Port Moresby

During take off run from Port Moresby-7 Mile Airfield, a tyre and a rim came off from a main gear. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, rolled for 200 yards before coming to rest in flames and exploded. All 11 crew members were killed. Explosions were caused by three 500 lbs bombs stored in the cargo bay. A dead wallaby was later found on the runway but it was not proven if this was the cause of the accident or not. The aircraft was christened 'Blues in the Nite'.
Crew (43th BG):
Maj Kenneth D. McCullar, pilot,
2nd Lt Byron G. Andrews,
2nd Lt Blaine McCord Jr.,
2nd Lt John W. Schultz Jr.,
T/Sgt Elmer R. Hansen,
S/Sgt Philip A. Zumwalt,
Sgt Bert F. Bredemeier,
Cpl George A. Mowad,
Pvt David W. Stuckey,
S/Sgt Pierre R. O'Grady,
S/Sgt Michael J. Paz Jr.
Source:

Crashed at Port Moresby-Ward Airport in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown.

On approach to Port Moresby, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft made a belly landing 7 miles northeast of the airport and was damaged beyond repair. All three crewmen were rescued.

Shortly after take off from Port Moresby-Twelve Mile Airfield, the aircraft stalled and crashed near the Laloki River. Seven crew members were killed while eight others were injured. The aircraft christened 'Diana's Demon' was destroyed.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Duncan A. Seffern, pilot,
2nd Lt Robert R. Hatch, copilot 13.

The aircraft christened 'Yeah' left Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airfield to attack Japanese ships off Lae. Over the target, the aircraft was attacked by Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. With the left engine on fire, the pilot was able to leave the combat area but was eventually forced to ditch the aircraft 40 miles south of Salamaua. Three crew members were rescued while four others were killed.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Leonard T. Nicholson, pilot,
1st Lt Jack L. Childers, copilot,
1st Lt Norman E. Oefreese, navigator, †
Sgt Jack C. Moseley, bombardier, †
S/Sgt William M. Brown, flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Joseph P. Papp, radio operator, †
Cpl Thomas A. Moffitt, air gunner.

The aircraft christened 'So Sorry' left Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airfield to attack Lae. Over the target, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire that hit the elevator cables. The pilot was able to leave the area but was forced to attempt an emergency landing in Kukuobata, near Dobodura. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all eight occupants were rescued, among them three were injured.
Crew (22nd BG):
Gerald J. Crosson, pilot,
McCaskey,
Johnson 5.

The aircraft left Townsville at 0815LT bound for Port Moresby. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. While cruising at the altitude of 3,000 feet above the Hinchinbrook Island, the aircraft hit the south slope of Mt Straloch located in the south part of the island. All 12 occupants were killed. The wreckage was eventually found by locals in 1943.
Crew (90th BG):
Cpt James E. Gumaer, Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Dewey G. Hooper, copilot,
2nd Lt David B. Lowe, navigator,
T/Sgt Waldo W. Kellner, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Walter E. Haydt, radio operator,
Passengers:
Col Carroll G. Riggs,
Lt Raymond F. Dakin,
Cpt Carl H. Silber,
Cpt Peter E. Kiple,
Lt John E. Cooper, Jr.,
Robert C. Trevithick,
Tec Michael M. Goldstop.

The aircraft left Port Moresby-Schwimmer Aerodrome at 1015LT to attack the Buna Airfield. En route, weather conditions worsened and the aircraft disappeared above the Kokoda mountains shrouded in clouds. No trace of the aircraft christened 'Fury' nor the crew was found.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Franklin J. Anderson, pilot,
Sgt William Llewellyn Scanlan, copilot,
2nd Lt Sidney H. Willoughby, navigator,
1st Lt Edward H. Hansen, bombardier,
Sgt John H. McLean, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Thomas R. Powell, radio operator,
S/Sgt George W. Whitley Jr., air gunner.

On approach to Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airport, while returning from a combat mission, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located between the airports of Five Mile and Seven Mile. Four crew members were killed while five others were injured.
Crew (43rd BG):
1st Lt Robert K. Freeman, pilot, †
2nd Lt Harry L. Moy, pilot,
2nd Lt Clinton L. Smith, copilot, †
S/Sgt Richard M. Cullisun,
S/Sgt James M. Iverson, †
Sgt Wilbert H. Grogan,
Cpl Saul Berstein ,
Cpl Morris McFarland,
Cpl Robert F. Wright. †

Christened 'The Flying Dutchman', the aircraft was flying from Port Moresby to Pongani on behalf of the 33rd Troop Carrier Squadron's to deliver supplies and troops from the 32nd Infantry Division and the 126th Infantry Regiment. While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the aircraft encountered severe downdrafts, lost altitude and hit the slope of Mt Obree, in the center of PNG. Of the twenty-three aboard, seventeen survived the crash. Many had serious injuries and burns, and died afterwards waiting for help. Eventually, some of the survivors found help and only six survived. The wreckage was rediscovered during an air search mission for a missing Piaggio on March 8, 1961. The airplane has the dual registration VH-CCU and 41-18564.
Crew:
2nd Lt George W. Vandervort, pilot, †
Cpt Theodore W. Barron, †
T/Sgt Stephen J. Pitch, flight engineer, †
Sgt George B. Kershner, radio operator.
Passengers:
Sgt James M. Verstay, †
Pvt Vernon R. Moak, †
Pvt Charles W. Raddatz, †
Pvt Charles I. Stokes, †
Pvt Margarito Padilla, †
Pvt Carlos D. Failin, †
Pfc Gerald M. Grove, †
Pfc Frank A. Thomas, Jr.,
Pvt Duane R. Butler,
Sgt Edward K. Holleman,
Pvt Floyd L. August,
Pvt John W. Mobley,
Tec Lawrence E. Peterson, †
Pvt John J. Bellus, †
Pfc Malvern E. Patton, †
Pvt Theodore Romero, †
Pfc William L. Smith, †
Pvt Martin J. Brandon, †
Pvt Antonio T. Montes. †