Crash of a Lockheed 14-H2 Super Electra in Cairns: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ADS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cairns – Wau
MSN:
1431
YOM:
1938
Location:
Cairns
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cairns Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a mangrove. Both crew members were killed. They were performing a positioning flight to Wau to evacuate refugees.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Mallala: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
A4-31
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mallala - Mallala
MSN:
1026
YOM:
1937
Location:
Mallala
South Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training exercise at Mallala Airport. Shortly after takeoff, the twin engine airplane collided with a second RAAF Avro 652 Anson registered A4-6 and also carrying a crew of two. Both aircrafts went out of control and crashed near the runway. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (6th SFTS):
LAC Keith Allan Mustow,
LAC Keith Grant Hayter.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Mallala: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
A4-6
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mallala - Mallala
MSN:
0972
YOM:
1936
Location:
Mallala
South Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training exercise at Mallala Airport. Shortly after takeoff, the twin engine airplane collided with a second RAAF Avro 652 Anson registered A4-31 and also carrying a crew of two. Both aircrafts went out of control and crashed near the runway. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (6th SFTS):
LAC Stanley Livingstone McFarlane,
LAC Charles Tilley Collett Shopee.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Ungarie: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
AW677
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cootamundra - Cootamundra
Location:
Ungarie
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission when he encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. The twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed some 14 miles northwest of Ungarie. SAR were initiated but no trace of the airplane nor the crew was found. Locals found the wreckage in June 2008.
Crew (1st AOS):
P/O Robert Wesley-Smith,
LAC Henry Fisher,
LAC Arthur Kendall,
LAC John Spencer,
AC1 Roy Farnsworth.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IV near Gasmata: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-126
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
414-6055
YOM:
1941
Location:
Gasmata
West New Britain
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Port Moresby on an operation to Gasmata. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed in an isolated area. The wreckage was eventually found 66 years later, in May 2008. Some bullet holes were noted in the tail.
Crew (6th Squadron):
F/O Graham Ian Gibson, pilot,
P/O Frank Leslie Oliver Thorn, copilot,
Sgt Arthur Edward Quail,
Sgt Barton Irving Coutie.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon I in Wenlock

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wenlock – Cairns
MSN:
6046
YOM:
1933
Location:
Wenlock
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Wenlock Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine caught fire. The pilot Stewart G. Hack initiated a turn to the left to return for an emergency landing. On approach, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. All five occupants escaped uninjured and the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The left engine caught fire after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas R3D-2 off Australia

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-5
Operator:
Registration:
1904
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
609
YOM:
1940
Location:
Australia
All Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was hit by a Japanese submarine and crashed on an island off Australia. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress in Batchelor

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
40-3067
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3067
YOM:
1940
Location:
Batchelor
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after take off from Batchelor Airport, Northern Territories. All five occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The reason of the mishap remains unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II off Papua New Guinea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-87
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
414-1941
YOM:
1940
Location:
Papua New Guinea
All Papua New Guinea
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea off PNG. The exact place of occurrence remains unknown. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (8th Squadron):
F/O Kenneth Vernon Hewett +3.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Salamaua: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-8
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Salamaua
MSN:
250
YOM:
1941
Location:
Salamaua
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a flight to Salamaua, carrying radio equipment, and was in formation with a second RAAF Catalina registered A24-9. Approaching Salamaua, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. Three crew members were killed and five others were rescued.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/Lt Robert Thompson, pilot,
F/Lt Paul Metzler, copilot,
LAC Charles Sollitt, wireless operator,
LAC Leo Clarke, wireless operator, †
AC1 Ken Parkyns, flight engineer,
Cpl Jack Perrett, flight engineer, †
AC1 Bill Blackman, rigger,
LAC James Cox, armourer. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.
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