Pitu (Morotai Island)

After landing at Pitu-Leo Wattimena Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and veered off runway to the right. The left main landing gear collapsed and the right wing broke at the root. All 14 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Six technicians were attempting to start engines after a 60 hourly maintenance. The aircraft was not refueled after arriving some 36 hours previously on a flight to collect supplies. It had been standing out in the open in heat for some 16 hours with a possible built up of fuel fumes from leaky tanks or lines. The aircraft suffered an explosion from an electrical short, within the fuselage, causing a fire that consumed the aircraft. All six crew were injured and one of them died from his injuries few hours later. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Crew:
Cpl S. M. Williams,
LAC W. J. Wythes,
C. H. Cruickshank,
S. B. Wetzler,
McLoughlin,
Brown.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Enroute, the aircraft started to lose height for no apparent reason as controls showed no response. It trimmed and climbed, then stalled, went into spin and flattened out at 3,000 feet above mean sea level. The pilot was able to regain control and then decided to ditch the aircraft off Labuan. While the aircraft sank, all 23 occupants were unhurt and took refuge in life rafts. They were rescued about 15 hours later some 150 miles east of Tarakan.
Crew (345th Squadron):
F/O A. Burns 2.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

The crew departed Pitu Airfield (Morotai Island) at 0800LT to attack Japanese antiaircraft positions located in Lolobata, on the neighboring island of Halmahera. As the aircraft failed to return at the end of the day, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended three days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (21st Squadron):
F/O Jack Bonfield Faviell,
F/O William Joseph Stubbs,
F/O Douglas Poultney Dewhurst,
W/O Bruce Vaughton Peach,
F/Sgt Neville Herbert Playford,
F/Sgt Ronald Jack Walker,
Sgt Gordon Malcolm Scott,
F/Sgt Robert William Delahunt,
F/Sgt Aubrey Edward Burgess.

Crashed into the sea off Pitu, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
Pfc Roland L. De Cordova,
Sgt Donald D. Dyvig,
1st Lt Gilbert Kaufman,
1st Lt Clarence W. Million.

The crew was performing a flight from Pitu to Brisbane with an intermediate stop in Longreach. While descending by night and in foggy conditions, the crew was unable to locate the airfield and the captain decided to make a go around. A second attempt to land was abandoned as well. During the third attempt, the aircraft was too low and hit the ground and crashed. While all four crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The aircraft left Pitu Airport on Morotai Island in the early morning bound for Tacloban, Philippines. It failed to arrive and SAR operations were conducted. Unfortunately, no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found. At the time of the accident, the weather conditions were considered as marginal.
Crew:
Lt Donald Leslie McInteer, pilot,
Cpt Richard A. Kirkland, copilot,
James Thompson Jr.,
Barton J. Rassmussen,
Edmund Z. Szczygiel.
Passengers:
Lt Donald V. Johnson,
Lt Louis C. Skinner,
Lt G. M. L. Costner,
Alsie A. Porterfield,
Alpha Scott,
Charles W. Kallal,
Alfred A. France,
Tony D. Drakos,
Ben Williams,
Bennice Hathaway,
Sgt A. B. Bosely,
Pvt H. L. Straub.

The aircraft left Rockhampton bound for Pitu, Indonesia, with 20 passengers and a crew of two on board. Enroute, the crew decided to return due to insufficient fuel. While approaching Cape Melville, the captain ordered the passengers to bail out. The crew abandoned the aircraft as well and the Dakota crashed into the Bathurst Bay. Five passengers were injured and fifteen others were unhurt. A passenger was killed because his parachute failed to open and no trace of the captain was found.
Crew:
1st Lt Rueben A. Blackburn,
Sgt Henry P. Williams. †
Source: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld148.htm

The aircraft left Biak-Mokmer Airport at 0505LT bound for Pitu Airfield, on Morotai Island (North Malukku). As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the 16 occupants was ever found.