Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Beverley Islands: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-190
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mackay - Mackay
MSN:
414-6346
YOM:
1941
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 over the Northumberland Islands. En route, in unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea off the Beverley Islands. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
F/Lt Arthur E. Adams,
P/O John D. Power,
Sgt Brian Bright 1.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA near Giru: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-194
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Giru - Giru
MSN:
414-6359
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a combined training exercise with a second RAAF Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA registered A16-191 and carrying a crew of four as well. While cruising in the vicinity of Giru, both aircraft collided in unclear circumstances. The A16-191 crashed in a dense mangrove and all four crew members were killed. The pilot of A16-194 was able to complete an emergency landing between Barrattas and Barramundi Creek. While the aircraft was destroyed, three crew members were injured while the fourth occupant was killed.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
P/O L. Haliday, pilot 2,
Sgt Lancel Badman. †

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA near Giru: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-191
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Giru - Giru
MSN:
414-6356
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a combined training exercise with a second RAAF Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA registered A16-194 and carrying a crew of four as well. While cruising in the vicinity of Giru, both aircraft collided in unclear circumstances. The A16-191 crashed in a dense mangrove and all four crew members were killed. The pilot of A16-194 was able to complete an emergency landing between Barrattas and Barramundi Creek. While the aircraft was destroyed, three crew members were injured while the fourth occupant was killed.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
Sgt M. W. Cooper, pilot,
Sgt H. T. Gillam, copilot,
Sgt J. A. Herman, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O John L. Jewell, air gunner.

Crash of a Tugan LJW7 Gannet in the Arnhem Land

Date & Time: May 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A14-6
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Batchelor – Groote Eylandt
MSN:
TA-55
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Batchelor on an ambulance flight to Groote Eylandt, carrying one nurse and two crew members. While cruising over Arnhem Land, the crew became lost. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when it crashed in a swampy area and came to rest upside down. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. After 10 days in an hostile environment, the three survivors built make-shift raft from aircraft parts and set off drifting down the Cato River. After several days they were located by Aborigines who took them to Elcho Island Mission then on to the RAAF Station on Millingimbi Island, where they arrived 33 days after the crash.
Crew:
F/Sgt Francis Smallhorn, pilot,
AC1 George Booth, radio operator.
Passenger:
Cpl Phillip Bronk, nurse.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Reid River: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1390
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1390
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off from Reid River Airport, in unknown circumstances. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Port Moresby

Date & Time: May 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1486
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
1486
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While bombing Rabaul, the aircraft was hit by enemy. The crew was able to return to Port Moresby Airport but and touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. While the aircraft was wrecked, all eight crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Port Moresby: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1534
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
1534
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Port Moresby following a bombing mission in Rabaul. On approach to Port Moresby Airport, the aircraft was shot down by the pilots of three Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. The twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed few hundred yards short of runway and was written off. The tail gunner was killed, three other crew members were seriously injured and four others uninjured.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fighters.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Mount Gambier

Date & Time: May 10, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A4-46
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Mount Gambier, the twin engine aircraft collided with another Avro 652 Anson I registered N4936. The crew was able to continue the approach and to land safely. While all three crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair and later scrapped. The fate of the second aircraft remains unknown, as well as the exact circumstances of the collision.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Deboyne Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1402
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1402
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Deboyne Island. All seven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra near Nelson: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1942 at 0822 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AFE
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Wellington – Nelson
MSN:
1103
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While starting its descent and flying at an altitude of 5,775 feet in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit Mt Richmond located 21 km southeast of Nelson. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Deviation from the prescribed flight path for unknown reasons. Low visibility due to bad weather conditions was considered as a contributory factor.