Papua New Guinea

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in PNG. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

The aircraft was engaged in a bombing mission when it was attacked by enemy fire and crashed near Madang. Eight crew were killed while four others were taken as POW and later executed by the Japanese soldiers.

The seaplane took off from Cairns at 1040LT and proceeded to Milne Bay and landed to refuel then took off at 1600LT on a solo nuisance mission against Kavieng. At 2300LT, it reached the target area during a bright moonlite night at an altitude of 9,000 feet. Over Panapai Airfield but did not drop any bombs and received light anti-aircraft fire. During a second bomb run, it dropped two 250 lbs bombs and numerous incendiaries and photographs were taken, and heavy anti-aircraft fire was received but not accurate. Ships in Kavieng harbor opened fire with intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire aimed at this Catalina. Over Kavieng Airfield, made a third bomb run dropping two 500 lbs bombs and photographs were taken. The flying boat received intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire that required evasive maneuvers. At approximately 2350LT on an mission to attack Kavieng, a parachute flare inside this PBY ignited prematurely while its altitude setting ring was being adjusted. In order to prevent premature detonation of other ordnance or mid-air structural failure from fire, the Catalina ditched into Jacquinot Bay. The crew swam to shore in the vicinity of Malakua. The aircraft was lost.

Source: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/

The aircraft left Dobodura-North Borio Airfield at 1451LT but failed to arrive in Port Moresby-Wards Airport. SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was spotted on January 12, 1944, on the slope of Mt Victoria located in the Owen Stanley Range. Unfortunately, it was impossible for a rescue team to reach the site due to the difficult terrain.
Crew:
S/Sgt Benton D. Campbell,
1st Lt Gale J. Chase,
S/Sgt Joseph C. Draper,
1st Lt Frank C. Gecan,
Cpl Joseph J. Ransdell,
Cpl Everett F. Rogers.

The aircraft crashed into the Huon Gulf off Lae following a dual engine failure. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank 1,6 km offshore.

While approaching Port Moresby-Jackson Airfield at a height of 4,000 feet, both engines failed. The captain attemted an emergency landing in a prairie located 20 miles west of aerodrome, near the Vanapa River. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all four crew members were unhurt.

The aircraft left Port Moresby-Wards Airport in early morning and completed the initial climb in poor visibility. After few minutes, it hit the slope of a mountain located 13 km west of the airport and was destroyed by impact forces. All 15 occupants were killed. Qantas, the Australian National career, was performing this flight on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force and all passengers were US and RAAF soldiers and officers. By date, this crash is considered as the worst accident for Qantas since its foundation.
Crew:
S/L William Geoffrey Campbell, pilot,
P/O John Randolph Fleming Henderson, copilot,
F/Sgt Neil Grosvenor Evan, radio operator,
P/O Keith George Shankland Little, purser.
Passengers:
Robert E. Lewis,
Harry H. Poague,
Lt Col C. V. Ferry,
Lt Col Edward John Marston,
Maj J. F. McCarthy,
Lt Col John Benedict Bolger,
2nd Lt John E. Brown,
S/Sgt Vincent W. Novak,
Cpt John W. Baish,
Col Frank O. Dewey,
F/Sgt Leslie Harold Jenke.

The aircraft left Port Moresby-7 Mile Airfield at the end of the day on a reconnaissance flight over the Bismarck Sea. A last radio communication was set at 2145LT and as the aircraft failed to return, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage and bones were found by locals on Mt Eiyawaiy, near the village of Engati, in 1982.
Crew (43rd BG):
1st Lt Richard Heuss, pilot,
2nd Lt Robert Miller, copilot,
2nd Lt Robert R. Streckenbach, navigator,
2nd Lt Edward French, bombardier,
T/Sgt Charles Bode, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Ivan O. Kirkpatrick, assistant to flight engineer,
S/Sgt Roy Suribian, radio operator,
S/Sgt William K. Musgrave, assistant to radio operator,
S/Sgt James T. Moran, air gunner,
S/Sgt James B. Moore, air gunner,
S/Sgt Lucian I. Oliver Jr., air gunner.

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Port Moresby, killing all six crew members.

The crew was involved in a training flight from Dobodura and was scheduled to turn above Cape Killerton. Shortly after take off, the crew shut down one of the engine but most probably due to a magneto failure, was unable to restart it. The captain decided to ditch the aircraft but for unknown reason, landed too far off shore. The aircraft christened 'Reluctant Dragon' sank rapidly by deep water and was lost. Two crew members were killed while three others occupants could swim to the beach.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Carroll C. McGlasson, pilot,
2nd Lt Douglas W. Diggs, copilot, †
S/Sgt Clifford F. McClure, crew chief, †
S/Sgt Donald G. Murray, radio operator.