Oceania

The Aerial ambulance was called out to Iron Range on Cape York to collect a patient, an aboriginal stockman who had been bitten by a snake. Capt Dick Brampton was one of half a dozen ANA pilots who were rostered to fly the Ambulance plane as needed for the Cairns Ambulance Transport Brigade. On board as well was an ambulance bearer. Capt Dick Brampton took off fairly late from Iron Range, and was confronted by very low thick cloud north of Cairns. The Rapide was only VFR nor IFR and Capt Brampton could not get a fix on Cairns. He was redirected further south. He apparently ran out of fuel north of Hinchinbrook Island and landed the aircraft on the water near Brooke Island. Nearly two hours late on estimated ETA at Townsville that evening, a radio call was heard at 9.48pm “Lost, low fuel”. At 9.55pm another call saying the aircraft was being ditched. Within an hour of the last message, a RAAF Lincoln from Townsville and an ANA DC-3 from Cairns were searching an area near Hinchinbrook Island, 20 miles north of Ingham. The ambulance bearer was uninjured and got out okay, along with Capt Brampton who had some leg injuries. The stockman went down with the plane which did not float for long. Apparently Capt Dick Brampton survived for some time in the water, but was unable to stay afloat due to his injuries. He was not wearing a life jacket. The ambulance bearer was picked up six hours later by a passing coastal freighter. Neither Capt Brampton's body nor any parts of the plane were ever found.

Shortly after takeoff from Cheviot Hill Aerodrome, while climbing to a height of 50 feet, the aircraft nosed down and crashed. The pilot Captain Martin Garrett and a passegner, Mrs. Kathleen O'Leary were killed. The Doctor Mr. O'Leary was injured while two other passengers, Mrs. King Lethbridge and her child were uninjured. The aircraft was involved in an ambulance flight to Charter Towers on behalf of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

The crew was taking part to the celebrations of the London - Christchurch Rallye anniversary. Two RNZAF Devon's registered NZ1810 and NZ1811 were engaged in a demonstration at Wigram Airbase. While approaching the airfield from the south at an altitude of 1,200 feet, both aircraft collided with their wings (it appears that the right wing of NZ1810 touched the left wing of NZ1811). Out of control, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed in a paddock located about 700 meters from the airbase and were totally destroyed. All seven crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew on board NZ1810:
F/Lt Edwin Pattison Booth Ebbett, pilot,
A1c Brian James Keogh,
A1c Eric Melrose.
Crew on board NZ1811:
S/L Sholto Russell Duncan, pilot,
A1c William Henry Sharman,
A2c Russell Woodcock,
Lt Erling William Ziesler.

The crew was taking part to the celebrations of the London - Christchurch Rallye anniversary. Two RNZAF Devon's registered NZ1810 and NZ1811 were engaged in a demonstration at Wigram Airbase. While approaching the airfield from the south at an altitude of 1,200 feet, both aircraft collided with their wings (it appears that the right wing of NZ1810 touched the left wing of NZ1811). Out of control, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed in a paddock located about 700 meters from the airbase and were totally destroyed. All seven crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew on board NZ1810:
F/Lt Edwin Pattison Booth Ebbett, pilot,
A1c Brian James Keogh,
A1c Eric Melrose.
Crew on board NZ1811:
S/L Sholto Russell Duncan, pilot,
A1c William Henry Sharman,
A2c Russell Woodcock,
Lt Erling William Ziesler.

After landing at Otautu farm field, the single engine aircraft failed stop and crashed in a river. The pilot was seriously injured and both passengers were killed.

Shortly after takeoff from runway 06 at Woodbourne AFB in Blenheim, while climbing, the pilot-in-command made a turn to right when the aircraft entered clouds. Six minutes later, the twin engine airplane hit the slope of a mountain located near Taylor Pass, about 12 km southeast of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Richard Webb,
F/Lt James Brookes,
F/Sgt Phillip Diebert,
Sgt John Collins,
Sgt Thomas Dean.

Shortly after takeoff from Melbourne-Moorabbin Airport, while climbing to a height of 20 feet, the right engine failed. The aircraft stalled, hit the ground past the runway end, lost its undercarriage, went through a fence and came to rest in a field. While both crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The airplane was operated by Brain & Brown Airfreighters (BBA Cargo).

On approach to Embessa, the aircrasft suffered engine problems. The crew elected to make an emergency landing and the aircraft crash landed. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Shortly after takeoff, the twin engine aircraft suffered an engine failure resulting in its crossing the Centre Dandenong Road beneath the 20 feet high telephone wires which were strung along each side of the road before striking an earth embankment and two fences, tearing off the port wing. While all three crew members were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.