Country
code

Northern Territory

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK off Darwin

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
A65-115
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Darwin - Darwin
MSN:
16716/33464
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing a training flight in Darwin and flying along the coast, the right engine caught fire. The captain attempted to ditch the aircraft about 500 yards off the Mindil Beach. All five crew members were injured while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
F/Lt A. A. Lange,
W/O R. McGrath,
LAC B. R. Hanson,
LAC R. S. Bowley,
LAC J. J. Harvey.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Consolidated 28-5ME Catalina in Darwin

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-1
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
27
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During takeoff, the aircraft became airborne but owing to insufficient flying speed, struck the water several times, bouncing severely on each occasion. It finally came to rest adjacent to the mangroves on the south eastern portion of East Arm where it sank due to a damaged hull. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-1-CU Commando in Darwin River: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-96786
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
30448
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Darwin River, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
S/Sgt Merle L. Bice,
2nd Lt Glen R. Jacobs,
2nd Lt George A. Pfrommer,
Sgt Walter F. Plisga.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24L-5-CO Liberator in Fenton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1945 at 2355 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A72-88
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fenton - Fenton
MSN:
5396
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft crashed when attempting to land at Fenton Airfield, in the Northern Territory, following a bombing raid on Japanese shipping targets in Timor. The Liberator was out of fuel and losing height rapidly. It was just before midnight and conditions were very hazy and the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Arthur Cambridge, could not see the runway flare path. On his first approach to land, he was too far to the left of the runway. He was advised of this by radio contact with ground control. On his second attempt to land, three of the four fuel pressure gauges dropped to zero and the Liberator swung violently to port. Cambridge ordered the crew to crash positions and with his undercarriage still retracted the Liberator crashed through some trees 3 kilometers from Fenton Airfield and struck the ground in a more or less level attitude. A fire broke out below the flight deck, possibly due to damage to the auxiliary power unit. Two crew members were killed while nine other occupants were rescued.
Crew (24th Squadron):
F/Lt Arthur Aram Cambridge, pilot,
W/O F. Crawford, copilot,
F/Lt John Richard Parkinson, bombardier, †
F/O Ivan Fernley Coward, navigator,
F/O Geoffrey Wallace Rhodes, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt Allen George Cullen, flight engineer,
F/O John McPherson Pitt, air gunner, †
F/Lt Victor Charles Edward Scanlon, air gunner,
P/O Geoffrey Neil Johnson, radio operator,
Sgt Ernest Lancelot Francis, air gunner,
Sgt Ernest William Jennings, air gunner.
Source: http://www.ozatwar.com/nt29.htm
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion on final approach.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.86A Express in Darwin

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-USC
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2307
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
11664
Circumstances:
Crash landed in Darwin Airport and ended up in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was partially destroyed.

Crash of a North American B-25D Mitchell off Perron Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1944 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A47-6
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
100-20753
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to a SAR mission following the missing of another RAAF B-25 Mitchell. While flying off the Perron Island, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Hilford Charles Easton, pilot,
W/O Gordon Sydney James King.

Crash of a North American B-25D-35 Mitchell near Adelaide River: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
A47-13
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
100-23952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a bombing exercise when bombs stored in the cargo compartment exploded in flight. While cruising at low level, the aircraft went out of control and crashed some 10 miles east of Adelaide River. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/O Stanley Davies, pilot,
F/O Arthur Keith Buckland, †
F/O David Gethen Lane, †
W/O John Samuel McLelland Campbell, †
W/O Arthur Keith Griesbach, †
Sgt Frederick Hugh Conaghan, †
F/O Kenneth Joseph Hadley.
Probable cause:
Explosion of a bomb for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Paddy's Landing: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-203
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hughes - Millingimbi
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Hughes Airport at 0352LT bound for Millingimbi, to provide air cover for a convoy in the Arafura Sea. As the crew failed to make the dawn rendezvous, SAR mission was conducted and eventually suspended three days later as no trace of the aircraft was found. On October 8, 1946, the wreckage was found in a mangrove swamp called Paddy's Landing at Adelaide River, in the Northern Territory. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
Colin Desmond, pilot,
Richard James,
Russell Lindsay,
Harold John,
Robert Gordon.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WF62 Super Electra in Alice Springs

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CXI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Alice Springs - Adelaide
MSN:
1414
YOM:
0
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force with a crew of three en ten passengers on board. During the takeoff run, thw twin engine aircraft skidded on runway when the left main gear collapsed. Aircraft banked left, causing the left propeller to hit the ground and to be sheared off, hitting the nose of the airplane. While all 13 occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Captain John Robins, pilot,
Sergeant Ken Bird, copilot,
Sergeant Phoenix, radio operator.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-150-CO Liberator in Fenton: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-41242
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Fenton - Fenton
MSN:
2319
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Fenton Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. All 10 crew members were killed.
Crew (380th BG):
Lt Wilfred Grenfell, pilot 9.