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

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-15
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
322
YOM:
1941
Region:
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 Lockheed L-414 Hudson II off Kota Bharu: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-94
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kota Bharu - Kota Bharu
MSN:
414-1948
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Kota Bharu on an operation against Japanese forces. It was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea some 5 miles offshore. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (1st Squadron):
F/Lt J. G. L. Jones, pilot,
F/O R. H. Siggins, pilot,
Sgt D. W. Walters, wireless operator,
Sgt G. J. Hedges, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Kota Bharu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-19
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kota Bharu - Kota Bharu
MSN:
414-1870
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Kota Bharu on an operation against Japanese forces. It was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea some 5 miles offshore. Three crew members were killed and a fourth became PoW.
Crew (1st Squadron):
F/Lt J. C. Ramshaw, pilot, †
F/O Donald Alexander Dowie, pilot,
Sgt G. C. White, wireless operator, †
Sgt J. C. Coldrey, wireless operator. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Darwin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-8
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Darwin - Dawrin
MSN:
414-1859
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight on behalf of the 13th Squadron. After simulating an aerial attack, the pilot initiated a steep descent. Approaching the ground, he pulled up the control column but the airplane impacted the ground with its left wing. The left engine was torn off and the pilot regain control for few seconds before the aircraft eventually crashed into the sea, some 250 metres offshore. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Murray Charles Davies,
F/O Paul John Wallace Keely,
Sgt Maxwell Alexander Hipkins,
LAC James Curry.
Probable cause:
Poor judgment on part of the pilot who did not evaluate correctly the distance with the ground while simulating an attack.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Brisbane

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A7-85
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brisbane - Brisbane
MSN:
540
YOM:
1928
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Brisbane-Archerfield Airport. Both pilots were uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Cootamundra: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
A33-2
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6318
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The pilot tried to maintain control of the aircraft that stalled, hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area 1 mile from the airport. All four passengers were injured and the pilot was killed.
Crew (1st AOS):
F/O William Wynward Adrian, pilot.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Pulau Redang: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1941 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-49
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
414-1900
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While completing a routine maritime patrol flight, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea some three miles northwest of the Pulau Redang Island. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (8th Squadron);
F/Lt P. R. Barnes,
F/O K. F. Ryan,
Sgt Jack Mawdsley,
Cpl R. Rose,
Cpl A. R. Campbell,
LAC A. J. Butler.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Glenbrook: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A4-5
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Parkes – Sydney
MSN:
971
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Parkes on an ambulance flight to Sydney-Mascot Airport, carrying one patient, one doctor and three crew members. While overflying Glenbrook at low height, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed at the intersection of two streets, downtown Glenbrook. While no one on the ground was injured, all five occupants were killed.
Crew:
P/O J. I. Newman, pilot,
F/O Henry Theodore Skillman, copilot,
AC1 C. R. Tysoc, wireless operator.
Passengers:
S/L James Manning Rainbow, medical officer,
P/O Bailey Middlebrook Sawyer, patient.
Probable cause:
According to witnesses, it appears the aircraft went out of control following a partial loss of the left wing, maybe due to a structural failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Adelaide

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A7-96
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Adelaide - Adelaide
MSN:
1883
YOM:
1932
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane crashed upon landing at Adelaide-Parafield Airport while completing a local training flight. Both pilots evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Brisbane

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A7-114
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brisbane - Brisbane
MSN:
241
YOM:
1926
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training exercise at Brisbane-Archerfield Airport when the airplane crashed upon landing for unknown reasons. Both pilots were uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and used for spares.