Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Port Moresby

Date & Time: May 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1486
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
1486
YOM:
1940
Location:
Port Moresby
National Capital District
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While bombing Rabaul, the aircraft was hit by enemy. The crew was able to return to Port Moresby Airport but and touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. While the aircraft was wrecked, all eight crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Port Moresby: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1534
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
1534
YOM:
1940
Location:
Port Moresby
National Capital District
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Port Moresby following a bombing mission in Rabaul. On approach to Port Moresby Airport, the aircraft was shot down by the pilots of three Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. The twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed few hundred yards short of runway and was written off. The tail gunner was killed, three other crew members were seriously injured and four others uninjured.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Palm Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1419
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Townsville
MSN:
1419
YOM:
1940
Location:
Palm Island
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route, while flying along the northeast Australian coast, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and the captain attempted to ditch the aircraft off Palm Island. The twin engine aircraft contacted the water and sunk quickly, causing seven crew members to be killed.
Probable cause:
Technical problems.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Agaiambo swamp

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-2446
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
2257
YOM:
1941
Location:
Agaiambo swamp
Oro (Northern)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful bombing mission over Rabaul, the crew was returning to base in Port Moresby when he encountered technical problems. The captain reduced his altitude and attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in a marshy field and slid for several yards before coming to rest. All eight occupants escaped unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was recovered in 2006 and later convoyed to the US.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical problems in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IV near Gasmata: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-126
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
414-6055
YOM:
1941
Location:
Gasmata
West New Britain
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 airplane departed Port Moresby on an operation to Gasmata. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed in an isolated area. The wreckage was eventually found 66 years later, in May 2008. Some bullet holes were noted in the tail.
Crew (6th Squadron):
F/O Graham Ian Gibson, pilot,
P/O Frank Leslie Oliver Thorn, copilot,
Sgt Arthur Edward Quail,
Sgt Barton Irving Coutie.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Salamaua: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-8
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Salamaua
MSN:
250
YOM:
1941
Location:
Salamaua
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a flight to Salamaua, carrying radio equipment, and was in formation with a second RAAF Catalina registered A24-9. Approaching Salamaua, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. Three crew members were killed and five others were rescued.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/Lt Robert Thompson, pilot,
F/Lt Paul Metzler, copilot,
LAC Charles Sollitt, wireless operator,
LAC Leo Clarke, wireless operator, †
AC1 Ken Parkyns, flight engineer,
Cpl Jack Perrett, flight engineer, †
AC1 Bill Blackman, rigger,
LAC James Cox, armourer. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Salamaua: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-9
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Salamaua
MSN:
259
YOM:
1941
Location:
Salamaua
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a flight to Salamaua, carrying radio equipment, and was in formation with a second RAAF Catalina registered A24-8. Approaching Salamaua, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. A crew survived while eight others were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
Lt G. Hutchinson, pilot, †
P/O Tom Rowe, copilot, †
Sgt Doug Coote, wireless operator, †
Cpl Jack Wyche, flight engineer, †
LAC Arthur Meadow, wireless operator, †
LAC Alan Downes, wireless operator, †
LAC John Graigie, armourer, †
AC1 Kenneth Murphy, flight engineer, †
Cpl Tom Keen, rigger.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina on Gemo Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-15
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
322
YOM:
1941
Location:
Gemo Island (Hanudamava Island)
National Capital District
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Port Moresby, while climbing, the floatplane impacted the slope of a mountain located on Gemo Island (Hanudamava Island). The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/O Lincoln James Sloan, pilot,
F/Lt Nelson Prior Reid, copilot,
Cpl Neville Lawrence Ernst, flight engineer,
Cpl Eric John O’Donnell, rigger,
LAC Charles James Matheson, flight engineer,
AC1 Keith Mighell Sidey, wireless operator,
AC1 Arthur Wallace Magee, wireless operator,
AC1 George Robert Peterson, armourer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Surprise Creek

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1938
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Surprise Creek – Port Moresby
MSN:
4019
YOM:
1932
Location:
Surprise Creek (Wai Ungu)
Western (Fly)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a prairie, bursting into flames. The pilot E. W. Ditton was injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
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