Indonesia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft was on its way from Australia to Biak with an intermediate stop in Merauke. On board were three passengers returning from leave, four crew members and cargo consisting of fresh food. While cruising at an altitude of 12,000 feet in intermittent rains, the airplane hit the slope of a rocky mountain located in the Sudirman mountains. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. A New Zealander explorer found the wreckage on March 2, 1962.
Crew (21st TCS):
1st Lt Thelbert Vernon Lair, pilot,
2nd Lt Christian J. Ludwig, copilot,
Cpl William O. Waldrop, flight engineer,
Sgt Edwin F. Wummer, radio operator.
Passengers:
Pfc Johnnie M. Ward,
S/Sgt Cecil F. Richardson,
S/Sgt John P. Skodis.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24M-10-CO Liberator off Borneo: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

A72-177

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

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Crashed in unknown circumstances off the north coast of Borneo, killing all 11 crew members.
Crew (200th Squadron):
F/Lt Keith Roy Norman Emmett,
F/Lt Ernest Frederick Theyer,
F/Lt John Oswald Graham,
F/O Reginald Lee Taylor,
F/Lt Rodney Nelson Walker,
W/O Ralph Proudlock,
W/O Phillip Hector Cormack,
F/Sgt Owen William John Davern,
Sgt Lawrence James Starr,
W/O Ernest Travers Shorter,
F/Sgt John Colin William Anderson.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Irian Jaya: 20 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1945 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-49788

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

15604/27049

YOM:

1945

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Circumstances:

Enroute, the aircraft hit the slope of a 2,000 meters high mountain and was destroyed. The wreckage was found two weeks later and three wounded passengers were evacuated while 20 other occupants were killed. All occupants were representatives of women's military corps of the US Army.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24M-10-CO Liberator off Borneo: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

A72-191

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

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The crew was involved in a special paratroop mission over Indonesia. As the aircraft was never found, it is believed it crashed into the sea off Borneo.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Irian Jaya: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-101046

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Schedule:

Biak - Hollandia

MSN:

30501

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En route, the crew was informed by ground about the deterioration of the weather conditions. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Iran Jaya. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in New Guinea: 19 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-2464

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Schedule:

Lae – Tadji – Biak

MSN:

2275

YOM:

1941

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The aircraft christened 'Queenie' left Lae-Nadzab Airport at 0641LT bound for Mokmer Aerodrome (Biak Island) with a en route stop at Tadji Airfield. The aircraft failed to arrive and no trace of it nor the 19 occupants was ever found.
Crew:
Lt Col Walter P. Piehl, pilot,
Maj Alan C. Attebery, copilot,
S/Sgt Cortez A. Beal, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Henry Y. Willis, radio operator,
T/Sgt Edgar W. Elseman, crew chief.
Passengers:
Major Robert H. Barnes,
Major Victor De F. Henriques,
Captain Russell G. Helmer,
Captain Fred J. Lewis,
Captain Paul V. McKnight,
Captain Wendell Root,
1st Lt Winton D. Witmer,
2nd Lt John C. Campbell,
2nd Lt. Roland J. Hickey,
WO Dawson L. Hutchison,
S/Sgt August J. Bachor,
Sgt William R. Ray,
Cpl Noel L. Lowe,
PFC Clyde H. Hopkins Jr.
Source: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/41-2464.html

Probable cause:

The cause of the dissapearance was unknown, but was reported that it might be lost due to "possible enemy antiaircraft fire or navigational circumstance".

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Sumatra

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

Y-63

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

358

YOM:

1941

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While on a maritime patrol flight, the seaplane was shot down by a Japanese Nakajima Ki-27. The crew reduced his altitude in ditched the airplane off Sumatra. The airplane sank and all occupants survived.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Java

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-2501

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2312

YOM:

1941

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a delivery flight. At the end of the mission, while overflying the Java Province, the bomber was attacked by enemy fire. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a paddy field. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all four occupants were uninjured.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Sumatra: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1258

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Sumatra. Lost without trace.
Crew:
W/O Sidney Horace Stafford, pilot,
W/O Ronald Leslie Willmott, observer,
F/Sgt Francis John Hicks, wireless operator air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.