Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Green Island: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-25
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
273
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The Catalina was returning to its base following an anti-submarine escort for a convoy in the Coral Sea bound for Milne Bay. While cruising over the region of Green Island, off Cairns, the seaplane crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
W/C John William Daniell, pilot,
Sgt Norman Notley Moore, pilot,
S/L Eric Hamilton Barkley, copilot,
F/O Lewis Melvin Dunham, observer,
F/O Stuart Patrick King,
Sgt Keith Arnold Watson, flight engineer,
Cpl John Corbett Stain, flight engineer,
Sgt Allen Richard Eather, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Alexander Eric John Elsbury, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt John Daniel O’Grady, rigger,
Cpl Douglas Griffen Shaw Russell, armourer.
Probable cause:
The assumption that the accident was caused by a fuel exhaustion was not ruled out.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Hughes: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1943 at 1948 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-212
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hughes - Hughes
MSN:
414-6481
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
During the final approach completed in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft lost height and crashed short of runway threshold. Four crew members were seriously injured while two others were killed. Few hours later, one of the survivor died from his injuries. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with low visibility and turbulence caused by a storm.
Crew (13th Squadron):
Sgt K. D. Brown,
Sgt W. R. Robertson, †
LAC K. E. G. Edwards,
LAC P. R. Lazarus,
LAC C. C. Jennings, †
LAC R. G. Bradley. †

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Townsville

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CAJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
18-2128
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the take off run, a landing gear failed. The twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. While nobody was hurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Landing gear failure.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87-CF Liberator Express off Topham: 18 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1943 at 2100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-23903
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
698
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
On final approach to Topham Airfield (Canton Island), by night, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in to the sea few hundred yards off shore. 18 occupants were killed while three others were rescued. The flight was operated by a United Airlines crew on behalf of the Air Transport Command (ATC).
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
It was deemed possible that an asymmetric flap deployment caused the accident.

Crash of a North American B-25C Mitchell in MacDonald: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
N5-132
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
82-5554
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from MacDonald Airfield, while climbing, the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion some 3-4 miles from the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (18th Squadron):
Schalk,
Hiele,
Janssen,
Kessels,
Maarschalkerweerd,
Abeleven,
MacPherson.
Source & photo: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/nt83.htm

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IVA in Picton: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1943 at 1320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-152
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Camden - Camden
MSN:
414-6081
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a training sortie from Camden, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a prairie located in Picton, south of Camden. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
F/Sgt S. K. Scott, pilot,
F/Sgt H. B. L. Johns, navigator,
Sgt B. C. J. Pearson, wireless operator,
Sgt G. D. Voyzey,
Sgt G. T. Lawson.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V in Omata: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1943 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2005
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Levin - Levin
MSN:
414-2675
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit a cliff located in Omata, near New Plymouth. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
F/Lt John Deans,
F/O James Philson,
Sgt John Power,
Sgt Hugh Steel.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Whenuapai: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2024
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
MSN:
414-3837
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Whenuapai AFB, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed into the Waitemata harbor. Both crew members were killed.
Crew (1st Squadron):
P/O Ralph Benfield,
P/O Cyril Comrie.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Port Moresby: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1495
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1495
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Port Moresby-Twelve Mile Airfield, the aircraft stalled and crashed near the Laloki River. Seven crew members were killed while eight others were injured. The aircraft christened 'Diana's Demon' was destroyed.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Duncan A. Seffern, pilot,
2nd Lt Robert R. Hatch, copilot 13.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-171 in Cooktown

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1943 at 1715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A30-13
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dibrugarh – Cooktown
MSN:
1373
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown at Cooktown, the aircraft veered to the left. The captain immediately increased engine power and started a go around. At a height of ten feet, the aircraft banked left, causing the left wing to hit the runway surface. The aircraft went out of control and crashed on the runway edge. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all ten occupants escaped unhurt.
Crew:
W/O B. Starkey, pilot,
F/Sgt G. Unkles,
LAC J. R. Naugh,
Sgt A. J. Stribley.
Passengers:
F/O F. P. Nolan,
Sgt H. J. Fletcher,
Sgt A. K. Crooks,
Sgt A. Picton,
Sgt G. Shanks,
F/O J. A. Bonnington.