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Crash of a Consolidated B-24L-5-CO Liberator in Fenton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1945 at 2355 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A72-88
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fenton - Fenton
MSN:
5396
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft crashed when attempting to land at Fenton Airfield, in the Northern Territory, following a bombing raid on Japanese shipping targets in Timor. The Liberator was out of fuel and losing height rapidly. It was just before midnight and conditions were very hazy and the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Arthur Cambridge, could not see the runway flare path. On his first approach to land, he was too far to the left of the runway. He was advised of this by radio contact with ground control. On his second attempt to land, three of the four fuel pressure gauges dropped to zero and the Liberator swung violently to port. Cambridge ordered the crew to crash positions and with his undercarriage still retracted the Liberator crashed through some trees 3 kilometers from Fenton Airfield and struck the ground in a more or less level attitude. A fire broke out below the flight deck, possibly due to damage to the auxiliary power unit. Two crew members were killed while nine other occupants were rescued.
Crew (24th Squadron):
F/Lt Arthur Aram Cambridge, pilot,
W/O F. Crawford, copilot,
F/Lt John Richard Parkinson, bombardier, †
F/O Ivan Fernley Coward, navigator,
F/O Geoffrey Wallace Rhodes, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt Allen George Cullen, flight engineer,
F/O John McPherson Pitt, air gunner, †
F/Lt Victor Charles Edward Scanlon, air gunner,
P/O Geoffrey Neil Johnson, radio operator,
Sgt Ernest Lancelot Francis, air gunner,
Sgt Ernest William Jennings, air gunner.
Source: http://www.ozatwar.com/nt29.htm
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion on final approach.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar in Merauke

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1945 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A67-6
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
18-2610
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During takeoff roll, a tyre burst. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Tyre burst on takeoff.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24L-1-CO Liberator in Timor: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
A72-70
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Fenton - Fenton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Fenton on a reconnaissance mission. While flying over Timor (Cape Chater), the heavy bomber was shot down by the Japansese Flak and crashed, killing all eleven crew members.
Crew (24th Squadron):
W/O Evelyn Bruce Baile,
F/Sgt William James Cornes,
F/Lt Kenneth William Edwards,
F/Lt Thomas Guy Evans,
F/Sgt Graham Neil Head,
W/O Jack Holt,
Sgt David Knox Kyle-Little,
F/Sgt Noel Patrick Martin,
P/O Kenwyn Howard Richards,
F/Sgt Joseph Arthur William Stevenson,
P/O Leonard King Teitzel.
Source: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/a72-70.htm

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Mount Druitt: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1945 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A34-65
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Richmond - Richmond
MSN:
2054
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a training flight out from RAAF Richmond, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in Mount Druitt, in the suburb of Sydney. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O George Ashurst,
P/O Kenneth Arthur Henry Biggs,
W/O Ian Castles Powell,
Cpl Bruce Allan Brownjohn,
LAC Henry Alan Taylor.
Probable cause:
It appears that the loss of control was caused by engine problems.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II in Richmond: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1944 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-68
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Richmond - Richmond
MSN:
1921
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
During the day, technical anomalies were noted on the engines and the captain decided to perform a test flight. The twin engine aircraft left Richmond Airfield at 1620LT. Ten minutes into the flight, the captain informed ground about technical problems and elected to return to the airport. On final approach, while at a height of 200-300 feet, the left engine failed. The aircraft banked left, hit power cables and crashed in a huge explosion some 400 yards short of runway threshold. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Ronald William Shore, pilot,
F/O John James Broderick, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Francis Fletcher Smith,
ACW Nancy Margaret Ralph,
Cpl Robert Henry McIlroy, instrument maker,
LAC Joseph Michael Gleeson,
Cpl John McLennon Allen,
LAC Noel Austin Chamberlain.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Broome

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-76
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Broome – Darwin
MSN:
1661
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on an early morning departure from Broome on behalf of the 43rd squadron. No casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Manila: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-64
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Australia following a mining mission of the Manila Bay. In unknown circumstances, the seaplane crash off Manila, maybe into the Manila Bay. The wreckage was eventually discovered in early 2019.
Thanks to Maree Oddy for his testimony here below.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Makaranui

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ413
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New Plymouth - New Plymouth
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, while on a training flight from New Plymouth, the aircraft suffered a fuel exhaustion and the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in Makaranui, near Ohakune. While all three occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Port Fairy: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AW878
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising along the shore, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea off Port Fairy. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd AOS):
F/Sgt James Henry MacLellan, pilot,
F/Sgt Dennis Leslie Baulderstone, instructor,
LAC Norman Thomas Kruck, student observer,
LAC Brian Carter Ladyman, student observer.

Crash of a North American B-25D Mitchell off Perron Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1944 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A47-6
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
100-20753
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to a SAR mission following the missing of another RAAF B-25 Mitchell. While flying off the Perron Island, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Hilford Charles Easton, pilot,
W/O Gordon Sydney James King.