Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II in Kupang: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1942 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-79
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
414-1933
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 200-300 feet, the left engine caught fire. The airplane stalled and crashed on the runway, bursting into flames. All 11 occupants were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Lt Robert Wylie Cuming, pilot,
P/O Robert Henry Martin, copilot,
P/O P. H. Richards,
Sgt J. Bessell-Browne.
Passengers:
Sgt A. E. Blake,
Sgt Henry Jennings Dean,
Sgt Kevin Henry Kelaher,
LAC O. F. E. Crawford,
LAC Edmund Geoffrey Mears,
LAC Vincent Harold Smith,
LAC Frank Morris.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the airplane was overloaded, which affected the operation of the port engine that caught fire during the initial climb. A precipitated and incorrect trim adjustment on part of the crew and/or a structural failure following the loss of the port engine may be considered as contributing factors.

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

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-64
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ambon - Ambon
MSN:
414-1917
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ambon-Laha Airfield on an aerial photography mission over the North Sulawesi Province. South of Manado, it was shot down by a Japanese Mitsubishi Zero, dove into the ground and crashed near Tondano. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (13th Squadron):
F/Lt Maurice Philip Willing,
Sgt William Henry Field,
Sgt Reginald Dixon Rutter,
LAC James Moore Cunneen.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

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

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
40-3064
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2092
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing on a grass runway at Malang Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a ditch. All seven crew members escaped with minor injuries. At the time of the accident, the grass runway was so wet that it was considered as a sea of mud.
Probable cause:
The brakes failed after landing on a wet grass runway.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II off Manado: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-67
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Namlea - Namlea
MSN:
414-1920
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight with three other similar airplanes. While approaching the coast of Manado at a height of 12,000 feet, the twin engine airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. Out of control, it crashed into the sea off Manado. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Lt Arthur Robert Barton, pilot,
F/O Samuel William Clifford, copilot,
Sgt Bernard Samuel Bates, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt John Lake Mills, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in Ranowangoko: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-7
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Namlea - Namlea
MSN:
414-1858
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight with three others similar airplanes. While approaching the region of Manado at a height of 12,000 feet, the twin engine airplane was shot down by 5-7 Japanese fighters that included zeros and floatplane fighters. Out of control, it crashed near the village of Ranowangoko and was destroyed. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (13th Squadron):
F/Lt Geoffrey Sattler, pilot,
Sgt John Graham Goode, copilot,
Sgt Reginald Anthony Desmond Hunter, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Matthew Roscoe Hodgson, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Manado: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-12
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Namlea - Namlea
MSN:
414-1856
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight with three other similar airplanes. While approaching the coast of Manado at a height of 12,000 feet, the twin engine airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. Out of control, it crashed into the sea off Manado and was lost. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/O Peter Creighton Gorrie, pilot,
Sgt Wesley Leonard Morgan,
Sgt John Edward Farrington,
Sgt K. R. T. McCrackan.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Manado: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-46
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Namlea - Namlea
MSN:
414-1867
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight with three other similar airplanes. While approaching the coast of Manado at a height of 12,000 feet, the twin engine airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea off Manado. Three crew were killed while the fourth swam 16 hours to reach the shore and was became a PoW.
Crew 2nd Squadron):
F/Lt Parker Henry Russell Hodge, pilot, †
P/O E. D. G. Howard, copilot,
Sgt Harold Claude Shore, †
Sgt Jack Mawdsley, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Martin 166 WH-3 in Tarakan

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
M-547
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
782
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Samarinda on an operation over the Tarakan area. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crash landed at Tarakan Airfield. There were no casualties among the crew.
Crew:
Ens H. G. Bouwers.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Kema: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Y-58
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The floatplane crashed into the sea off Kema while on a maritime patrol flight. No trace of the airplane nor the six crew members was found. Lost without trace.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Ambon: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1942 at 1640 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-29
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ambon - Ambon
MSN:
414-1880
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Ambon-Laha Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea few hundred metres offshore. Three crew members were killed and a fourth was injured.
Crew (13th Squadron):
F/O John Turnbull, pilot, †
F/O Robert Kelvin Allen, †
Sgt Walter John Lay, †
Sgt B. E. Hack.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a loss of control after the port engine caught fire and the starboard engine failed during the initial climb.