Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK off Alotau: 19 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1945 at 1015 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A65-56
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Alotau – Dobodura
MSN:
13920/25365
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Aircraft flight hours:
1911
Circumstances:
One minute after takeoff from Alotau Airport, while climbing, the captain informed ground he was encountering bad weather conditions and elected to return. Shortly later, the aircraft went out of control and apparently crashed into the sea off Alotau. Some debris were found a day later but no trace of the 19 occupants. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were unfavorable with turbulence and rain due to the presence of a tropical storm.
Crew (33rd Squadron):
F/Lt Eric Clarence Beer, pilot,
F/Lt John Francis Mulcahy,
F/Sgt Francis Xavier Sullivan.
Passengers:
Sgt Keith Hugh Devenish,
AC1 Albert John Haslam,
Cpl Neil Stuart Mackay,
LAC William Douglas Goldie Stevens,
Cpl Michael Francis Moran,
Sgt Wesley Greg Doran,
F/O William Patrick Reedman,
F/Sgt James Neville Davis,
F/Sgt Kevin Francis Rutherford,
F/Lt William John Gordon,
Cpl Eastall Lochlan Eastall,
LAC Albert Grant Walton,
LAC Percy Badon Healy,
Cook Gordon Liddell,
Lt Noel Thomas Williams,
Spr Keith Smith.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Seeadler Harbour: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1945 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4619
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
6264
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While returning to his base and completing a turn at a height of 75 feet, the crew lost control of the aircraft that crashed inverted in the Seeadler Harbour. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (4th Squadron):
F/Sgt Jack Mummery,
F/Sgt Joseph Hartley,
F/Sgt Arthur Doreen,
F/Sgt Richard Anderson,
F/Sgt Kenneth Taylor,
Cpl James Gibson.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK near Samarai Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
KN344
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sydney – Townsville – Alotau – Momote
MSN:
15912/32660
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near the Samarai Island while performing a cargo flight from Sydney to Momote. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Charles Raymond Kerferd Young, pilot,
F/O Frederick Dunlop Rutledge, navigator,
W/O Kenneth Clement Bevan, radio operator.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Emirau: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1945 at 0707 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4607
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
6205
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft banked left, hit the ground and crashed in flames. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (21st Squadron):
W/Cdr Andrew Henderson,
F/Lt Alexander Baxter,
F/Lt Arthur Lambie,
F/Sgt William Torkington.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers OA-10A Canso A into the Bismarck Sea: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
44-34050
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mokerang - Mokerang
MSN:
CV-561
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The seaplane left Mokerang Airfield at 0330LT to test the distance measuring equipment for COMAIR Admiralties. As the aircraft failed to return, SAR operations were conducted but were eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 12 occupants was found.
Crew (1551st AAFBU):
1st Lt Paul W. Drew, pilot,
Cpl Earnest John Bauer, flight engineer,
Sgt Ralph Elliott Beirdneau, radio operator,
Cpl Harry D. Paige Jr., radio operator.
Passengers:
1st Lt Paul C. Crouch,
1st Lt Gordon A. Johnson,
2nd Lt Robert L. Flicker,
2nd Lt Milton M. Tittler,
2nd Lt Ralph J. Greco,
S/Sgt Robert P. Eisele,
Sgt Clyde Allen Walker,
Cpl Carl A. Spangler.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Lelet Plateau: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4613
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Emirau - Rabaul
MSN:
6268
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew left Emirau Airport on a bombing mission to Rabaul. Following a uneventful mission and while returning to its base, the twin engine aircraft crashed in the Lelet Plateau. The wreckage was found in November 1945 only. All six crew members have been killed.
Crew (8th Squadron):
F/O Norman Benton,
F/Sgt James Cunneen,
F/Sgt Robert Buchanan,
W/O Chris Jeffares,
F/Sgt James Mallett,
Sgt Norman Merfield.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-6 in Papua New Guinea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
17277
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Momote – Biak
MSN:
14335/25780
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Lost without trace on a flight from Momote to Biak.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 off Momote: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
17133
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
12330
YOM:
1944
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reason off Momote Airport, into the Bismarck Sea. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK near Housecap: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1945 at 0800 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A65-39
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Aitape – Maprik
MSN:
12361
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Aitape-Tadji Airport at 0635LT on a supply mission to Maprik. Enroute, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain near Housecap. The wreckage was spotted by the pilot of a Beaufort the same day at 1330LT. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (38th Squadron):
F/Lt S. C. Akers,
F/Sgt J. W. Lawson,
Sgt W. J. McInroy.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Douglas C-54E-1-DO Skymaster in Lorangau: 21 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1945 at 2226 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-9043
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lorengau – Biak
MSN:
27269
YOM:
1944
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Lorengau Airport by night bound for Biak-Sorido. During the initial climb, the four engine aircraft crashed on a wooded hill located near the airfield and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All 21 occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Rex S. Brown,
Cwo Russell T. Crawford,
Cpt William V. Mudra,
2nd Lt Paul L. Reinhold,
Cpt Frank E. Stewart,
1st Lt Delmar E. Wortman.
Probable cause:
According to the US Command, the accident was caused by a succession of omissions on part of the crew. After lift off, the captain made a premature turn to the right while climbing to a height of 500 feet. According to airport procedures, a turn to the right after rotation could be made only if the aircraft reached the minimum safe altitude of 1,000 feet and minimum 45 seconds after lift off, which was not the case presently. For reasons which could not be accurately determined, flaps were retracted prematurely, preventing the aircraft to gain height. The absence of sufficient visibility caused by night was considered as a contributory factor.