Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Cootamundra - Cootamundra

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training mission when he encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. The twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed some 14 miles northwest of Ungarie. SAR were initiated but no trace of the airplane nor the crew was found. Locals found the wreckage in June 2008.
Crew (1st AOS):
P/O Robert Wesley-Smith,
LAC Henry Fisher,
LAC Arthur Kendall,
LAC John Spencer,
AC1 Roy Farnsworth.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IV near Gasmata: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A16-126

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Port Moresby - Port Moresby

MSN:

414-6055

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Port Moresby on an operation to Gasmata. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed in an isolated area. The wreckage was eventually found 66 years later, in May 2008. Some bullet holes were noted in the tail.
Crew (6th Squadron):
F/O Graham Ian Gibson, pilot,
P/O Frank Leslie Oliver Thorn, copilot,
Sgt Arthur Edward Quail,
Sgt Barton Irving Coutie.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-112 in the Sumba Strait

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-2

Operator:

Registration:

A30-8

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Surabaya – Kupang

MSN:

1291

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

On a flight from Surabaya to Kupang, while cruising along the Flores Island, the twin engine airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed in the Sumba Strait. All four crew members were rescued and transferred to Australia while the airplane sank and was lost.
Crew:
F/O Noel Wilson Webster,
F/Sgt Lionel Maurice Van Praag,
Sgt Eric Picker,
Cpl Frederick Christopher James Mason.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II off Papua New Guinea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A16-87

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

MSN:

414-1941

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea off PNG. The exact place of occurrence remains unknown. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (8th Squadron):
F/O Kenneth Vernon Hewett +3.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

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

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A24-8

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

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.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Salamaua: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A24-9

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Port Moresby – Salamaua

MSN:

259

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 A24-8. Approaching Salamaua, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. A crew survived while eight others were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
Lt G. Hutchinson, pilot, †
P/O Tom Rowe, copilot, †
Sgt Doug Coote, wireless operator, †
Cpl Jack Wyche, flight engineer, †
LAC Arthur Meadow, wireless operator, †
LAC Alan Downes, wireless operator, †
LAC John Graigie, armourer, †
AC1 Kenneth Murphy, flight engineer, †
Cpl Tom Keen, rigger.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II in Kupang: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1942 at 1830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A16-79

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

414-1933

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 200-300 feet, the left engine caught fire. The airplane stalled and crashed on the runway, bursting into flames. All 11 occupants were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Lt Robert Wylie Cuming, pilot,
P/O Robert Henry Martin, copilot,
P/O P. H. Richards,
Sgt J. Bessell-Browne.
Passengers:
Sgt A. E. Blake,
Sgt Henry Jennings Dean,
Sgt Kevin Henry Kelaher,
LAC O. F. E. Crawford,
LAC Edmund Geoffrey Mears,
LAC Vincent Harold Smith,
LAC Frank Morris.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the airplane was overloaded, which affected the operation of the port engine that caught fire during the initial climb. A precipitated and incorrect trim adjustment on part of the crew and/or a structural failure following the loss of the port engine may be considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II in Tondano: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A16-64

Flight Phase: