East New Britain

The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Bili Airfield. During the takeoff roll on a grassy airstrip, the crew lost control of the airplane that veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crashed in unknown circumstances into Open Bay. No casualties.

The aircraft departed Jacquinot Bay Airstrip at 0900LT bound for Rabaul with Australian and Indian soldiers on board. About 20 minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of an unnamed mountain located in the region of the Wide Bay. The wreckage was found at 150 feet from the summit and all 28 occupants were killed.
Crew (33rd Squadron):
F/Lt Ron Alexander Hanrahan, pilot,
F/Lt Grahame Patrick Lobwein, copilot,
F/Sgt Douglas Albert Bruderlin, radio operator.
Passengers:
Sister Verdun Bernice Sheah,
Cpl Hugh Cushing,
Cpl Stanley William Bridge,
LAC Maurice James Mills,
LAC Norman Harold Blake,
Seaman David Thomas Bristow,
Seaman Edgar Murry Hancock,
Lt John Lisle Honey,
Lt Leonard Henry Beard,
Lt Col Thomas Dennis Hannon,
W/O Clive Frederick Martin,
Maj Lionel Charles Saunders,
Lt William Reaburn Grieve,
Pvt Ronald Arthur Spencer
Sepoy Lakhu Ram,
Sepoy Shiv Singh,
Cpl Dina Nath,
Sepoy Jan Abdullah,
Sepoy Chain Singh,
Sgt Humir Singh,
Sgt Chint Singh,
2nd Lt Abdul Ratif
Sepoy Jogandel Singh,
Cpl Shai Singh,
Sepoy Chelu Rham.

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/

The aircraft left Dobodura Airfield at 0145LT to bomb the airport of Rabaul-Vunakanau. Following an uneventful mission, the crew left the combat area when it was attacked by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. The aircraft christened 'Naughty But Nice' went out of control and only the navigator was able to bail out before the aircraft crashed into the Baining Mountains, south of Rabaul. All nine other crew members were killed.
Crew (43rd BG):
1st Lt William J. Sarsfield Jr., pilot, †
2nd Lt Charles E. Trimingham, copilot, †
1st Lt Francis G. Peattie, bombardier, †
1st Lt Jose L. Holguin, navigator
2nd Lt Herman H. Knott, bomb aimer, †
T/Sgt Robert L. Christopherson, flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Henry Garcia, second flight engineer, †
T/Sgt Leonard A. Gionet, radio operator, †
S/Sgt Robert E. Griebel, assistant to the radio operator, †
S/Sgt Pace P. Payne, air gunner. †

After an uneventful bombing mission over the airfield of Rabaul-Vunakanau, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter over the Lihir Island and crashed in Put Put. Seven crew members were killed while four others were taken PoW.
Crew (43rd BG):
Cpt Joseph W. Geddes, pilot, †
2nd Lt Leon S. King, †
1st Lt Leslie W. Neuman,
2nd Lt Saul Albert, †
2nd Lt William A. Bujold, navigator, †
T/Sgt William R. Moore, flight engineer, †
T/Sgt Emil Gentry, †
S/Sgt Ernest W. Burnside,
Cpl John J. Mulligan,
Pvt John L. Honold, †
Pvt Robert E. George, 15072338.

The aircraft left Port Moresby-7 Mile Airfield in the morning and flew to Dobodura where a stock of bombs was loaded. It left Dobodura to attack the Rabaul-Vunakanau Airport. While approaching the target, the aircraft what shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. All four engines were hit by bullets and the captain ordered his crew to bail out but only three crewmen were able to do so. Out of control, the aircraft went into a spin and crashed into the St George Channel, off Rabaul. All eight other occupants were killed.
Crew (43rd BG):
Maj Paul I. Williams, pilot, †
2nd Lt John S. Rippy, copilot,
M/Sgt Gordon R. Manuel, bombardier,
2nd Lt Richard U. Aguirre, navigator, †
S/Sgt Robert B. Gills Jr., flight engineer, †
Sgt Edward Driscoll, radio operator, †
Sgt Lawrence L. Rexroat, air gunner, †
Sgt Robert A. Curry,
Pfc William R. Smith, air gunner, †
Sgt Joseph F. Murray, air gunner, †
Passenger:
1st Lt Robert F. Heller. †

The aircraft left Port Moresby-7 Mile Airfield at 1010LT on a reconnaissance mission. Four hours later, the aircraft was attacked by several Japanese Mitsubishi Zero fighters. A fuel tank near the engine number two was hit and four crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft went into a spin and crashed on the slopes of the Hong Kong mountain overlooking the Waterfall Bay, in the region of Matong village. All six crew who remained aboard were killed while all four others were later captured by Japanese soldiers. Three of them were executed and only one (S/Sgt Cascio) survived the war.
Crew (43rd BG):
1st Lt Ernest A. Naumann, pilot,
1st Lt Winslow G. Gardner, copilot, †
Sgt Albert Smith, radio operator, †
S/Sgt Paul J. Cascio Jr., radio operator,
2nd Lt Charles H. Lewis, navigator, †
T/Sgt Thomas H. Fox, flight engineer,
2nd Lt Oliver R. Alvin, bombardier, †
S/Sgt Virgil E. DeVoss, air gunner, †
Sgt Bruno R. Bukalski, air gunner, †
Pfc Charles H. Green Jr., air gunner.

The aircraft left Mareeba in Queensland and made a fuel stop at Port Moresby-Seven Mile airfield. It then continued to Rabaul on a mission to attack the Vunakanau Airfield. Upon arrival, the bomber was attacked by 11 Japanese Mitsubishi Zero and crashed, killing all nine crew members.
Crew (19th BG):
1st Lt Earl L. Hageman Jr.,
1st Lt Dale E. Hanson,
2nd Lt Angelo P. Bianco,
2nd Lt Wade H. Lowry,
S/Sgt Michael G. Adamow,
Sgt Thomas H. Jack,
Cpl Frank J. Mehock,
Pfc Thomas W. Wilzbacher,
Sgt Frank W. Plunkett, air gunner.

The crew was involved in a bombing mission over Rabaul. While approaching its target, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed in a huge explosion. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew (19th BG).