Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Dobodura

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1368
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
1368
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Boeing B-17-E Flying Fortress in Port Moresby

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-2481
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2292
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Port Moresby-7 Mile Airfield, the aircraft suffered a structural failure and crashed in a field. All crew members from the 63rd BS were uninjured while the aircraft christened 'Old Topper' was damaged beyond repair and used for spares.
Source & photo:
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/41-2481.html
Probable cause:
Structural failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Winima: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1943 at 1025 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-23698
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
9560
YOM:
1943
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight to Wau with a load of bombs and ammunition. In flight, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 12 km southeast of Wau and was destroyed. The place of the accident was spotted few days later and rescuers reached the site mid September only. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (317th TCG):
F/O Robert P. Hutson, pilot,
2nd Lt Melvin L. Kinney, copilot,
S/Sgt Frank A. Wise,
Cpl Sidney Israel.
Passengers:
Cpl Henry Edward Conway,
LAC John Brough Tarrant,
LAC Harold Edward Stocker.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Tsile Tsile: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-18668
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Tsile Tsile
MSN:
6029
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While approaching Tsile Tsile-Maralina Airfield at low height, the aircraft was attacked by a Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar. The aircraft went out of control and crashed 8 miles south of the airfield, killing all nine occupants. No trace of the aircraft was found.
Crew (374th TCG):
1st Lt Charles O. Cathcart, pilot,
F/O Darwin R. Hamilton, copilot,
Sgt Theodore Slocki, flight engineer,
Sgt William H. Fetzer, radio operator.
Passengers:
Cpl Jeremiah J. Ryan,
Pfc Austin J. Lothschutz,
Pvt Sam Rothstein,
Cpl Thomas B. Renkes,
Earl L. Kahler.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Tsile Tsile: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-18682
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Tsile Tsile
MSN:
6088
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While approaching Tsile Tsile-Maralina Airfield at low height, the aircraft was attacked by a Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar. During this first attack, a passenger was killed and the aircraft caught fire. The captain attempted to make an emergency landing when on a second attack, he was killed. The aircraft hit trees and crashed in a wooded area. Five crew members were killed while a passenger was seriously injured and transferred to the hospital in Port Moresby where he died few hours later.
Crew (374th TCG):
1st Lt Enoch P. Burley, pilot,
1st Lt James F. Miles, copilot,
T/Sgt Edward R. Bering, crew chief,
Pvt John Kvaka Jr., radio operator.
Passengers:
Cpt Robert C. Heller,
Cpl Virgil H. Dockery.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Buin: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1943 at 0540 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-9128
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Carney - Carney
MSN:
2600
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew left Carney Airfield in the early morning to attack the Kahili Airfield in Buin. Following a successful mission, the aircraft christened 'De-Icer' was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashed in flames 5 miles northwest of the airfield. All ten crew members were killed.
Crew (5th BG):
1st Lt Karl G. Stubblefield, pilot,
2nd Lt William E. Nevling, copilot,
1st Lt Walter C. Witherspoon, navigator,
1st Lt Robert J. Jones, bombardier,
M/Sgt Lowell E. Symons, flight engineer,
T/Sgt John L. Larson, assistant engineer,
T/Sgt Thomas H. Shadrick, radio operator,
Sgt Don E. Christenson, assistant radio operator,
Sgt Ranier P. Payton,
S/Sgt Louis Penven Jr.
Probable cause:
Shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Salamaua: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1444
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1444
YOM:
1940
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Salamaua on a bombing mission, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed and came to rest. A crew member was killed while seven others were injured.
Crew (22nd BG):
Cpl Willard H. Lindeman. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Buin: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-9153
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
2625
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
En route, the four-engine bomber christened 'Tokyo Taxi' was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed in flames near the Kahili Airfield, in the region of Buin. All ten crew members were killed.
Crew (23rd BS):
Cpl William T. Davis,
1st Lt Rex Eckles,
2nd Lt William H. Fox,
S/Sgt Raymond H. Greene,
Sgt Paul L. Hensley,
Cpl Edmund O. Hill,
2nd Lt David C. Jones,
Sgt Herbert J. Kelly,
2nd Lt Richard H. Knop,
Sgt Charles D. Savedge.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress into the Baining Mountains: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-2430
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Dobodura - Port Moresby
MSN:
2241
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Dobodura Airfield at 0145LT to bomb the airport of Rabaul-Vunakanau. Following an uneventful mission, the crew left the combat area when it was attacked by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. The aircraft christened 'Naughty But Nice' went out of control and only the navigator was able to bail out before the aircraft crashed into the Baining Mountains, south of Rabaul. All nine other crew members were killed.
Crew (43rd BG):
1st Lt William J. Sarsfield Jr., pilot, †
2nd Lt Charles E. Trimingham, copilot, †
1st Lt Francis G. Peattie, bombardier, †
1st Lt Jose L. Holguin, navigator
2nd Lt Herman H. Knott, bomb aimer, †
T/Sgt Robert L. Christopherson, flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Henry Garcia, second flight engineer, †
T/Sgt Leonard A. Gionet, radio operator, †
S/Sgt Robert E. Griebel, assistant to the radio operator, †
S/Sgt Pace P. Payne, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Put Put: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1943 at 0420 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-9011
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Dobodura - Port Moresby
MSN:
2483
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
After an uneventful bombing mission over the airfield of Rabaul-Vunakanau, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter over the Lihir Island and crashed in Put Put. Seven crew members were killed while four others were taken PoW.
Crew (43rd BG):
Cpt Joseph W. Geddes, pilot, †
2nd Lt Leon S. King, †
1st Lt Leslie W. Neuman,
2nd Lt Saul Albert, †
2nd Lt William A. Bujold, navigator, †
T/Sgt William R. Moore, flight engineer, †
T/Sgt Emil Gentry, †
S/Sgt Ernest W. Burnside,
Cpl John J. Mulligan,
Pvt John L. Honold, †
Pvt Robert E. George, 15072338.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.