Crash of a Douglas A-20G-25-DO Havoc in PNG: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
43-9098
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lae - Lae
Location:
Papua New Guinea
All Papua New Guinea
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in PNG. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in PNG: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1521
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Townsville – Port Moresby
MSN:
1521
YOM:
1940
Location:
Papua New Guinea
All Papua New Guinea
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew left Townsville on a flight to Port Moresby (7 Mile Aerodrome). About thirty minutes prior to the ETA, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the visibility was low. The captain was able to gain height and continued above the cloud layer. Unfortunately, the aircraft christened 'Yankee Clipper' overflew Port Moresby and continued to the north. Due to fuel shortage, all eight occupants decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. While the aircraft crashed and was lost, six crew members were recovered (some of them eight days later) while two others were killed.
Crew (22nd BG):
Lt Duncan A. Seffern, pilot,
2nd Lt James A. Michael, copilot, †
Sgt Paul L. Ramsey, bombardier,
2nd Lt Carroll W. Casteel, navigator, †
Tom Riley, air gunner,
Sgt Kenneth R. Gundling, radio operator,
Sgt George T. Rickman, flight engineer,
Vern Haugland.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Papua New Guinea

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1417
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1417
YOM:
1940
Location:
Papua New Guinea
All Papua New Guinea
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On a flight to Port Moresby, both engines failed. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all eight occupants were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II off Papua New Guinea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-87
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
414-1941
YOM:
1940
Location:
Papua New Guinea
All Papua New Guinea
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea off PNG. The exact place of occurrence remains unknown. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (8th Squadron):
F/O Kenneth Vernon Hewett +3.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.
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