Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Pulan Luang Island

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-230
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6491
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left Hughes Airfield for a reconnaissance mission of the islands in the Banda Sea. While approaching the Pulan Luang Island, the aircraft was shot down and crashed into the sea. While the aircraft sunk and was lost, all five crew members were take prisoners by the Japanese. One of them was killed by the attack of a Japanese barge while all four occupants were executed on August 16, 1944.
Crew:
S/L John Leonard Scott,
F/Sgt Robert Ian Maxwell King,
F/Sgt Bruce Erskdale Wallace,
F/Sgt Keith Charles Wright,
P/O Donald Cosmo Beddoe.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Kai Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
N5-179
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
100-20800
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on Kai Island while performing a maritime patrol flight. All six crew were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Tenau: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
N5-137
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
87-7900
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Engaged in a bombing mission in the region of Kupang, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Tenau, killing all five occupants.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Pomelaa Harbour: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-67
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Darwin - Darwin
MSN:
1444
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a torpedo attack on enemy ships in Pomelaa Harbour when the aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the sea. Eight crew members were killed while two others were rescued. One of the survivor died a day later.
Crew (20th Squadron):
F/O Norman Falkner Dwyer, †
F/O Ronald Frank Dickinson, †
P/O Douglas Graham McDiarmed, †
Sgt Frank Haydock Thomson, †
Sgt Thomas Stephen McMahon, †
Cpl Samuel James Carnell, †
F/Lt Jack Robert Hyde, †
Lt Palgrave Ebden Carr,
F/Lt John Malcolm Barnes, †
W/Cdr Stanley Gordon Stilling. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Tanimbar Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-233
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
414-6483
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a maritime patrol flight off Indonesia on behalf of the 2nd Squadron. En route, while attacking the Japanese ship christened 'Sugi Maru', the twin engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea some 20 miles north of the Tanimbar Island. Three crew were killed instantly while two others were rescued and taken PoW. Both were executed on October 31.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Lt L. A. Martin, †
F/O Marcus C. Wettenhall, †
F/Sgt N. A. Graham,
F/O M. H. Williams, †
F/Sgt William Robinson Boanas.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fire.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-65-CO Liberator in Babo: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-40492
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1569
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a bombing mission in the Babo region when the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed in a jungle. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was eventually located in May 1972.
Crew:
S/Sgt Eugene H. Allen,
S/Sgt Charles R. Cross,
T/S Ronald A. Dardis,
2nd Lt Marcus I. Friedlander,
2nd Lt William F. Kahn,
S/Sgt Clyde E. Kallstrom,
1st Lt Francis G. McDowell,
S/Sgt Daniel S. Murphy,
2nd Lt Gilman F. Shelley,
S/Sgt Leonard J. Wozniak.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA on Mt Kekneno: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-195
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
414-6459
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a bombing mission to Penfoei with a crew of five. En route, while cruising jointly with three other similar aircrafts, crew was informed that weather was deteriorating at destination. As all three other aircraft's crew decided to return to their departure point, captain of A16-195 decided to continue. Few minutes later, while cruising in low visibility due to poor weather conditions, aircraft hit mount Kekneno located some 100 km northeast of Kupang and was destroyed on impact. Debris were found some days later and all five crew were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
S/L C. C. Williams, pilot,
F/O R. C. Lindsay, air gunner,
F/O W. A. Hepworth, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Lt A. M. Fowler, navigator,
F/Sgt D. C. Farmer.
Probable cause:
The pilot decided to continue the flight despite poor weather conditions and low visibility (below minima).

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Aru Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1943 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-171
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
414-6100
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea off Aru Island. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
W/O V. L. Jackman,
F/O D. R. Hicks,
F/Sgt E. Quinn,
F/Sgt I. W. MacKenzie,
Sgt D. A. Emery.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell off Seram: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1943 at 0850 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N5-135
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
82-5547
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a bombing mission against enemy warship cruising off the coast of Maluku. During the attack, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea, killing all five crew members.
Crew (18th Squadron):
1st Lt A. F. Oudraad, pilot,
2nd Lt J. B. F. de Knecht, copilot,
Sgt Neville George William Morris, bombardier,
Sgt A. H. de Jongh, radio operator,
Sgt Geoffrey Albert O'Hea, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Timika: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-169
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
414-6098
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Whilst on a low level bombing mission on the enemy airstrip of Timika, the aircraft, at 200 feet halfway down the strip, was seen to have red flash on port side of fuselage. The Pilot pulled upward and turned to starboard and was seen in controlled flight. 500 yards on, the aircraft was sen to dive and crashed, killing all five crew members.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
S/L M. C. Burns,
P/O L. R. Jope,
Sgt K. Jones,
Sgt R. J. Johnstone,
Sgt A. A. Dean.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.