Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III near Westhaven Inlet: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1941 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2007
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Nelson - Nelson
MSN:
414-0502
YOM:
1940
Location:
Westhaven Inlet
Tasman District Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Nelson Airport on a three-hour survey flight within New Zealand. While cruising west of Nelson at night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In reduced visibility, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Westhaven Inlet. The wreckage was found seven days later and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Alexander John MacFarlane, pilot,
P/O Louis George William Volzke, navigator,
Sgt Keith Robertson Jack, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Phillip David Harris, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers Stranraer off Nanoose Bay: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1941 at 1550 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers Stranraer
Operator:
Registration:
927
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Patricia Bay - Patricia Bay
MSN:
CV-213
YOM:
1941
Location:
Nanoose Bay
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
646
Captain / Total hours on type:
55.00
Circumstances:
The seaplane departed Patricia Bay on a reconnaissance patrol mission. The pilot apparently endeavored to effect a landing on exceeding water off Nanoose Bay. The left wing tip apparently dropped and came in contact with a large wave causing the aircraft to slew violently to the left and force the nose into the water crashing the forward part of the hull and breaking all cockpit windows. The aircraft then sank nose first in approximately four minutes. Wing tip and tailplane only visible during this period of time. All eight crew members were killed and the body of the pilot was found four days later.
Crew:
F/Lt Donald Clark MacDougall, pilot,
Sgt Gordon Herbert Andrews, pilot,
Sgt Russell Tremaine Mitchell, navigator,
AC1 Robert William Adams, observer,
LAC William Dennis Riley, observer,
AC1 Robert Albert Blakely, wireless operator,
Sgt John Cunningham Gunn, wireless operator,
P/O Richard Wood, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Heavy landing in extremely rough water during a gale. The pilot endeavored to land on water which was much too rough to land any aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Vlieland Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
AM731
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
414-2813
YOM:
1941
Location:
Vlieland Island
Friesland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on a maritime patrol flight over the North Sea, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Vlieland Island. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Leonard William Almquist, pilot,
P/O James Alexander Bitcoin, observer,
P/O Percy George Ford, wireless operator,
Sgt Wilfred Turley, wireless operator.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-4 Catalina I off Milford Haven: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1941 at 0448 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
AH530
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pembroke
Location:
Milford Haven
Pembrokeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The floatplane departed RAF Pembroke Dock in the early morning on a maritime patrol flight over the Bay of Biscay. While taking off from the Milford Haven, it collided with a partially submerged obstacle and crashed between Milford Haven and Popton Fort. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Edward Arthur Jewiss, pilot,
F/Sgt John Percival Taylor, observer,
Sgt Arthur Berry, flight engineer,
Sgt Francis Foster De Smidt,
Sgt Harry Greenwood,
Sgt Stanley Napier,
F/Sgt Hubert Harding Penrose,
Sgt Wisden Warwick Stenning,
P/O Frank Richard Wellings.
Probable cause:
Collision with a submerged obstacle while taking off at night.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-4 Catalina off Davao City: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
1234
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1234
YOM:
1941
Location:
Davao City
Davao del Sur
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Attached to VP-101, the floatplane crashed into the sea off Davao City after being shot down by enemy fire. All seven crew members were killed. Double registration 1234 and 101-P-12.
Crew:
Ens Russell Snyder, pilot,
Ens William S. Jones,
AMM1c Arthur L. Gillis,
CRM Charles Mayer,
ACMM Hewlett W. Beane,
AMM3c Glenn B. Kirt,
RM2c Donald E. Lee.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina on Gemo Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-15
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
322
YOM:
1941
Location:
Gemo Island (Hanudamava Island)
National Capital District
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Port Moresby, while climbing, the floatplane impacted the slope of a mountain located on Gemo Island (Hanudamava Island). The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/O Lincoln James Sloan, pilot,
F/Lt Nelson Prior Reid, copilot,
Cpl Neville Lawrence Ernst, flight engineer,
Cpl Eric John O’Donnell, rigger,
LAC Charles James Matheson, flight engineer,
AC1 Keith Mighell Sidey, wireless operator,
AC1 Arthur Wallace Magee, wireless operator,
AC1 George Robert Peterson, armourer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY Catalina off Kota Bharu: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1941 at 0845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
W8417
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Kota Bharu
Kelantan
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While on a maritime patrol flight off Malaysia, the floatplane was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O William Edward Webb,
Sgt Stanley Abram,
Sgt Edward Alexander Bailey,
F/O Patrick Edwin Bedell,
AC1 William Thomas David Burnett,
LAC Arthur Henry Chapman,
Sgt Peter Eaton,
Sgt Colin Burns Treloar.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Tanjung Pandan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
Y-44
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Tanjung Pandan
Bangka-Belitung
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The floatplane crashed in unknown circumstances while on a maritime patrol mission. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland off Doonbeg: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1941 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
W3988
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Doonbeg
Munster
Country:
Ireland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While engaged in a maritime patrol flight, the floatplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea some 2,5 miles off Carrowmore, near Doonbeg. Nine crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew (201st Squadron):
F/Lt James Grant Fleming, pilot,
P/O Wilfred Sefton Emmett, pilot, †
Sgt Eric Willows Jackson, pilot, †
P/O Eric Gerald Marker, observer, †
Sgt Sydney James, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Maurice Walter Gerald Fox, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt James Cannell Masterton, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Frederick Walter Lea, flight engineer, †
LAC Arthur Doncaster, †
LAC Andrew Patrick Walker, †
AC1 Albert Everall Bennett. †

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Farsund: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
V9036
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
414-2560
YOM:
1941
Location:
Farsund
Agder
Country:
Norway
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on a maritime patrol flight along the Norwegian coast, the twin engine airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Farsund. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt J. D. Dolman,
Cpl H. W. De Lijn,
Sgt K. Van Togerern,
Mar A. Bom.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
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