Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off Cape Queiros: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1944 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4520
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Guadalcanal - Luganville
MSN:
5533
Location:
Espíritu Santo
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While approaching Vanuatu in heavy rain falls, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea off Cape Queiros. On site, no survivor was found.
Crew:
Flight Lieutenant Peter Wood,
Pilot Officer Francis Baird,
Flight Sergeant Robert Carter,
Sergeant Thomas Murray,
Flight Sergeant Brian Vesty,
Corporal Edward Ayrey,
Leading Aircraftman Raymond Goff.
Probable cause:
According to officials, an engine was on fire on approach when crew lost control of the aircraft in poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Luganville

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23722
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9584
YOM:
1943
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft bell landed for unknown reason. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 into the Coral Sea: 24 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
12432
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Nouméa – Luganville
MSN:
9529
YOM:
1943
Location:
Coral Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
Lost without trace while on a flight from Nouméa-la Tontouta Airport to Luganville-Santo-Pekoa Airfield.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL into the Nakéty Bay: 25 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1943 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18675
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Nouméa – Luganville
MSN:
6081
YOM:
1942
Location:
Nakéty Bay
New Caledonia
Country:
New Caledonia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
The aircraft , call-sign "675-Baker-253", took off from Noumea-La Tontouta Airport, bound for Espiritu Santo. Radio contact was established at 0810LT but the aircraft failed to respond to a scheduled call at 0910LT. Two days later, damaged gear and some personal effects from the plane were found in Nakety Bay. A cold front had passed through the New Caledonia area in the early hours of the morning of the 23rd bringing a cloud layer at 2 to 4 thousand feet and a visibility of 4 to 6 miles, with 3 miles in heavier rain. The route was considered flyable on instruments and several aircraft flew it that day without the pilots reporting any difficulty with the weather conditions. The bodies of the 6 crew-members and 19 passengers (3 RNZAF and 16 USMC from VMTB-232) were never found.
Source:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19431123-0

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL off Luganville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23711
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
9573
YOM:
1943
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea 24 km off Luganville, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert H. Healy,
2nd Lt Augustus W. Miller,
Cpl Joseph E. O'Connell,
M/Sgt Harry D. Wlodarsky.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Gavutu Island

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
08136
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Gavutu – Luganville
Location:
Gavutu Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a combat mission over the Gavutu Island, the aircraft was returning to its base in Luganville with nine crew members on board. Shortly after take off, the pilot initiated a sharp turn when both engines stopped. He attempted an emergency landing but the seaplane hit the water surface 1,2 km off shore and came to rest. While all nine crew members could evacuate and were rescued, the aircraft sunk by 60 feet deep and was lost.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the engine failed during a sharp turn because water in the tank sucked into the carburetors.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Luganville: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1942 at 0325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2055
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luganville - Luganville
MSN:
414-6614
YOM:
1942
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Luganville-Norsup Airport, the twin engine aircraft entered a steep rate of climb, stalled and crashed into the sea. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (3rd Squadron):
F/O William Lauchlan,
Sgt Stephen Bishop,
F/O Lister Mulholland,
Sgt Maxwell Walker,
Sgt John Cornish,
LAC James Ferguson,
AC1 Noel Fowler.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Tulagi: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9218
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Luganville - Luganville
MSN:
2690
YOM:
1941
Location:
Tulagi
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Luganville Airport in Vanuatu on a bombing mission to Tulagi, Solomon Islands. While approaching the target, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed. All 9 crew members were killed.
Crew (11th BG):
Lt Rush E. McDonald, pilot,
2nd Lt John J. Heard, Jr., copilot,
Cpl Joseph H. Wood, bombardier,
2nd Lt Homer W. Vail, navigator,
Sgt William L. Hammack, flight engineer,
Sgt Richard C. Inman, flight engineer,
Cpl Leroy Payne, radio operator,
S/Sgt James E. Briggs, air gunner,
S/Sgt Daniel L. Cross, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.
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