Darwin | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Disappeared in unknown circumstances in the region of Kupang, Indonesia, while performing a survey flight from Darwin to Kupang. SAR teams did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the crew.
Crew (13th Squadron):
P/O J. E. Alcock,
F/O G. V. Boynton,
F/O P. C. Gunson,
Sgt F. P. Kemp,
Sgt W. S. Powell.

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

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-234

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Darwin - Darwin

MSN:

414-6502

YOM:

1942

Location:

Saumlaki (Pulau Jamdena)

Maluku

Country:

Indonesia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Darwin on a maritime patrol flight over the Arafura Sea when it crashed into the sea off Saumlaki, Pulau Jamdena Island. All four crew were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/O Robert C. Muecke,
F/O Frank S. Moss,
P/O Lloyd M. Miners,
Sgt James E. Laman.

Probable cause:

An unconfirmed report says the accident was the result of an inflight collision with a Japanese seaplane.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA into the Timor Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-182

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Darwin – Kupang

MSN:

414-6354

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Crashed into the sea of Timor while on a flight from Darwin to Kupang. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Lt Roger Joseph Blanchard, pilot,
Sgt Oberlin Benjamin Plester Gray, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt David Jacobs,
Sgt David Vynne Woods.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WF62 Super Electra near Pine Creek: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1942 at 2130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

Operator:

Registration:

VH-ADY

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Brisbane – Alice Springs – Daly Waters – Batchelor – Darwin

MSN:

1498

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

On the last leg to Darwin, the crew lost his orientation while cruising in rain falls and night. Due to poor visibility, the crew was unable to locate the airport of Darwin and continued over the sea. Few minutes later, pilots realized they were flying over the sea and returned to the continent but could not see the city of Darwin nor its airport. The crew informed ATC he was low of fuel and wanted to land shortly when the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Annaburroo Station, in the region of Pine Creek. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the occupants was found. The burnt wreckage and all 12 dead bodies were found on June 30, 1942, in an isolated area. The occupants were two pilots and 10 US soldiers. The aircraft was built in May 1939 and delivered to Guinea Airways on June 9, 1940.
Crew:
F/Lt Duncan Gordon Cameron, pilot,
F/O William Thomas Gray, pilot.
Passengers:
Pvt William V. Bedford,
Cpl Anthony A. Gattamelata,
Pvt Robert W. George,
Pvt Nick Hinich,
Cpl Ray E. Love,
Pvt John J. Faris,
Pvt Walter M. Feret,
Pvt Richard D. Schmidt,
Pvt Burford H. Willard,
Pvt Wyatt H. Wyley.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the crew lost his orientation due to the failure of both radio compass while flying at night and in poor weather conditions (rain falls). Due to low visibility, the crew was unable to establish his real position and to locate the Darwin's Airfield.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IVA off Kupang: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-137

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Darwin – Kupang

MSN:

414-6066

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Darwin Airport at 0315LT bound for Kupang. While approaching the destination, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. All four occupants were killed.
Crew (13th Squadron):
P/O Albert James Verdon Lockley,
P/O Patrick Goulston Taylor,
Sgt Kenneth Arthur Orchard,
Sgt Donald Thomas Thomson.

Crash of a Mitsubishi G4M1 off Darwin: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi G4M

Operator:

Registration:

T-361

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Kupang - Kupang

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea west of Darwin, killing the entire crew.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Mitsubishi G4M1 off Darwin: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi G4M

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Kupang - Kupang

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea west of Darwin. All seven crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Darwin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat

Operator:

Registration:

G-AEUF

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Brisbane – Karumba – Darwin

MSN:

S.848

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

After landing at night some 2 miles off Darwin, the seaplane named 'Corinthian' collided with unknown debris floating on water and sank rapidly. Two passengers were killed and 13 other occupants were rescued. All passengers were members of the 102nd Coastal Artillery Battalion.

Probable cause:

Collision with unknown floating objects.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84A Dragon I in Wyndham

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1942 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Operator:

Registration:

A34-9

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Darwin - Wyndham - Perth

MSN:

6045

YOM:

1933

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Darwin on a special flight to Perth, carrying evacuees, and a stop was scheduled at Wyndham Airport. Upon landing at Wyndham Airfield, the airplane was attacked by a Japanese fighter. All six occupants evacuated the airplane and were slightly injured. The airplane continued on down the runway now ablaze from the strafing and came to a stop, bursting into flames.
Crew:
F/Lt Warwick, pilot.

Probable cause:

Attacked by a Japanese fighter.