Region
Asia

Crash of a Boeing B-17C Flying Fortress near Malang: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
40-2062
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Malang - Malang
MSN:
2063
YOM:
1940
Location:
Malang
West Java
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a test flight from Malang-Singosari Airfield. While returning to base, the four engine bomber was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed in a field located 30 km south of the airport, bursting into flames. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (30th BS):
Cpt Ray L. Cox, pilot,
1st Lt John E. L. Huse, copilot,
S/Sgt John U. Sowa,
Sgt Arthur E. Karlinger,
Sgt John S. Penny,
Pfc Jack E. Bingham, air gunner,
Pvt Don H. Barnes, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Kupang: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1942 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat
Operator:
Registration:
G-AEUH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Surabaya – Kupang – Darwin
MSN:
S.850
YOM:
1938
Flight number:
XWS160
Location:
Kupang
East Nusa Tenggara
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The airplane was performing a special flight from Surabaya to Darwin with an intermediate stop in Kupang on behalf of Qantas Airways. While approaching Kupang, the floatplane named 'Corio' was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. The captain, the copilot and three passengers were able to swim to shore and were rescued while 13 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress into the Makassar Strait: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-2476
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Malang - Malang
MSN:
2287
YOM:
1941
Location:
Makassar Strait
All Indonesia
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Malang Airport on an operation to Balikpapan. While returning to base, it was attacked by Japanese fighters. Hit in the tail, the airplane lost 4,000 feet then entered a dive and crashed nose first in the Makassar Strait. No trace of the crew was ever found.
Crew:
2nd Lt William Troy Biggers,
2nd Lt Richard Wellington Cease,
S/Sgt J. Gordon Drake,
Cpl Cecil R. Hamman,
2nd Lt Jack Thomas Laughlin,
Pfc Charles T. Pritchard,
Lt Col Stanley Keith Robinson,
1st Lt Walter William Sparks Jr.,
Pfc Lloyd N. Terrell.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-112 in the Sumba Strait

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
A30-8
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Surabaya – Kupang
MSN:
1291
YOM:
1934
Location:
Sumba Strait
All Indonesia
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On a flight from Surabaya to Kupang, while cruising along the Flores Island, the twin engine airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed in the Sumba Strait. All four crew members were rescued and transferred to Australia while the airplane sank and was lost.
Crew:
F/O Noel Wilson Webster,
F/Sgt Lionel Maurice Van Praag,
Sgt Eric Picker,
Cpl Frederick Christopher James Mason.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose in Kupang: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-21A Goose
Operator:
Registration:
PK-AFS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kupang - Kupang
MSN:
1081
YOM:
1940
Location:
Kupang
East Nusa Tenggara
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed Kupang-Penfui Airport to proceed with an aerial inspection of the area of Kupang to check the evacuation of the civilians because of the impending Japanese invasion. The floatplane was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed in an open field, killing the entire crew.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress near Bangkalan

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-2468
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2279
YOM:
1941
Location:
Bangkalan
West Java
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered unknown problems and attempted to make an emergency landing. With its gear retracted, the aircraft crash landed in a marshy field 25 km northeast of Bangkalan and was damaged beyond repair. All eight occupants were uninjured.

Crash of a Dornier DO.24K-1 in Fort Menari: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO.24
Operator:
Registration:
X-19
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
779
Location:
Fort Menari (Surabaya)
East Java
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the floatplane collided with a dike and crashed. Three crew members were killed and three others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
According to Dutch authorities, the pilots thought to splash down on a lake while they put their machine on flooded fields.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-194C near Samarinda

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
PK-AFW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1982
YOM:
1937
Location:
Samarinda
East Kalimantan
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight, the airplane was attacked over Borneo by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a pasture. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all three crew members were rescued.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

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

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-2419
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2230
YOM:
1941
Location:
Palembang
South Sumatra
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing on a wet grassy runway, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to a halt. There were no injuries among the crew.

Crash of a Dornier DO.24K-1 off Sungai Riko: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO.24
Operator:
Registration:
X-14
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Surabaya – Sungai Riko
MSN:
774
Location:
Sungai Riko
Riau
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The floatplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Bay of Sungai Riko while trying to land following a flight from Surabaya. Three crew members were killed and a fourth was injured.
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