Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina near Ambon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2304
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
0020
YOM:
1937
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The floatplane was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed in the region of Ambon. The entire crew was killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina in Ambon

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2309
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
0021
YOM:
1937
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The floatplane was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed near Ambon. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Batavia: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K7173
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Batavia. A crewman was killed and a second was injured.
Crew:
S/L D. K. Banks, pilot, †
F/Sgt Henry Alan Oliver.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II in Penfui: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-61
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
414-1914
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kupang-Penfui Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane entered an area with severe thunderstorms with lightning, heavy rain falls and turbulences. It appears that the airplane was hit by lightning then entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located 8 km south of the airport. All four occupants were killed.
Crew (13th Squadron):
F/O Geoffrey Gordon Mitchell,
P/O J. Goodfellow,
Sgt Charles Lawrence Motteram,
Sgt Keith Raynor.
Probable cause:
Hit by lightning.

Crash of a Dornier DO.24K off Madura Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1942 at 2330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X-29
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Banjarmasin - Surabaya
MSN:
699
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The floatplane departed Banjarmasin on a maritime patrol flight to Surabaya. While cruising at night along the shore, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Madura Island. Two crew members were rescued and four others were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Malang

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-2484
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2295
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the airplane crashed upon landing at Malang-Singosari Airport and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties among the crew.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Surabaya: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-2456
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Malang - Malang
MSN:
2267
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Malang to attack Japanese troops at Kendari Airport. It was shot down over Surabaya by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed, bursting into flames. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew (9th BS):
2nd Lt Willis Weldon Burney,
S/Sgt Jack W. Coleman,
Cpt John L. Du Frane Jr.,
Cpl Howard L. Ellis,
Sgt Louis H. Keightley,
Lt Richard van Wyck Negley Jr.,
Pfc Harry R. Parry,
2nd Lt Samuel Seay Pattillo.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo off Surabaya: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
36-338
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bandung – Malang
MSN:
1726
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route from Bandung to Malang, the twin engine airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese Mitsubishi Zero and crashed into the sea off Surabaya. Two crew members were rescued while five other occupants were killed. The next day, both survivors died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Maj Austin A. Straubel, pilot,
Lt Russell Marshall Smith, copilot,
S/Sgt George W. Pickett, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Lt Glenn Harold Boes,
Maj Joseph Adair Burch,
Lt Erwin Roy Kriel,
Col William Herbert Murphy.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress on Arends Island

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-2469
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2280
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in an operation against Japanese positions in the region of Surabaya. En route, it was attacked by a Mitsubishi Zero and the left outboard engine caught fire. As the crew were unable to extinguish the fire, five crew members bailed out. Few minutes later, the other three airmen crash landed the airplane on Arends Island. All eight crew members were rescued and later transferred by a USAF Catalina.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.