 at 0545 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-69

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Darwin – Ambon

MSN:

414-1922

YOM:

1940

Location:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Darwin Airport at 0530LT on a flight to Ambon, Indonesia. Some 15 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 400 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (13th Squadron):
W/Cdr Joshua Roger Gray McDonald, pilot,
F/O Ralph Henry Pope,
Sgt Wallace Roy Foreman,
Sgt Walter John Nagel.

Probable cause:

The accident was attributed to a crew error when the pilot decided to reduce the speed to 95 knots with flaps down to let two other aircrafts create a formation. This caused the aircraft to stall and spin into the sea.