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

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1944 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ286
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wigram - Wigram
MSN:
509
Country:
Region:
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 NZ1284 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.
Crew:
Sgt Robert Pettitt, pilot.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off New Plymouth

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ405
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New Plymouth - New Plymouth
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training exercise around New Plymouth. En route, in unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea off New Plymouth and was lost. All four crew members were rescued.

Crash of a North American B-25D-35 Mitchell near Adelaide River: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
A47-13
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
100-23952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a bombing exercise when bombs stored in the cargo compartment exploded in flight. While cruising at low level, the aircraft went out of control and crashed some 10 miles east of Adelaide River. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/O Stanley Davies, pilot,
F/O Arthur Keith Buckland, †
F/O David Gethen Lane, †
W/O John Samuel McLelland Campbell, †
W/O Arthur Keith Griesbach, †
Sgt Frederick Hugh Conaghan, †
F/O Kenneth Joseph Hadley.
Probable cause:
Explosion of a bomb for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Momote: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
04501
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Momote - Momote
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While landing at the Momote Seaplane Base, on Manus Island, the floatplane landed hard and came to rest with one wing sheared off and the bow collapsed. The captain was killed while all five other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura on Malekula Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4570
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Port Vila - Port Vila
MSN:
6138
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Port Vila Airport on a maritime patrol flight but failed to return. SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage and the four dead bodies were found six weeks later on the slope of a mountain on Malekula Island.
Crew:
F/Lt Francis Rolston,
P/O Norman Underwood,
F/O Alexander McInnes,
LAC Peter Crees.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87-CF on Florida Island: 27 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1944 at 2030 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-11706
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Canton Island - Honiara
MSN:
202
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Canton Island (Kiribati) at 1100LT bound for Honiara Airport, on Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands, with an ETA at 2100LT. While on approach by night, the four engine aircraft hit a mountain slope (2,000 feet high) located on the Florida Island, north of Honiara. The wreckage was spotted two days later, on July 28. Debris were found some 200 feet from the summit and all 27 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Hugh W. Prince, pilot,
Frederick F. Gundrum Jr., copilot,
Willard L. Churchill, flight engineer,
Eddie B. Hult, navigator,
J. Arthur Strumph, radio operator,
William A. Staley, traffic clerk.
Passengers:
Air Commodore Isaac John Fitch,
Lt Col John C. Pearson,
Maj R. R. Barton-Tates,
Lt Col Paul H. Berkowitz,
Lt Col Euliss L. Duggan,
Col Charles P. Burnett Jr.,
1st Lt Stephen J. Maliszewski,
2nd Lt William P. Foil,
Cpt Herbert R. Gore,
Cpt John S. Ingraham,
Maj Morton L. Talley Jr. 10
Source, photo and more info on
http://www.archaehistoria.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=123:site-flor5-aircraft-top-secret-cargo-consairway-c-87-liberator-express-41-11706&catid=21&Itemid=102

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 near Kokoda: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
39090
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Cairns – Momote
MSN:
13859
YOM:
1943
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
En route, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located some 30 km west of Kokoda, in the center PNG. The wreckage was eventually found in 1970. All 17 occupants were killed. Other source reports the accident occurred in the region of Cairns.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide near Tanunda: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1944 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UBN
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Renmark - Adelaide
MSN:
6253
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the Mt Kitchener located southeast of Tanunda. All seven occupants were killed, among them Captain Frank P. Gill, pilot.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon II in Mt Hope: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1944 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AHT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Nelson - Hokitika
MSN:
6090
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While approaching the Mt Saddle at low height, the twin engine aircraft was caught by updraft and gained altitude. Shortly later, the aircraft stalled and dove into a wooded area located on the Mt Hope, in the Kahurangi National Park. Four passengers and the pilot Colin G. Lewis were rescued while two others occupants including Bert Mercer, founder of this operator, were killed. The other passenger killed was also an employee of Air Travel.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by updraft.

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

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1944 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4530
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
5641
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight north of the Solomon Islands. En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to fly back to his base. The aircraft eventually crashed into the sea some 150 miles northeast of the Bougainville Island. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
F/O Reginald Mather,
P/O Jack Battye,
W/O Ivan Lorenzen,
Sgt Henry Mosen,
F/S William Neave.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.