Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Approaching Zāwiyat Masūs at night, the airplane was shot down by the German Flak and crashed. A crew was killed and seven others became PoW.
Crew (216th Squadron):
Sgt Anthony Edward Carter, †
F/O Frank Edward Wilcox,
F/O J. N. G. Bateman,
Sgt J. R. Bell,
LAC L. D. F. Llewellyn,
AC1 W. Hutchison,
F/Lt E. G. L. Pelling,
LAC E. W. Walker.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Palembang

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-2419

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

2230

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing on a wet grassy runway, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to a halt. There were no injuries among the crew.

Crash of a Bell YFM-1A Airacuda in Dewey: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Bell YFM-1 Airacuda

Operator:

Registration:

38-497

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chanute - Keesler

Location:

Dewey

Illinois

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Chanute AFB to Keesler AFB, the crew encountered technical problems and abandoned the airplane that crashed in an open field in Dewey, bursting into flames. The copilot was found uninjured while the pilot was killed after his parachute failed to open.
Crew (10th ABS):
1st Lt James Otis Read, pilot.

Probable cause:

An hydraulic broke out in flight, then a fire erupted.

Crash of a Dornier DO.24K-1 off Sungai Riko: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.24

Operator:

Registration:

X-14

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Surabaya – Sungai Riko

MSN:

774

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The floatplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Bay of Sungai Riko while trying to land following a flight from Surabaya. Three crew members were killed and a fourth was injured.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY Catalina I near Punta Carnero: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942 at 0715 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

AJ157

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The floatplane departed Gibraltar Airport at 0702LT on an operation flight. Thirteen minutes later, it impacted the slope of a hill located west of Punta Carnero. All 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Peter Bruce Alexander, pilot,
F/O Reginald Clive Derrick, pilot,
F/Lt Sidney Cecil Romer, pilot,
Sgt Geoffrey Gordon Taylor, observer,
Sgt William Godderidge, wireless operator,
Sgt James Johnstone, wireless operator,
Sgt Frank Anthony Westkelsey, wireless operator,
F/Sgt John Turnbull, air gunner,
Sgt George Thomas Darville, air gunner,
Sgt Thomas Idwal Roberts, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo near Penonomé: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Douglas B-18 Bolo

Operator:

Registration:

36-299

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

1687

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 15 km northeast of Penonomé. At least one crew was killed.
Crew:
George C. Denter.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Lugi

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3992

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

184 22 11 ?

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing in Lugi while on an evacuation operation, the airplane ended up in a ravine and was damaged beyond repair. All six crew members were injured, both pilots seriously.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Salamaua: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

A24-8

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Port Moresby – Salamaua

MSN:

250

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was on a flight to Salamaua, carrying radio equipment, and was in formation with a second RAAF Catalina registered A24-9. Approaching Salamaua, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. Three crew members were killed and five others were rescued.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/Lt Robert Thompson, pilot,
F/Lt Paul Metzler, copilot,
LAC Charles Sollitt, wireless operator,
LAC Leo Clarke, wireless operator, †
AC1 Ken Parkyns, flight engineer,
Cpl Jack Perrett, flight engineer, †
AC1 Bill Blackman, rigger,
LAC James Cox, armourer. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.