Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Mount Fox

Date & Time: May 7, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-2652
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2463
YOM:
1941
Location:
Mount Fox
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Mount Fox, Queensland. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Charters Towers

Date & Time: May 7, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-2631
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2442
YOM:
1941
Location:
Charters Towers
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, the captain decided to return due to unknown technical problems. The four engine aircraft crashed on landing and was wrecked. All six crew members were unhurt.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Misima Island: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-20
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
386
YOM:
1942
Location:
Bwagaoia (Misima Island)
Milne Bay
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While performing a maritime patrol flight off PNG, the seaplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea off Misima Island. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
S/L Godfrey Ellard Hemsworth, pilot,
Sgt Jack Ronald Counter, pilot,
P/O Leopold Guy McClintock, observer,
Sgt John Percy William Bandy, wireless operator,
LAC Norman Robert Banvill, mechanic,
Cpl Colin Marsden, flight engineer,
LAC Kenneth John Arnott, flight engineer,
LAC Eric Dorman, rigger,
LAC Erwin Bruce Brown, armourer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Bougainville Island

Date & Time: May 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-18
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
350
YOM:
1941
Location:
Bougainville Island
Autonomous Region of Bougainville
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol mission off PNG. En route, the seaplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. All nine occupants were rescued and taken POW. On November 4, 1942, all of them were executed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder on Trobriand Islands: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1426
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1426
YOM:
1940
Location:
Trobriand Islands (Kiriwina Islands)
Milne Bay
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Rabaul to New Guinea, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing on an Island located in the Trobriand archipelago. On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, overturned and came to rest upside down. Two crew members were killed while all five other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WF62 Super Electra near Pine Creek: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1942 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ADY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Brisbane – Alice Springs – Daly Waters – Batchelor – Darwin
MSN:
1498
YOM:
0
Location:
Pine Creek
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
On the last leg to Darwin, the crew lost his orientation while cruising in rain falls and night. Due to poor visibility, the crew was unable to locate the airport of Darwin and continued over the sea. Few minutes later, pilots realized they were flying over the sea and returned to the continent but could not see the city of Darwin nor its airport. Crew informed ATC he was low of fuel and wanted to land shortly but eventually, the twin engine aircraft hit a mountain slope near Annaburroo Station, in the region of Pine Creek. Rescuers did not find any trace of the aircraft and all operations were suspended few days later. Eventually, the wreckage and all 12 dead bodies were found on June 30, 1942, in an isolated area. The occupants were two pilots and ten US soldiers. The aircraft was built in May 1939 and delivered to Guinea Airways on June 9, 1940.
Probable cause:
Crew lost his orientation due to the failure of both radio compass while flying by night in poor weather conditions (rain falls). Due to low visibility, the crew was unable to establish his real position and to locate the Darwin's Airfield.

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

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1473
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1473
YOM:
1940
Location:
Townsville
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off from Garbutt AFB, near Townsville. The crew was en route to Papua New Guinea. All eight occupants were killed.

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

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1419
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Townsville
MSN:
1419
YOM:
1940
Location:
Palm Island
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route, while flying along the northeast Australian coast, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and the captain attempted to ditch the aircraft off Palm Island. The twin engine aircraft contacted the water and sunk quickly, causing seven crew members to be killed.
Probable cause:
Technical problems.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Geraldton

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2409
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Geraldton
Western Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The seaplane landed hard off Geraldton, took water and was later brought to the shore where it struck rocks and was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was heavy loaded (some 30,000 pounds). All seven crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Heavy landing.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Rabaul: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1400
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1400
YOM:
1940
Location:
Rabaul
East New Britain
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While flying near Rabaul, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed. Five crew members were killed while two others were rescued and taken POW.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
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