Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper near Mungalalu-Truscott AFB

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-20066
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Perth – Broome – Darwin
MSN:
4836
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Perth to Darwin with an intermediate stop in Broome. At night, the crew overflew Broome as he was unable to locate the airport. He continued to the northeast until the fuel tanks were empty. Due to a fuel exhaustion, the captain attempted an emergency landing in a field located 10 km southwest of Mungalalu-Truscott AFB, some 383 miles northeast of Broome. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and abandoned on site, and all six occupants were rescued few days later.
Crew:
2nd Lt Ray Van Diver, pilot,
Mel Lewis, copilot,
Sgt Buck Lambert, flight engineer,
Cpl Mal Scharp, radio operator.
Passengers:
David Campbell,
Jack Lyons.
Photos: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/c-53/41-20066.html
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.86 Express near Brisbane: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1942 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-USE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brisbane – Mount Isa – Darwin
MSN:
2309
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The airplane was late and departed Brisbane-Archerfield with two hours delay. Few minutes after takeoff, it entered an area of clouds with heavy rain falls. It entered an uncontrolled descent, spiraled to the ground and crashed in a wooded area located in Belmont (Mount Petrie), some 13 km south of Archerfield Airport. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Charles Henry Cecil Swaffield,
C/O Lindsay Stuart Marshall.
Photo: www.ozatwar.com
Probable cause:
Three quarters of the fin had been found quite some distance from the main wreckage of the aircraft. Nevertheless, the subsequent official inquiry into the loss was inconclusive.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Bathurst Island

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2306
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
23
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Indonesia to Australia, the floatplane was attacked by the pilot of a Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. Bullets impacted the fuselage, fuel tanks and the right wing that caught fire. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted to ditch the airplane off Bathurst Island, north of Darwin. Upon touchdown, the seaplane overturned and sank quickly. Nevertheless, all 18 occupants were able to evacuate the cabin and were later rescued by the crew of the Philippines ship named 'Don Isidro' then disembarked on Bathurst Island.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a General Aircraft ST-12 Monospar in Orford Bay

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UTM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Horn Island – Cairns
MSN:
41
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Horn Island on a flight to Cairns, carrying three passengers and one pilot. While cruising along the east coast of Queensland, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Orford Bay, some 95 km southeast of Horn Island. SAR operations were initiated and the wreckage was found three days later. All four occupants were injured and transported to local hospital.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-H2 Super Electra in Cairns: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ADS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cairns – Wau
MSN:
1431
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cairns Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a mangrove. Both crew members were killed. They were performing a positioning flight to Wau to evacuate refugees.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Mallala: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A4-31
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mallala - Mallala
MSN:
1026
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training exercise at Mallala Airport. Shortly after takeoff, the twin engine airplane collided with a second RAAF Avro 652 Anson registered A4-6 and also carrying a crew of two. Both aircrafts went out of control and crashed near the runway. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (6th SFTS):
LAC Keith Allan Mustow,
LAC Keith Grant Hayter.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Mallala: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A4-6
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mallala - Mallala
MSN:
0972
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training exercise at Mallala Airport. Shortly after takeoff, the twin engine airplane collided with a second RAAF Avro 652 Anson registered A4-31 and also carrying a crew of two. Both aircrafts went out of control and crashed near the runway. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (6th SFTS):
LAC Stanley Livingstone McFarlane,
LAC Charles Tilley Collett Shopee.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Ungarie: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AW677
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cootamundra - Cootamundra
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission when he encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. The twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed some 14 miles northwest of Ungarie. SAR were initiated but no trace of the airplane nor the crew was found. Locals found the wreckage in June 2008.
Crew (1st AOS):
P/O Robert Wesley-Smith,
LAC Henry Fisher,
LAC Arthur Kendall,
LAC John Spencer,
AC1 Roy Farnsworth.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon I in Wenlock

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wenlock – Cairns
MSN:
6046
YOM:
1933
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Wenlock Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine caught fire. The pilot Stewart G. Hack initiated a turn to the left to return for an emergency landing. On approach, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. All five occupants escaped uninjured and the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The left engine caught fire after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas R3D-2 off Australia

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1904
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
609
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was hit by a Japanese submarine and crashed on an island off Australia. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.