Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

The Hudson IIIA registered A16-197 was involved in a reconnaissance mission over Timoeka and left Milingimbi Airfield at 0611LT along with another RAAF Hudson IIIA registered A16-183. Both aircraft were carrying 5 crew members. Four minutes after take off, while in initial climb, both aircraft collided and crashed on Crocodile Island, northwest of Milingimbi Airport. Both wreckage were found 600 yards from each other and all 10 occupants were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/O K. E. Daniel,
F/O J. Laws,
Sgt W. J. Gove,
Sgt Wilson,
Sgt J. G. Butler.

Following an uneventful night anti-submarine mission off the Australian coast, the crew was returning to his base after a 23 hours and 23 minutes flight. On approach to Cairns' harbor, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea. Six crew members were killed while two others were rescued. The aircraft was lost but later converted to ground training aid.

The aircraft left Port Moresby-7 Mile Airfield at 1010LT on a reconnaissance mission. Four hours later, the aircraft was attacked by several Japanese Mitsubishi Zero fighters. A fuel tank near the engine number two was hit and four crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft went into a spin and crashed on the slopes of the Hong Kong mountain overlooking the Waterfall Bay, in the region of Matong village. All six crew who remained aboard were killed while all four others were later captured by Japanese soldiers. Three of them were executed and only one (S/Sgt Cascio) survived the war.
Crew (43rd BG):
1st Lt Ernest A. Naumann, pilot,
1st Lt Winslow G. Gardner, copilot, †
Sgt Albert Smith, radio operator, †
S/Sgt Paul J. Cascio Jr., radio operator,
2nd Lt Charles H. Lewis, navigator, †
T/Sgt Thomas H. Fox, flight engineer,
2nd Lt Oliver R. Alvin, bombardier, †
S/Sgt Virgil E. DeVoss, air gunner, †
Sgt Bruno R. Bukalski, air gunner, †
Pfc Charles H. Green Jr., air gunner.

Involved in an anti-submarine mission off the Australian coast, the Catalina was carrying a crew of ten on behalf of the 11th Squadron. En route, the captain declared an emergency due to an in flight fire. Control was lost and the seaplane crashed into the Gulf of Carpentaria, killing all ten occupants.

Following an uneventful reconnaissance mission over North Timor, the twin engine aircraft was returning to its base in Darwin when on approach, it crashed into the sea one mile off Nightcliff, in the suburb of Darwin. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (18th Squadron):
S/Maj G. Tijmons, pilot,
Sgt K. van Bremen, copilot,
S/Maj F. J. van Wylick, radio operator,
F/Sgt Ronald James Hill, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt George Bryanton Weller, wireless operator and air gunner.

The crew was performing a reconnaissance mission over the Kaimana Bay. While returning to its base, the twin engine aircraft was attacked by the pilots of two Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. An oil line on the right engine was damaged so the right engine was cut. The captain was able to leave the combat area and decided to divert to Darwin. While approaching the Australian coast, due to fuel shortage, the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft off Point Jahleel, on Melville Island. While the aircraft sunk and was lost, all five crew members were rescued.
Crew (18th Squadron):
2nd Lt R. L. N. Swane, pilot,
1st Lt A. J. de Wolf, copilot,
2nd Lt C. E. Begeman, bombardier,
Sgt Rouvroye, radio navigator,
Sgt William Charles Donald Moore, air gunner.

The twin engine aircraft left RAF Davidstow Moor at 1455LT to find a dinghy spotted off Guernsey Island. En route, the crew was informed that weather conditions were deteriorating and that he should divert to Exeter Airport. While flying along the north shore of Cornwall, the aircraft crashed into the Carbis Bay, one mile off Saint Ives. Four crew members were killed while the captain was seriously injured. He died from his injuries a day later.
Crew (279th Squadron):
F/O Edward George Gibbs, pilot,
W/O Harry Robert Bacon,
F/Sgt Lindsay Vaughan Fletcher,
W/O Robert Michael Long,
W/O Edwin Pearce Povey.

Crew was engaged in an operational survey flight. The Hudson crashed in unknown circumstances near Yarmouth, killing all six on board.
Crew:
C. L. Tripp 5.

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Darwin following a maritime patrol flight. Crew fate unknown.

The crew was performing a maritime patrol flight when he sent a brief mayday message and informed ground that a fire broke off in the cabin. Shortly later, the seaplane crashed into the Solomon Sea, some 50 km south of Gasmata. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (11th Squadron):
W/C Francis Blomfield Chapman, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Noblett Stephens, copilot,
F/O John Trevor David Todd, navigator,
Sgt John Edward Dewhurst, flight engineer,
LAC Robert George Docking, flight engineer,
F/O Stanley Alfred Deacon, radio operator,
F/O Malcolm Bradshaw, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt Lloyd George Stanley, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Colin Neville Anderson, armourer.