Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Sale while performing a training mission. Four crew members were injured while the pilot F/Sgt R. S. Hayward was killed.

During takeoff, the aircraft became airborne but owing to insufficient flying speed, struck the water several times, bouncing severely on each occasion. It finally came to rest adjacent to the mangroves on the south eastern portion of East Arm where it sank due to a damaged hull. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

The crew was performing a cargo flight to Tarakan Airfield. The landing was completed with a strong tail wind and after touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, veered off runway and came to rest in the bush. All three crew members were unhurt but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crashed during takeoff from Amberley Airfield. Unfortunately the B-24 Liberator's brakes were applied too soon before the aircraft was safely in the air. As a consequence the nose of the aircraft dipped heavily into the runway causing the nose wheel assembly to collapse and also shearing the hydraulic lines for the engine controls. The aircraft subsequently skidded off the south east end of the runway into a 60 feet deep gulley and broke in half.
Crew (99th Squadron):
S/Ldr William Lloyd Milne, pilot
W/O Eric Ferdinand Carlson, copilot, †
F/Sgt Jack Grant Watson, flight engineer,
F/Sgt Marcel Kingsley Doolan, radar operator,
F/Sgt Warwick Manning Lane, air gunner,
F/Sgt Andrew Keith Cochrane, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt Allan Charles Annetts, air gunner,
F/Sgt Arthur Henry Clausen, navigator. †
Passengers:
Sgt John Raymond Slennett
Sgt John Knyvett
Cpl Jacqueline Ruth Row, †
Cpl Edith Tansley Sharpe, †
Acw Ruth Beryl Burcher,
LAC Waterman James Albert
LAC William Angus Ludbey,
AC1 Keith William Carlier,
LAC Douglas Charles Mighell,
LAC Leslie Arthur White,
LAC Mervyn John Edward Thornberry.
Source: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld245.htm

Thew aircraft failed to return from flight to Biak. There was no communication from the aircraft and it was not located despite a 3 day intensive search. As Dean Norman notes "After the successful landings at Balikpapan, Borneo by the Allied forces Sepinggang airfield was soon ready to take Allied aircraft and was also to become the new home to 2nd Squadron. 2 Squadron's move from Hughes airstrip began on this day when a flight of six Mitchell's, led by F/Lt Neil Sharpe, departed for Sepinggang airfield and were to fly via Biak and Pitu. During the approach to the New Guinea coast on the first leg the formation encountered low cloud and F/Lt Sharpe descended to 3,000 feet. He also noted that F/Lt White turn away, to the right before disappearing behind cloud. F/Lt Sharpe then dropped to 1,000 feet and radioed the formation that he was going to fly below the cloud and upon reaching the coast would orbit and wait for the remaining aircraft. Arriving over the coast F/Lt Sharpe realized that two aircraft, which had broken formation were no longer with them. Arriving at Mokmer, Biak one of the missing aircraft soon landed but A47-37 was not seen again. Despite a search for the aircraft and crew it was many years later that the wreckage would be located in Dutch New Guinea (PNG). The war ended the very next day".
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Lt Edward M. White,
F/O A. K. Morrell,
F/Sgt B. M. O'Brien,
F/Sgt R. A. MacGregor,
Cpl W. J. C. Maxwell,
LAC I. S. Coleman,
LAC B. A. Marshall,
LAC V. A. Morgan.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

The crew departed Pitu Airfield (Morotai Island) at 0800LT to attack Japanese antiaircraft positions located in Lolobata, on the neighboring island of Halmahera. As the aircraft failed to return at the end of the day, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended three days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (21st Squadron):
F/O Jack Bonfield Faviell,
F/O William Joseph Stubbs,
F/O Douglas Poultney Dewhurst,
W/O Bruce Vaughton Peach,
F/Sgt Neville Herbert Playford,
F/Sgt Ronald Jack Walker,
Sgt Gordon Malcolm Scott,
F/Sgt Robert William Delahunt,
F/Sgt Aubrey Edward Burgess.

The aircraft was involved in a reconnaissance and photographic mission over Indonesia. While approaching the Balikpapan area, the bomber was hit by enemy fire and crashed in flames. It appears that nine crew were killed instantly while three others were taken PoW and died later.
Crew (24th Squadron):
F/Lt Kenneth John Hanson, pilot,
W/O Alfred Cook, copilot,
Sgt Arnold Alexander Lockyer,
P/O George Grey Lindley,
F/Sgt William James Maxwell,
F/Sgt Stephen Patrick Cloake,
F/O John James Oliver Hume,
F/Sgt Frank Grainer Vincent Hutton,
F/Sgt John Victor Orgill,
F/Sgt Brendan Michael Heslin,
F/Sgt Charles Neville Nichol,
Cpl John R. Waite.

While approaching Balikpapan, the four engine aircraft was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire (probably from a Japanese Navy ship parked in the Balikpapan harbor) and crashed in an isolated area. The wreckage was found several hours later and all 12 occupants have been killed.
Crew (24th Squadron):
S/Ldr John Robert Walter Redman,
F/Lt Victor Skinnerrex,
W/O Harold Allan Gooding,
F/Sgt Leslie Rogers,
F/Sgt James Ogilvie Ross Vickers,
P/O Martin Allan Burrows,
F/Sgt Ronald Michael Cornelius,
F/Sgt Frederick Leslie Rollings,
F/Sgt Patrick Fraser Stanley,
F/Sgt Roy Tapper,
F/Sgt Harold Shadforth 1.

While approaching Balikpapan, the heavy bomber was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire and crashed into enemy territory. All 14 crew members were killed.
Crew (24th Squadron):
F/Lt R. McD. Beattie, pilot,
F/Lt A. M. Andrews, copilot,
Cpl R. W. V. Robinson, flight engineer,
F/Lt H. Stroud, navigator,
F/Lt T. Hockings, navigator,
F/Lt D. W. Willett, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt D. G. Featherstone, air gunner,
F/Sgt L. R. Sapwell, air gunner,
F/Sgt L. W. Devereux, air gunner,
F/Sgt A. J. Hogg, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt K. Patten, air gunner,
F/Lt K. R. Harrison,
Cpt H. W. Spry,
W/O F. B. Emanuel.

While flying off Balikpapan, the heavy bomber was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire from a Navy ship. The aircraft went out of control and dove into the sea. Seven crew members were able to bail out and survived while four others were killed.
Crew (21st Squadron):
G/C McLean, †
F/Lt Roy, †
W/O Bardwell, †
Sgt Martin, †
F/Sgt A. J. Stuart 6.