Oceania | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after take off from Melbourne-Essendon Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the captain decided to make an emergency landing and completed a gear-up landing 7 km north of the airport. The aircraft skidded for several yards before coming to rest and was damaged beyond repair. All 15 occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was christened 'Warana'.

Probable cause:

Engine failure caused by carburetor problems.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I off Hobsonville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1943 at 2300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Supermarine Walrus

Operator:

Registration:

NZ153

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Hobsonville - Hobsonville

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Shortly after take off from the bay of Hobsonville, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea few hundred yards off shore. A crew member was killed while both other occupants were injured. The aircraft was lost.
Crew:
P/O Morris Bee, pilot, †
Sgt D. Leslie,
LAC A. Larkman.

Probable cause:

The stall that occurred shortly after rotation was caused by an engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Darwin

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-11869

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

365

YOM:

1941

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Darwin following a maritime patrol flight. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60 LodeStar in Port Moresby

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-60 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

VH-CEA

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

2187

YOM:

1942

Location:

Port Moresby

National Capital District

Country:

Papua New Guinea

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed at Port Moresby-Ward Airport in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Adelaide: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1943

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Operator:

Registration:

A34-48

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

2037

YOM:

1943

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Shortly after take off from Adelaide-Parafield Airport, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed, killing both crew members.
Crew (34th Squadron):
P/O Milton Hubert Conkey,
LAC Bernard James Hovey.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Port Moresby

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

AW674

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

National Capital District

Country:

Papua New Guinea

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

On approach to Port Moresby, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft made a belly landing 7 miles northeast of the airport and was damaged beyond repair. All three crewmen were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Skindiwai: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

41-38662

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

6045

YOM:

1942

Location:

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The crew was performing a supply mission to Australian soldiers operating near the village of Skindiwai, in the region of Tufi. While approaching the drop zone, the aircraft was too low, hit tree tops and crashed. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew (22nd TCS):
S/Sgt Elmer L. Crowley, pilot,
F/O Robert Vernon Newlin, copilot,
Sgt Benjamin J. Palma, flight engineer,
Sgt Charles A. Kelley,
Cpl John J. Peaff Jr.,
Pfc Leon M. Trach.
Passengers:
Pte Lawrence Oliver Clive Caldwell,
Pte Alma Mark Webb.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder near Woodstock: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

40-1480

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1480

YOM:

1940

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While returning to Australia following a bombing mission, the captain was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion. The twin engine aircraft crash landed near Woodstock and was damaged beyond repair. Seven crew members were unhurt while the eight occupant died from head injuries when he fell out of the tail section.
Crew (22nd BG):
Cpt Harry O. Patteson, pilot,
Pvt Emil H. Erickson. †

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Gasmata: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

A24-22

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

285

YOM:

1942

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a maritime patrol flight when he sent a brief mayday message and informed ground that a fire broke off in the cabin. Shortly later, the seaplane crashed into the Solomon Sea, some 50 km south of Gasmata. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (11th Squadron):
W/C Francis Blomfield Chapman, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Noblett Stephens, copilot,
F/O John Trevor David Todd, navigator,
Sgt John Edward Dewhurst, flight engineer,
LAC Robert George Docking, flight engineer,
F/O Stanley Alfred Deacon, radio operator,
F/O Malcolm Bradshaw, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt Lloyd George Stanley, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Colin Neville Anderson, armourer.

Probable cause:

In flight fire.