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

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-13
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
307
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The floatplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Rabaul, killing the entire crew.
Crew (11th Squadron):
Cpl Raymond James Adams,
S/L Ernest Victor Beaumont,
LAC Maxwell Dawson Raymond Berghouse,
F/O Michael Whittam Edwards,
AC1 Leonard Leslie Farrands,
LAC George Lancelot Formby,
LAC Cyril Grainger,
Sgt Raymond John Richardson.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IVA near the Kabu River: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-145
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lae – Rabaul
MSN:
414-6074
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While flying at night on a trip from Lae to Rabaul, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in the region of the Kabu River. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (24th Squadron):
F/Lt Paul Pryde Paterson,
F/O James Sinclair McIntyre,
Sgt Oliver Frederick George Claxton,
LAC James Arthur Wilson.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth in Kaiapit: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1934
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UHW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rabaul – Kaiapit
MSN:
330
YOM:
1929
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kaiapit, the aircraft was too low and collided with a house located shot of runway. The airplane named 'Canberra' nosed down and crashed, bursting into flames. Both passengers were killed while both crew members were seriously injured.