Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 on Vella Lavella Island: 19 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
39086
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
13855
YOM:
1943
Location:
Vella Lavella Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
En route, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain on Vella Lavella Island, Solomon Islands. All 19 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off Olevuga Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1944 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4561
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
6005
Location:
Olevuga Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
During an anti-submarine mission, one of the engine failed. The captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to ditch the aircraft when control was lost. Aircraft dove into the sea and crashed few miles off shore. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (1st Squadron):
P/O George Parker,
P/O Thomas Vautier,
F/Sgt Leo Comesky,
Sgt Barry Rosenberg,
Sgt Leslie Smith.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Mt Egmont: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1944 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4544
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
5744
Location:
Mt Egmont (Mt Taranaki)
Taranaki Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route, while flying in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the base of Mt Egmont (Mt Taranaki) located south of New Plymouth. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
F/O Jack Martin,
F/Sgt Arnold Hill,
Sgt Harold Day,
Sgt James McKay,
Sgt Frank Webb.
Probable cause:
According to the investigations, the aircraft was off course at the time of the accident, most probably due to a navigation error caused by an insufficient visibility.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off the Solomon Islands: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4614
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Honiara - Honiara
MSN:
6270
YOM:
1944
Location:
Solomon Islands
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over Rabaul with two other similar aircraft and left Honiara at 0525LT. While approaching the target, NZ4614 disappeared and apparently crashed into the Solomon Sea. The crew of both other aircraft started a SAR mission to find the wreckage but without success. All operations were eventually suspended on September 17 as no trace of the aircraft was found. As the Japanese forces evacuated the region in February 1944, it was concluded the crash was not caused by enemy action.
Crew:
F/Lt Roye Stevens,
F/O John Carson,
W/O Geoffrey Innes,
P/O Stanley Dawson,
F/O John McGuire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK near Mossman: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
DT-941
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Merauke - Cairns
MSN:
12880
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mossman
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The last radio contact was recorded some 15 minutes prior to the ETA at Cairns Airport. While descending, the twin engine aircraft hit a hill and crashed in the Daintree National Park, near Mossman, some 65 km northwest of Cairns. SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the 20 occupants was found. Eventually, the wreckage was found in January 1989 in an isolated and mountainous area. All 20 occupants were killed, among them two civilians.
Crew:
1st Lt H. J. H. Daanen, pilot,
Sgt W. A. Torn, copilot,
Sgt E. Kerdijk, wireless operator,
Sgt J. F. Damwijk, flight engineer.
Passengers:
1st Lt R. T. H. Braakensiek,
H. P. Levy,
B. van Aken,
O. Leyding,
R. J. Salm,
J. S. Zwart,
Sgt A. C. Scholte,
Sgt M. Boogerman,
M. J. Straub,
S/L Leslie Roy Dawson,
Lt Horace William Hammond Armstrong,
2nd Lt J. R. L. Lebeu,
2nd Lt R. E. J. Boereboom,
2nd Lt S. Jacob,
Mrs Waas,
Mrs Wakemaw.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson in Mt Taranaki: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1944 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ414
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
New Plymouth - New Plymouth
Location:
Taranaki
Taranaki Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
237
Copilot / Total flying hours:
887
Circumstances:
The crew departed New Plymouth Airport at 1419LT on a navigation exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 1,200 feet, the twin engine aircraft went through a cloudy area over Mt Egmont (Mt Taranaki). Familiar with the area, the second pilot saw trees 200 feet below and took over the control to turn to the right to avoid any collision with the mountain. Unfortunately, the aircraft stalled, hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area. F/Sgt Peterson was able to leave the crash site and walked for about seven miles to find help. On site, the rescuers were able to evacuate a second crew member alive while both other occupants were killed.
Crew (SNR):
F/Sgt John Paterson Cummins, pilot, †
F/Sgt Maurice Roy Haycock, pilot, †
Sgt B. F. A. Rough, navigator,
F/Sgt A. F. Peterson, radio operator.

Crash of a North American B-25D Mitchell off Perron Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
A47-6
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
100-20753
Location:
Perron Island
Northern Territory
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 taking part to a SAR mission following the missing of another RAAF B-25 Mitchell. While flying off the Perron Island, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Hilford Charles Easton, pilot,
W/O Gordon Sydney James King.

Crash of a Tugan LJW7 Gannet off Exmouth: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1944 at 0519 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tugan LJW7 Gannet
Operator:
Registration:
A14-4
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Exmouth - Argyle Downs
MSN:
TA-58
YOM:
1937
Location:
Exmouth
Western Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Exmouth Airport in the early morning on an urgent medevac flight to Argyle Downs, in the northeast of Western Australia. On board were two crew members and one doctor. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing at night and in heavy mist, the pilot lost his orientation and the airplane crashed into the sea. The wreckage was found one mile from the airfield and about 50 yards out to sea. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/O Gordon Edward Dix, pilot,
Sgt Norman Catton, mechanic.
Passenger:
S/Ldr John Clive Sangster, doctor.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman Off Bogala: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
A71-1
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
179
YOM:
1943
Location:
Bogala (Basilaki Island)
Milne Bay
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea off Bogala for unknown reason. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Frank Henry Rossiter, pilot,
LAC John Norman George Dunn,
LAC Clifford David Searle.

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

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1944 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1284
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wigram - Wigram
MSN:
2688
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 was performing a solo training flight in the region of Wigram AFB. While circling around the airbase, the twin engine aircraft collided with another RNZAF Oxford registered NZ286 and carrying one pilot as well. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 3 km southeast of the airfield. Both pilots on both aircraft were killed. It appears that NZ1284 lost a part of its wing in the collision and crashed about a mile south of the other aircraft.
Crew:
LAC Keith Hodge, pilot.
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