Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Dobodura: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1406
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dobodura - Dobodura
MSN:
1406
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a training flight from Dobodura and was scheduled to turn above Cape Killerton. Shortly after take off, the crew shut down one of the engine but most probably due to a magneto failure, was unable to restart it. The captain decided to ditch the aircraft but for unknown reason, landed too far off shore. The aircraft christened 'Reluctant Dragon' sank rapidly by deep water and was lost. Two crew members were killed while three others occupants could swim to the beach.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Carroll C. McGlasson, pilot,
2nd Lt Douglas W. Diggs, copilot, †
S/Sgt Clifford F. McClure, crew chief, †
S/Sgt Donald G. Murray, radio operator.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Pigeon House: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AW799
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While flying in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the southeast slope of Mt Pigeon House located 10 miles west of Ulladulla. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (73rd Squadron):
F/Sgt C. D. Robertson, pilot,
F/Sgt K. A. Richards,
F/Sgt B. V. Higgins.

Crash of a North American B-25C Mitchell in Batchelor

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
N5-153
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Batchelor - Batchelor
MSN:
94-12747
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Overran on landing at Batchelor Airfield when the nose wheel and flaps refused to work after an evening bombing raid to Laha and Ambon. All crewmen were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Source: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/nt139.htm

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Dobodura

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1368
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
1368
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Townsville: 13 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1943 at 1648 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-52
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Townsville - Townsville
MSN:
1259
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The seaplane, carrying 10 crew and 9 passengers, crashed when landing after returning from Merauke and Karumba. After touching down the aircraft traveled a short distance when it struck a large wave and sank by the bow. A film that captured the incident disclosed that after the aircraft sank by the bow one or both anti-submarine depth charges exploded.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/Lt Charles John Miles, pilot, †
F/Lt William John Canterbury, pilot, †
F/O Ronald Irvine Ferguson, pilot, †
F/O Gordon John Robert Hockey, navigator, †
F/O Reginald Albert Weeks, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt Bernard Victor McInerney, wireless operator, †
Cpl William Richard George Lobb, fitter,
Sgt Maxwell Burnett Dore, flight engineer,
Cpl Ronald Colin Smith, fitter,
Cpl Albert Leslie Fowler, armourer.
Passengers:
S/L Leo Mathew Hogan, †
F/O Charles Harry Ratcliffe, †
S/L John Vernon Angus, †
F/Lt Frank Haighton Lord, †
F/Lt William Archie Wilkinson, †
P/O Beresford Frederick Shearman, †
Cdr Arthur Henry Cobby,
W/Cdr Bruce Panton MacFarlan,
W/Cdr Willem Lodewyk Boscchart Stephens.
Source:
http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/
http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld190.htm

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL off Luganville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-23711
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
9573
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea 24 km off Luganville, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert H. Healy,
2nd Lt Augustus W. Miller,
Cpl Joseph E. O'Connell,
M/Sgt Harry D. Wlodarsky.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Tangimoana: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1943 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2034
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
414-3857
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight from Ohakea AFB. While cruising off Tangimoana at low altitude, the crew had taken evasive action to avoid a collision with another aircraft taking part to the same exercise. During a steep turn, the aircraft entered a spin and dove into the sea three miles south of the Rangitikei River mouth. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
F/Sgt William Marshall,
P/O Harold Beard,
Sgt William Plant,
F/Sgt John Aubrey,
Sgt Brian McSweeney.

Crash of a Boeing B-17-E Flying Fortress in Port Moresby

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-2481
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2292
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Port Moresby-7 Mile Airfield, the aircraft suffered a structural failure and crashed in a field. All crew members from the 63rd BS were uninjured while the aircraft christened 'Old Topper' was damaged beyond repair and used for spares.
Source & photo:
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/41-2481.html
Probable cause:
Structural failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Winima: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1943 at 1025 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-23698
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
9560
YOM:
1943
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight to Wau with a load of bombs and ammunition. In flight, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 12 km southeast of Wau and was destroyed. The place of the accident was spotted few days later and rescuers reached the site mid September only. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (317th TCG):
F/O Robert P. Hutson, pilot,
2nd Lt Melvin L. Kinney, copilot,
S/Sgt Frank A. Wise,
Cpl Sidney Israel.
Passengers:
Cpl Henry Edward Conway,
LAC John Brough Tarrant,
LAC Harold Edward Stocker.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 in Honiara: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
12433
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9616
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off from Honiara-Henderson Field. At least one crew member was killed.