Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Paddy's Landing: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-203
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hughes - Millingimbi
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Hughes Airport at 0352LT bound for Millingimbi, to provide air cover for a convoy in the Arafura Sea. As the crew failed to make the dawn rendezvous, SAR mission was conducted and eventually suspended three days later as no trace of the aircraft was found. On October 8, 1946, the wreckage was found in a mangrove swamp called Paddy's Landing at Adelaide River, in the Northern Territory. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
Colin Desmond, pilot,
Richard James,
Russell Lindsay,
Harold John,
Robert Gordon.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Horn Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
41-2497
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2308
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Horn Island Airport, at a height of 250 feet, the aircraft nosed up, stalled and crashed in a mangrove on the shore. All 17 occupants were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Later, two crew members died from their injuries.
Crew (317th TCG):
Cpt William Compton, pilot,
1st Lt Donovan, copilot,
1st Lt Paul Maaske,
T/Sgt Paul Paddilla,
S/Sgt J. C. Matthowa, †
Cpl Julian Simmons, †
2nd Lt Edward Scudero,
T/Sgt Delbert Steinka,
T/Sgt C. M. Porter,
S/Sgt Charles Kreig.
Passengers:
T/Sgt Cecil Clarke,
P. F. C. Swain,
S/Sgt John Masiars,
Pte Daniel Pechman,
Pte Paul Graf,
T/Sgt T. Underwood,
Pfc James Colorusso.

Crash of a Douglas C-39 in Molesworth

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CCF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2087
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, crew encountered icing conditions and both engines did not run properly as the carburetor were iced. Captain decided to make an emergency landing when the aircraft hit trees and crashed in a farm land. All 17 occupants were able to evacuated themselves and nobody was hurt. However, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine dysfunction caused by carburetor icing.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina on Choiseul Island: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48259
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
1621
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
En route, while cruising over the Choiseul Island, the seaplane hit a mountain and was destroyed. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lieutenant C. Burkhardt, pilot, 8.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Maclean: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AW485
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Evans Head AFB - Evans Head AFB
Country:
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 navigation exercise. En route, the twin engine aircraft went through a cloudy area when it disintegrated in mid-air. Many debris were found on a large area and no survivors were found among the five occupants.
Crew:
Flying Officer Billie Strike-McClelland,
Flight-Sergeant Bruce Duckworth,
Robert Thomas Robertson, trainee navigator,
Patrick John Scanlan, trainee navigator,
Neville Thomas Self, trainee navigator.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident was undetermined. Nevertheless, it is supposed the crew may have suffered a spatial disorientation that affected the control of the aircraft which became uncontrollable and disintegrated when it ended up in a position that exceeded the design of the fuselage and other elements such as wings, fin, etc.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WF62 Super Electra in Alice Springs

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CXI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Alice Springs - Adelaide
MSN:
1414
YOM:
0
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force with a crew of three en ten passengers on board. During the takeoff run, thw twin engine aircraft skidded on runway when the left main gear collapsed. Aircraft banked left, causing the left propeller to hit the ground and to be sheared off, hitting the nose of the airplane. While all 13 occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Captain John Robins, pilot,
Sergeant Ken Bird, copilot,
Sergeant Phoenix, radio operator.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Jacquinot Bay

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-34
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cairns - Cairns
MSN:
1044
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The seaplane took off from Cairns at 1040LT and proceeded to Milne Bay and landed to refuel then took off at 1600LT on a solo nuisance mission against Kavieng. At 2300LT, it reached the target area during a bright moonlite night at an altitude of 9,000 feet. Over Panapai Airfield but did not drop any bombs and received light anti-aircraft fire. During a second bomb run, it dropped two 250 lbs bombs and numerous incendiaries and photographs were taken, and heavy anti-aircraft fire was received but not accurate. Ships in Kavieng harbor opened fire with intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire aimed at this Catalina. Over Kavieng Airfield, made a third bomb run dropping two 500 lbs bombs and photographs were taken. The flying boat received intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire that required evasive maneuvers. At approximately 2350LT on an mission to attack Kavieng, a parachute flare inside this PBY ignited prematurely while its altitude setting ring was being adjusted. In order to prevent premature detonation of other ordnance or mid-air structural failure from fire, the Catalina ditched into Jacquinot Bay. The crew swam to shore in the vicinity of Malakua. The aircraft was lost.

Source: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 off Telin Island: 22 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
12434
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
9617
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Talina Island (Telin Island), while climbing, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea, few yards off shore. All 22 occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide near Cape Sidmouth

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ADE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Melbourne - Cairns
MSN:
6341
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. Aircraft ended up on a beach located 13 miles south of Cape Sidmouth, near the Princess Charlotte Bay. The crew of a RAAF Catalina spotted the aircraft a day later and was able to land and to evacuate all six occupants uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Luganville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
08386
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1310
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff with depth charges and exploded.