Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine aircraft left Nausori Airport at 0919LT on a special flight to Fua'amotu, Tonga. On final approach, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and lost control of the aircraft that crashed into the sea some 10 miles off shore. Despite extensive search, the authorities did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the six occupants.
Crew (4th Squadron):
F/O Donald Anderson,
F/O Clive Ibbotson,
Sgt Roland Wybourne,
LAC Arthur Clayton.
Passengers:
Major General Owen Herbert Mead,
Lt John Leslie.

Probable cause:

It is probable that pilots suffered a loss of situational awareness during an approach completed in low visibility due to bad weather conditions.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Misérié: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-11814

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

MSN:

310

YOM:

1941

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

En route, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a desert area located near the city of Misérié, west Chad. All eleven crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

It appears the loss of control was caused by a structural failure.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Egypt

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 130 Bombay

Operator:

Registration:

L5824

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Circumstances:

While overflying the Egyptian Desert, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing in the desert. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, there was no casualties. Crew from the 216th Squadron.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Douglas OA-4C Dolphin in Orlando

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Douglas Dolphin

Operator:

Registration:

32-397

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1084

YOM:

1932

Location:

Orlando

Florida

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed on take off. No casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson in Llanfair: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

N7253

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Sydenham - Hendon

MSN:

414-1649

YOM:

1940

Location:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft was performing a flight from RAF Sydenham (Belfast City) to RAF Hendon (Middlesex) with ten VIP passengers and a crew of three on board. While cruising over Wales in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture located in Llanfair, near Ruthin. All thirteen occupants were killed. It appears at the time of the accident, there was stormy weather with turbulence and it seems the aircraft went out of control after being striked by lightning.

Probable cause:

Aircraft went out of control while flying in thunderstorm activity and may have been struck by lightning.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-40-11 LodeStar off Queensland: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

VH-CAD

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Townsville – Cooktown

MSN:

2109

YOM:

1941

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Townsville to Cooktownn when the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Queensland. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Borinquen

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-11855

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

351

YOM:

1941

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

After touchdown at Borinquen Airport, the aircraft went out off control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames into an airport building. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Broken Head: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-198

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Horn Island - Amberley

MSN:

414-6463

YOM:

1942

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Circumstances:

After a flight from Horn Island, and while approaching Amberley by night, the crew became lost and continued to the south. By night, and probably short of fuel, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea some 3 km off Broken Head and sunk by 57 meters deep, off Tallow Beach, between Broken Head and Byron Bay. All ten occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Robert Thomas Trigg,
Sgt Douglas John Lovejoy,
Sgt Gavin Athole Laurie Mclaren,
Sgt Gordon William George Ridge,
Sgt David Leslie Bradley,
LAC Edward George Kimmins,
LAC William Edwards Evans,
LAC Harold Wilmot Johnstone,
LAC Frederick Albert Charles Wood,
AC1 Edward George Merefield.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA in Wingland

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 408 Wellington IA

Operator:

Registration:

L7774

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

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Region:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, an engine caught fire, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft eventually crash landed in a field located near Wingland. While the aircraft was destroyed by fire, all six crew members evacuated safely.

Probable cause:

Engine fire.