Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in Soputa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1942 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-36
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Soputa - Soputa
MSN:
414-1887
YOM:
1940
Location:
Soputa
Oro (Northern)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a supply mission to Soputa to drop ammunition to Australian soldiers at the drop zone called 'Jumbora'. While flying at an altitude of 100 feet, the twin engine aircraft was hit by ground fire and crashed in flames in a wooded area. Three crew members were killed while the fourth occupant was injured.
Crew (1st OTU):
S/L William Allan Pedrina, pilot, †
F/O Donald Beviss Kerr, observer, †
Sgt Arthur Rupert Itzerott, radio operator, †
W/O Leo Charles Callaghan, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fairey IIIF off Waitara: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1942 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairey III
Operator:
Registration:
NZ617
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
New Plymouth - New Plymouth
Location:
Waitara
Taranaki Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew left New Plymouth Airport at 1530LT to perform a drogue towing exercise in the north area of New Zealand. In unknown circumstances, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. A dead body was found 10 days later. Unfortunately, no trace of the second occupant was ever found.
Crew (1st OTU):
Sgt Peter Albert Morey,
LAC Thomas Patrick Davies.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Batchelor: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-232
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Batchelor - Batchelor
MSN:
414-6480
YOM:
1942
Location:
Batchelor
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a survey flight over the Wetar Strait, off the Indonesian province of Timor. En route, the twin engine aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a Mitsubishi Zero. Several bullets hit the right engine and fuel tanks. The aircraft became uncontrollable but the crew was able to leave the area and to return to Batchelor for a safe landing. Later, RAAF officers confirmed the death of a crew member while four other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/O A. A. Cambridge,
Sgt G. H. Cooper,
Sgt T. I. Gunn,
F/O J. M. Barnes,
Sgt G. J. Thame. †
Probable cause:
Hit by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Port Moresby: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9194
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
2666
YOM:
1941
Location:
Port Moresby
National Capital District
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On approach to Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airport, while returning from a combat mission, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located between the airports of Five Mile and Seven Mile. Four crew members were killed while five others were injured.
Crew (43rd BG):
1st Lt Robert K. Freeman, pilot, †
2nd Lt Harry L. Moy, pilot,
2nd Lt Clinton L. Smith, copilot, †
S/Sgt Richard M. Cullisun,
S/Sgt James M. Iverson, †
Sgt Wilbert H. Grogan,
Cpl Saul Berstein ,
Cpl Morris McFarland,
Cpl Robert F. Wright. †

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Dobodura

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CAH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2125
YOM:
1941
Location:
Dobodura
Oro (Northern)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Dobodura Airport, the twin engine aircraft was hit by enemy fire while the airfield was bombed. The aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway threshold. While there was no casualties, the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Exmouth: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2407
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Exmouth
Western Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The flying boat hit a large wave and large quantities of water entered the plane through the bombing window position in the bow. The aircraft sank in 18 feet of water and was lost. The captain was killed while eight other occupants were injured.
Source: ASN

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-171 in Mallacoota

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1942 at 1101 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
A30-10
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1372
YOM:
1935
Location:
Mallacoota
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, while climbing, the right engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed, injuring all six occupants.
Crew (36th Squadron):
F/O J. L. Whiteman, pilot,
P/O F. J. Ball, pilot.
Passengers:
Sgt A. J. Scott,
LAC J. Varderway,
LAC R. L. Vance,
Cpl Greenhill.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine on take off.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford in Lincoln: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1353
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wigram - Wigram
MSN:
398
YOM:
1939
Location:
Lincoln
Canterbury Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route, one of the wing failed. The twin engine aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killing both crew members.
Crew (1st SFTS):
P/O Walter Webb,
LAC Ian McIntyre.
Probable cause:
According to the RNZAF, the accident was caused by the structural failure of a wing in flight. This was caused by faulty maneuvers (aerobatic) on part of the crew who positioned the aircraft in a wrong attitude, causing the forces to exceed the design of the wing that failed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Clayton

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
AW866
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Bundaberg
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the captain was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to fuel starvation. The twin engine aircraft crash landed in a cane field and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Fuel starvation.
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