Crash of a North American B-25D-10 Mitchell in Saidor: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
41-30337
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lae - Lae
MSN:
87-8502
Location:
Saidor
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising at low height in poor weather conditions in the region of Saidor, the aircraft collided with a USAAF Lockheed F-5A Lightning registered 42-67350 and crashed. Four crew were killed while two others were injured. The fate of the second aircraft and its crew remains unknown.

Crash of a North American B-25D-5 Mitchell off Kar Kar Island

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
41-30020
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Lae - Lae
MSN:
87-8185
Location:
Kar Kar Island
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft into the Bismarck sea, east of the Kar Kar Island. While the aircraft was lost, all six occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas A-20G-30-DO Havoc off PNG: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
43-9488
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Lae - Lae
Location:
Papua New Guinea
All Papua New Guinea
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Ditched into the sea off PNG. A crew member was rescued while both other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-170-CO Liberator in PNG: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-72946
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lae - Lae
MSN:
2516
Location:
Papua New Guinea
All Papua New Guinea
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft disappeared in PNG without trace. All ten occupants were considered as deceased. The wreckage was eventually spotted in 2002.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-80-CO Liberator PNG: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-100225
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lae - Lae
MSN:
3374
Location:
Papua New Guinea
All Papua New Guinea
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft disappeared in PNG without trace. All eleven occupants were considered as deceased. The wreckage was eventually spotted in 2002.

Crash of a Douglas A-20G-30-DO Havoc in Wabusarik

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
43-9628
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lae - Lae
Location:
Wabusarik
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Wabusarik, Madang Province. While all three occupants were rescued, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-120-CO Liberator in Gusap: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-109975
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lae - Lae
MSN:
3774
Location:
Gusap
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Gusap, causing the death of all 11 crew members.

Crash of a Douglas A-20G-25-DO Havoc in PNG: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
43-9098
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lae - Lae
Location:
Papua New Guinea
All Papua New Guinea
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 in unknown circumstances somewhere in PNG. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-145-CO Liberator: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-41188
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2263
Location:
Madang
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a bombing mission when it was attacked by enemy fire and crashed near Madang. Eight crew were killed while four others were taken as POW and later executed by the Japanese soldiers.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Lockheed P-1 Ventura off Luganville: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1944 at 1227 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4538
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luganville - Luganville
MSN:
5740
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a bombing exercise over the Palikulo Bay, off Luganville. The twin engine aircraft left Luganville Airport in the morning, and while performing a turn, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that overturned and dove into the sea few yards off shore. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
F/L Gordon McLachlan,
F/L Bernard O'Fagan,
F/O Maxwell Harwood,
F/O Lionel Wood,
P/O Augustine Thurston,
Lt R. Fresb,
A. Stinson, air gunner.
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