Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II off Darwin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1941 at 0545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-69
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Darwin – Ambon
MSN:
414-1922
YOM:
1940
Location:
Darwin
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
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 Darwin Airport at 0530LT on a flight to Ambon, Indonesia. Some 15 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 400 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (13th Squadron):
W/Cdr Joshua Roger Gray McDonald, pilot,
F/O Ralph Henry Pope,
Sgt Wallace Roy Foreman,
Sgt Walter John Nagel.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to a crew error when the pilot decided to reduce the speed to 95 knots with flaps down to let two other aircrafts create a formation. This caused the aircraft to stall and spin into the sea.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina on Gemo Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-15
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
322
YOM:
1941
Location:
Gemo Island (Hanudamava Island)
National Capital District
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Port Moresby, while climbing, the floatplane impacted the slope of a mountain located on Gemo Island (Hanudamava Island). The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/O Lincoln James Sloan, pilot,
F/Lt Nelson Prior Reid, copilot,
Cpl Neville Lawrence Ernst, flight engineer,
Cpl Eric John O’Donnell, rigger,
LAC Charles James Matheson, flight engineer,
AC1 Keith Mighell Sidey, wireless operator,
AC1 Arthur Wallace Magee, wireless operator,
AC1 George Robert Peterson, armourer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I near Upper Hutt: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1245
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
2670
YOM:
1940
Location:
Upper Hutt
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 crew was performing a training mission on behalf of the 3rd Army Training Unit and departed Ohakea AFB at 1045LT. While cruising in low visibility due to poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located between Upper Hutt and Waikanae, northeast of Wellington. As the crew failed to announce their position at the reporting point at 1315LT, SAR operations were initiated, but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was found by a hunter on April 10, 1943.
Crew (3rd SFTS):
LAC Charles William Baker,
LAC Winston Stanley Cannel.
Source: http://www.parawaitc.org.nz/Other/Oxford1245.pdf
Probable cause:
The Court concluded its inquiry with the following findings:
1) From the evidence available, the Court can only assume that the loss of Oxford NZ1245 is attributable mainly to the bad weather conditions prevailing in part of the route to be flown.
2) The Court is of the opinion that the aircraft and equipment was in serviceable condition prior to the exercise.
3) The weather conditions immediately prior to setting out on the exercise were such that the Flight Commander was justified in authorizing the flight.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford at Woodbourne AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1226
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Woodbourne
MSN:
2606
YOM:
1940
Location:
Woodbourne AFB (Blenheim)
Marlborough District 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 was engaged in a night training flight. Shortly after take off from Woodbourne Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed five km from the airfield, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.
Crew (2nd SFTS):
LAC Felix Ulenberg, pilot.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Black Cat Creek

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4020
YOM:
1932
Location:
Black Cat Creek
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Black Cat Trail, in the Bitoi Valley. All three occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Wau

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UTB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5-AT-068
YOM:
1929
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wau Airport, the right engine failed. The airplane banked right, lost height and crashed in a river located near the airfield. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The airplane was performing a cargo flight, carrying a load of wood.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after takeoff due to the failure of the right engine.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at Woodbourne AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1263
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Woodbourne
MSN:
574
YOM:
1940
Location:
Woodbourne AFB (Blenheim)
Marlborough District 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 crew was performing a training flight for the second Army Training School. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of some 500 feet, the twin engine aircraft stalled, hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 200 metres past the runway end. Both pilots were killed.
Crew (2nd ATS):
LAC Wylie Hoog, pilot,
LAC Harry Roughton, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II in Waitara: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1238
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
2659
YOM:
1940
Location:
Waitara
Taranaki 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 AFB on a navigation training exercise. While cruising over the area of Waitara and completing a turn, the crew lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed on the slope of a hill, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.
Crew (3rd ATS):
F/Lt Harold Wiles,
LAC Norman Wilson.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Katherine: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Northern Territory Medical Services
Registration:
VH-UZS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Katherine – Darwin
MSN:
DHA5
YOM:
1937
Location:
Katherine
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Katherine Airfield, while on an ambulance flight to Darwin, the pilot encountered engine problems and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft hit tree tops and crashed upside down, bursting into flames. While the nurse and the pilot were injured, the female patient was killed and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The engine failed shortly after takeoff because the fuel was contaminated with water.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth off Nadi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
NZ522
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Nadi - Nadi
MSN:
NZ-1
YOM:
1937
Location:
Nadi
All Fiji Islands
Country:
Fiji Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While performing a training flight at a height of 2,000 feet, the crew lost control of the aircraft that dove and crashed into the sea, few hundred yards off shore. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to the RNZAF, the crew was performing a training flight with another DH.60. Both crews were testing a machine gun and it is possible that the crew of NZ522 was shot by mistake.
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