Region
Oceania

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Horn Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-2497
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2308
YOM:
1941
Location:
Horn Island
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Horn Island Airport, at a height of 250 feet, the aircraft nosed up, stalled and crashed in a mangrove on the shore. All 17 occupants were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Later, two crew members died from their injuries.
Crew (317th TCG):
Cpt William Compton, pilot,
1st Lt Donovan, copilot,
1st Lt Paul Maaske,
T/Sgt Paul Paddilla,
S/Sgt J. C. Matthowa, †
Cpl Julian Simmons, †
2nd Lt Edward Scudero,
T/Sgt Delbert Steinka,
T/Sgt C. M. Porter,
S/Sgt Charles Kreig.
Passengers:
T/Sgt Cecil Clarke,
P. F. C. Swain,
S/Sgt John Masiars,
Pte Daniel Pechman,
Pte Paul Graf,
T/Sgt T. Underwood,
Pfc James Colorusso.

Crash of a Douglas C-39 in Molesworth

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-39 (DC-2)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CCF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2087
YOM:
1939
Location:
Molesworth
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, crew encountered icing conditions and both engines did not run properly as the carburetor were iced. Captain decided to make an emergency landing when the aircraft hit trees and crashed in a farm land. All 17 occupants were able to evacuated themselves and nobody was hurt. However, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine dysfunction caused by carburetor icing.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Maclean: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
AW485
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Evans Head AFB - Evans Head AFB
Location:
Maclean
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a navigation exercise. En route, the twin engine aircraft went through a cloudy area when it disintegrated in mid-air. Many debris were found on a large area and no survivors were found among the five occupants.
Crew:
Flying Officer Billie Strike-McClelland,
Flight-Sergeant Bruce Duckworth,
Robert Thomas Robertson, trainee navigator,
Patrick John Scanlan, trainee navigator,
Neville Thomas Self, trainee navigator.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident was undetermined. Nevertheless, it is supposed the crew may have suffered a spatial disorientation that affected the control of the aircraft which became uncontrollable and disintegrated when it ended up in a position that exceeded the design of the fuselage and other elements such as wings, fin, etc.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WF62 Super Electra in Alice Springs

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CXI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Alice Springs - Adelaide
MSN:
1414
YOM:
0
Location:
Alice Springs
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force with a crew of three en ten passengers on board. During the takeoff run, thw twin engine aircraft skidded on runway when the left main gear collapsed. Aircraft banked left, causing the left propeller to hit the ground and to be sheared off, hitting the nose of the airplane. While all 13 occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Captain John Robins, pilot,
Sergeant Ken Bird, copilot,
Sergeant Phoenix, radio operator.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide near Cape Sidmouth

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1944
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ADE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Melbourne - Cairns
MSN:
6341
Location:
Cape Sidmouth
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. Aircraft ended up on a beach located 13 miles south of Cape Sidmouth, near the Princess Charlotte Bay. The crew of a RAAF Catalina spotted the aircraft a day later and was able to land and to evacuate all six occupants uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Short S.33 Empire Flying Boat off Sydney

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Short S.33 Empire Flying Boat
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ACD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Sydney - Sydney
MSN:
S.1025
YOM:
9
Location:
Sydney
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight around Sydney. While landing in the Rose Bay, off Sydney, the aircraft christened 'Clifton' landed hard and came to rest. Both occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was later considered as damaged beyond repair due to a hole in the hull and the left leading edge flap.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DL near Rockhampton: 31 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1943 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-30742
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Townsville – Rockhampton – Brisbane
MSN:
13893
YOM:
1943
Location:
Rockhampton
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Townsville-Garbutt Field at 0710LT for a flight to Brisbane with an intermediate stop in Rockhampton, on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). En route, the aircraft exploded, dove into the ground and disintegrated in a wooded area located 48 km north of Rockhampton, near the road to Rossmoya. All 31 occupants were killed. Worst accident involving a USAF C-47 up to date.
Crew (22nd TCS):
2nd Lt William Randell Crecelius, pilot,
2nd Lt John R. Powell, copilot,
T/Sgt John L. Shupe, flight engineer,
Sgt Robert S. Fazio, radio operator.
Passengers:
Cpt Orlen N. Loverin,
1st Lt George K. Snyder,
2nd Lt William B. Graham,
T/Sgt Carlos M. Bane,
Cpt Robert J. Simons,
Maj Hoyt A. Ross,
Lt Rebecca Williams,
3rd Cl Jack Hayman Staggs,
C. G. M. Carline,
Lt W. M. Samuelson,
Lt Thomas Smith,
Lt Ernestine Korranda,
W/O Herbert R. Johnson,
Lt Harry Gillies,
Pvt Herbert J. Mathias,
Sgt Charles Dolan,
Harold George Dick,
William Bramwell Tibbs,
Cpl William Barry Sleep,
Cpl Thomas William Shard,
Pvt Benjamin Rasmussen,
Cpt John Hugho Weir,
Cpt Alexander William Robert Geddes,
Lt Nigel James Bruce MacDonald,
LAC Donald Cantrol Cameron,
LAC Raymond Kingsley Oster,
Cpt Crawford Derek Mollison.
Source: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld56.htm
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the inflight loss of control and disintegration was not determined.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off the Turtle Head Island

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1943 at 0905 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
A65-3
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cooktown – Horn Island
MSN:
9012
YOM:
1943
Location:
Turtle Head Island
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying along the east shore of Queensland, the left engine failed. For unknown reason, the propeller was not feathered, causing an excessive drag. In such situation, the captain decided to ditch the aircraft 1,5 km south of the Turtle Head Island. While all 14 occupants were rescued, the aircraft sank and was lost. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was carrying a load of cargo for a total of 2,740 kilos and 660 gallons of fuel. This caused the plane to be 1206 lbs (550 kg) overloaded.
Crew (36th Squadron):
F/Lt John Donellan Balfe, pilot,
Sgt Norman Properjohn,
F/Sgt T. H. Dennis.
Passengers:
P/O L. R. Ballard,
W/O P. G. Brown,
F/Lt R. S. Lovell,
Sgt R. Lucus,
ACI M. Van de Velde,
ACI E. C. Nason,
LAC C. T. Haylen,
LAC S. S. Collinson,
F/Sgt F. Potten,
Lt Fagg,
Col Collines.
Probable cause:
Overloaded, left engine failure (fuel exhaustion).

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon near Croydon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1943
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
A34-25
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2014
YOM:
1943
Location:
Croydon
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Townsville-Garbutt Field with radar equipment on board, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances some 15 miles south of Croydon. The wreckage was found few hours later and both crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Bundaberg

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
AW906
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bundaberg - Bundaberg
Location:
Bundaberg
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training exercise. For unknown reason, the aircraft overshot and collided with a boundary fence. While all four crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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