Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF

Crashed on landing off Port Stephens. Crew fate remains unknown.

The crew was performing a training sortie from Sale Airport. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft entered a right turn when control was lost. The aircraft went into a spin and crashed into the sea 5 miles northeast of Seaspray. The wreckage was found some 400 meters off shore and all three crew members were killed.
Crew (3rd BGS):
F/Sgt Harry Alleyn Francis Dickinson,
LAC Vivian Arthur Westcott,
LAC Maurice White.

While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea off Aru Island. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
W/O V. L. Jackman,
F/O D. R. Hicks,
F/Sgt E. Quinn,
F/Sgt I. W. MacKenzie,
Sgt D. A. Emery.

The aircraft left Milingimbi at 0000LT on a maritime patrol flight. Thirty minutes later, bound to the north, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Arafura Sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the six crew members was ever found.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/O R. R. James,
Sgt R. E. Norris,
Sgt R. D. Ryan,
Sgt K. D. Krech,
Sgt P. S. Reen,
W/O N. E. Cutten.

Took off from Cairns at 1500LT to drop supplies to coastwatchers at two locations: Aita, Bougainville (for Coastwatcher Jack Read) and Bunbun, New Ireland. Arriving at Aita at 2300LT, the drop zone was easily located with the Catalina flying at 10,000', with clear skies and no moon visible. They commenced the drop and made two left circuits, dropping two parachutes. Prior to the third drop, an impact was heard and engine revved to full power at 2320LT. The Catalina impacted trees and crashed on a ridge. Three crew members were killed while six others were rescued.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/Lt William James Clark, pilot, †
F/O John Nigel Elmhurst Potts, copilot, †
Sgt Dudley James Ward, flight engineer, †
F/O Clifton Stuart Dunn, navigator,
Cpl John Fenwick, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/O Colin J. Twist,
Cpl Ronald Hugh Alexander Wettenhall,
Sgt Frederick Gordon Thompson,
Cpl Herbert Yates.
Source: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/pby/A24-43.html

The Hudson IIIA registered A16-183 was involved in a reconnaissance mission over Timoeka and left Milingimbi Airfield at 0611LT along with another RAAF Hudson IIIA registered A16-197. 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. R. Mills,
F/O R. E. John,
Sgt H. H. Hadley,
Sgt J. L. Barnes,
Sgt T. W. Bassen.

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.

En route, the twin engine aircraft disappeared. No trace of it nor the crew was ever found. It is believed that the aircraft crashed in the Burragorang Valley, and could possibly be submerged under the waters of Warragamba Dam.
Crew (34th Squadron):
Sgt Douglas Brian Doyle, pilot,
F/O Geoffrey Hugh Lester,
Sgt Francis Joseph Doyle,
Lt Umstead,
Lt Teague.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

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.

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.