Crash of a Consolidated B-24M-10-CO Liberator in Truscott: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
A72-160
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Truscott - Truscott
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Taking off at night from Truscott airstrip the aircraft became airborne approximately halfway down the strip. It is believed the aircraft became airborne early due to a noticeable hump in the airstrip causing the aircraft to suddenly climb approximately 20 feet. According to the witnesses who were part of a working party directly in front of the aircraft when it became airborne, the aircraft apparently veered left moving rather slowly, gaining little speed or height. The aircraft then rose to about 40 feet and then fell sharply to the ground a short distance away from it's initial point of take off. With fire crews quickly making their way to the scene any hope of finding survivors was lost when a number depth charges the aircraft was carrying exploded.
Crew (12th Squadron):
F/Lt F. L. Sismey, pilot,
F/O W. S. Bell,
W/O T. N. Rust,
W/O B. L. Cox,
F/Sgt L. Duncanson,
F/Sgt L. M. Bailey,
F/Sgt I. N. L. Eadton,
F/Sgt T. W. Allan,
F/Sgt D. D. Benson,
F/Sgt J. A. Hollis,
F/Sgt J. R. W. Herps.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 off Momote: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
17133
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
12330
YOM:
1944
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reason off Momote Airport, into the Bismarck Sea. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Auckland

Date & Time: May 13, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AHU
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
18-2490
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The 'pilot' stole the aircraft christened 'Karoro' that crashed on takeoff at Auckland-Mangere Airport. The aircraft went out of control during the takeoff roll and crashed. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It appears the pilot did not know piloting techniques.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK near Housecap: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1945 at 0800 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A65-39
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Aitape – Maprik
MSN:
12361
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Aitape-Tadji Airport at 0635LT on a supply mission to Maprik. Enroute, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain near Housecap. The wreckage was spotted by the pilot of a Beaufort the same day at 1330LT. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (38th Squadron):
F/Lt S. C. Akers,
F/Sgt J. W. Lawson,
Sgt W. J. McInroy.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Douglas C-54E-1-DO Skymaster in Lorangau: 21 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1945 at 2226 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-9043
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lorengau – Biak
MSN:
27269
YOM:
1944
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Lorengau Airport by night bound for Biak-Sorido. During the initial climb, the four engine aircraft crashed on a wooded hill located near the airfield and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All 21 occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Rex S. Brown,
Cwo Russell T. Crawford,
Cpt William V. Mudra,
2nd Lt Paul L. Reinhold,
Cpt Frank E. Stewart,
1st Lt Delmar E. Wortman.
Probable cause:
According to the US Command, the accident was caused by a succession of omissions on part of the crew. After lift off, the captain made a premature turn to the right while climbing to a height of 500 feet. According to airport procedures, a turn to the right after rotation could be made only if the aircraft reached the minimum safe altitude of 1,000 feet and minimum 45 seconds after lift off, which was not the case presently. For reasons which could not be accurately determined, flaps were retracted prematurely, preventing the aircraft to gain height. The absence of sufficient visibility caused by night was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-49H on Hord Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1945 at 0518 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-83228
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brisbane - Horn Island
MSN:
1941
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The descent to Horn Island-Higgins Field was attempted by night and low visibility. On approach, the twin engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area near the airport, killing all six occupants.
Crew:
F/O William Ernest Clarke, pilot,
W/O James Hillman Hornbrook, copilot,
F/Sgt Neville Tasman Browne, flight engineer,
W/O Alfred Henry Gidley, radio operator.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IVA off Ocean Grange: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-113
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
East Sale - East Sale
MSN:
414-6042
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Left East Sale Airport at 1913LT on a night training mission via Paysnesville and Patts River. While cruising along the shore, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea off Ocean Grange. A wheel and an undercarriage were spotted on a beach but no trace of the aircraft nor the five crew members was found.
Crew (1st APU):
W/O F. J. Maughan, pilot,
F/O A. S. Cullen, navigator,
W/O H. L. Hammersley, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt R. C. Smith, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt F. W. Walker, air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Piva: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1945 at 0924 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2012
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honiara - Piva
MSN:
414-3825
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach, the twin engine aircraft stalled, crashed onto the runway and exploded. Two crew members were seriously injured while three others were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Robert Lamason, †
F/O Wilfred Hall, †
LAC John Medhurst, †
W/O P. Doody,
LAC R. McAnich.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 in Perth: 13 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1945 at 0533 LT
Operator:
Registration:
39067
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Perth – Adelaïde
MSN:
10017
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The crew departed Perth Airport runway 11 in foggy conditions. Three minutes after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft did not gain sufficient height, hit a tree and crashed in flames in Gooseberry Hill. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All 13 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt William C. Armstrong, pilot,
Ens Victor F. Padelsky, copilot,
A1c Robert A. Dunleavy,
A2c Stanley A. Gober,
A1c James A. Glenn,
Cdr R. R. Helbert,
Lt Cdr Montrose G. McCormick,
Lt Sidney S. Cook,
Cre Robert V. Daly,
Tec Buships C. L. Nelson,
Anne Woodward,
Geraldine Crow,
Cecil Nichols.

Crash of a Consolidated PB2B-1 Catalina off Funafuti: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1945 at 0620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4031
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
28120
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from the Funafuti harbor, while climbing at a height of 15 feet, the aircraft stalled and hit the water surface. Seven crew members were rescued while three others were drowned with the seaplane that sank by 100 feet deep. Crew was from the 5th Squadron.
Probable cause:
The crash was caused by a mishandling of the controls by the copilot through a misunderstanding between him and the Captain.