Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Salamaua: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-9
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Salamaua
MSN:
259
YOM:
1941
Location:
Salamaua
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a flight to Salamaua, carrying radio equipment, and was in formation with a second RAAF Catalina registered A24-8. Approaching Salamaua, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. A crew survived while eight others were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
Lt G. Hutchinson, pilot, †
P/O Tom Rowe, copilot, †
Sgt Doug Coote, wireless operator, †
Cpl Jack Wyche, flight engineer, †
LAC Arthur Meadow, wireless operator, †
LAC Alan Downes, wireless operator, †
LAC John Graigie, armourer, †
AC1 Kenneth Murphy, flight engineer, †
Cpl Tom Keen, rigger.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IVA near the Kabu River: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-145
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lae – Rabaul
MSN:
414-6074
YOM:
1941
Location:
Kabu River
East 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:
While flying at night on a trip from Lae to Rabaul, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in the region of the Kabu River. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (24th Squadron):
F/Lt Paul Pryde Paterson,
F/O James Sinclair McIntyre,
Sgt Oliver Frederick George Claxton,
LAC James Arthur Wilson.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IVA in Ceduna: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-144
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Laverton – Ceduna – Pearce
MSN:
414-6073
YOM:
1941
Location:
Ceduna
South Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Ceduna, while climbing to a height of 400 feet, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. All six occupants were killed. Brand new, the airplane was on a delivery flight to Pearce and totalized 3,2 flying hours.
Crew:
F/Lt D. B. Bradley,
S/L G. Laming,
Sgt R. Dow,
Sgt R. W. Westcott,
Sgt F. A. Walker,
Cpl W. C. Lindsay.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Kavieng: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-11
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kavieng - Kavieng
MSN:
279
YOM:
1941
Location:
Kavieng
New Ireland
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The seaplane was engaged in a reconnaissance flight in the region of Kavieng, New Ireland. Shortly after take off from the Kavieng's Bay, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control, crashed and sunk immediately in deep water. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
S/L Tom Davies, pilot,
P/O Russell Hender, copilot,
Cpl Harry Hornby, flight engineer,
LAC Leslie Hoare, flight engineer,
LAC Fred Anthony, wireless operator,
LAC Brian Wilcox, wireless operator,
LAC John Marks, armourer,
LAC C. Ogilvie, rigger.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II on Mt Mitre: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1237
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
2657
YOM:
1940
Location:
Mt Mitre (Pukeamoamo)
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ohakea Airfield on a cross-country exercise. While cruising in clouds, it impacted the slope of Mt Mitre (Pukeamoamo) located about 79 km northeast of Wellington. The wreckage was found in May 1942. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
LAC James Edgar Norman Corin,
LAC Ronald Alfred Walter Abrahams.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon 2 in Broome

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1942
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UVN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Broome – Perth
MSN:
6106
YOM:
1936
Location:
Broome
Western Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Broome Airport, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a field located 5 km south of the airport, bursting into flames. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III near Helensville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2020
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
MSN:
414-3833
YOM:
1941
Location:
Helensville
Auckland Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Whenuapai Airport on a maritime patrol flight. While cruising at a height of 1,500 feet, the pilot-in-command initiated a left turn when the airplane stalled and crashed on a hill side near Helensville. The airplane was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Eric Holdaway,
Sgt George Eatorne,
Sgt Eric Eldershaw.
Probable cause:
According to the RNZAF, weather conditions at the time of the accident were poor with atmospheric turbulences. The assumption that an engine failed was not ruled out. Following this accident, all RNZAF Lockheed Hudson were grounded to check all ailerons control systems.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I near Wigram AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1314
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wigram – Wigram
MSN:
3351
YOM:
1941
Location:
Wigram AFB (Christchurch)
Canterbury Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Wigram AFB on a local solo training exercise. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase, the airplane suffered severe damage after flying through a hailstorm and lost height before crashing into the ground about 4 miles from Wigram. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Crew:
LAC Clifford Henry John Millar, pilot.
Probable cause:
Loss of control while cruising in hailstorm.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Gebbies Valley: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1941 at 1405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ280
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Birdlings Flat - Wigram
MSN:
0502
YOM:
1940
Location:
Birdlings Flat
Canterbury Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Birdlings Flat at 1355LT on a return flight to Wigram AFB. Ten minutes after departure, while cruising at an altitude of 900 feet in poor weather conditions (rain falls and low clouds), the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Gebbies Valley, south of Christchurch. All four occupants were killed.
Crew (1st SFTS):
P/O Alan Leslie Marshall, pilot and instructor,
LAC Ronald Stephen Brooker, pilot,
LAC Brian Patrick Fitzgerald, pilot,
LAC William Ian Lindsay, pilot.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III near Westhaven Inlet: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1941 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2007
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Nelson - Nelson
MSN:
414-0502
YOM:
1940
Location:
Westhaven Inlet
Tasman District Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Nelson Airport on a three-hour survey flight within New Zealand. While cruising west of Nelson at night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In reduced visibility, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Westhaven Inlet. The wreckage was found seven days later and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Alexander John MacFarlane, pilot,
P/O Louis George William Volzke, navigator,
Sgt Keith Robertson Jack, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Phillip David Harris, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.
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