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Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK into the Timor Sea: 25 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1945 at 1150 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A65-83
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pitu – Ambon – Darwin
MSN:
16127/32875
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
The aircraft arrived at Ambon Airport at 0850LT and the captain decided to wait for another RAAF C-47 flying from Darwin to have a briefing with the other crew about the enroute weather conditions. The aircraft left Ambon at 1040LT bound for Darwin but failed to arrive. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace from the aircraft nor the 25 occupants was found.
Crew (35th Squadron):
F/O F. Robinson, pilot,
F/Lt N. J. Hazle, copilot,
F/O G. R. Connell, wireless operator,
Sgt F. Bodley, navigator.
Passengers:
Sgt W. Mullins,
LAC L. H. Wilson,
Pvt F. R. Carter,
Pvt B. Pearchall,
Cfn H. Arnold,
Pvt K. Kripper,
Cfn W. K. Arcus,
Pvt R. Albertson,
Sig J. E. Pollard,
Spr S. E. Evans,
Pvt R. Giochan,
Cpt T. Walgett,
Cpl L. R. Lishmind,
Pvt R. Bowles,
Pvt F. McCarthy,
Pvt R. Burg,
Cpt F. R. Barnett,
Gnr H. Robins,
Spr J. Wilson,
Cpl R. Green,
Able Seaman.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-135-CO Liberator into the Timor Sea: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1944 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-110120
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Fenton – Darwin – Kupang
MSN:
3916
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
En route, the four engine aircraft christened 'Sleepy Time Gal' went out of control and crashed into the Timor sea in unknown circumstances. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew:
William C. Clarke 9.
Probable cause:
It is believed the accident was caused by an engine failure due to a problem on the fuel supply system.

Crash of a North American B-25D Mitchell into the Timor Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
N5-144
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
87-7882
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a bombing mission over Dili. Approaching the target, the aircraft was attacked by few Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. Two crew members, among them the pilot, were killed and the aircraft was hit on the right engine and the tail as well. The crew was able to leave the combat area but was eventually forced to ditch the aircraft into the Timor Sea, some 150 miles south of Dili. The aircraft sunk and was lost while four crew members were rescued a day later by an Australian destroyer.
Crew (18th Squadron):
2nd Lt B. J. Grummels, pilot, †
C. M. Fisscher, copilot,
Cpl Van Der Weert, radio operator,
Sgt Hoek, flight engineer,
F/Sgt Ronald Stuart Horridge, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Robert Gordon Tyler, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IVA into the Timor Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1942 at 1520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-132
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
414-6061
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route, while cruising off Timor, the crew informed ground about the failure of the right engine, tried to return to his base on one engine with an ETA at 1604LT. Shortly later, the aircraft crashed into the sea, killing all five occupants. Some debris were found in November 1942.
Crew (13th Squadron):
P/O Gordon Robert Crawford, pilot,
Sgt Maurice McGuire, pilot,
P/O Brian Ernest Long,
P/O Colin Vivian Cantor, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Laurence Rex Hayward, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA into the Timor Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-182
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Darwin – Kupang
MSN:
414-6354
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea of Timor while on a flight from Darwin to Kupang. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Lt Roger Joseph Blanchard, pilot,
Sgt Oberlin Benjamin Plester Gray, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt David Jacobs,
Sgt David Vynne Woods.

Crash of a Kawanishi H6K into the Timor Sea: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The four engines floatplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in the Timor Sea some 190 km west of Darwin. A crew member was killed and six others became PoW.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a General Aircraft ST-18 Croydon into the Timor Sea

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1936
Registration:
G-AECB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Darwin – Croydon
MSN:
501
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While returning from Darwin to Croydon and flying over the Timor Sea, the crew made several navigation errors and eventually decided to ditch the airplane in the Seringapatam Reef. The airplane came to rest into the lagoon located some 300 km off Cape Leveque, Western Australia. All four occupants were rescued by local fishermen while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned on site.
Probable cause:
Navigation error caused by a compass failure.