Queensland | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after take off, the captain decided to return due to unknown technical problems. The four engine aircraft crashed on landing and was wrecked. All six crew members were unhurt.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Townsville: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

40-1473

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1473

YOM:

1940

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Crashed on take off from Garbutt AFB, near Townsville. The crew was en route to Papua New Guinea. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Palm Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

40-1419

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Port Moresby – Townsville

MSN:

1419

YOM:

1940

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Circumstances:

En route, while flying along the northeast Australian coast, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and the captain attempted to ditch the aircraft off Palm Island. The twin engine aircraft contacted the water and sunk quickly, causing seven crew members to be killed.

Probable cause:

Technical problems.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Brisbane

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

40-1389

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1389

YOM:

1940

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Circumstances:

After touchdown at Brisbane-Archerfield Airport, the airplane went out of control and veered off runway. It collided with the tail of a parked DC-3, went through a fence, crossed a road and struck a second fence before coming to rest. There was no injuries.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Townsville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1942 at 1802 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat

Operator:

Registration:

A18-12

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Townsville - Townsville

MSN:

S.849

YOM:

1938

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Circumstances:

The crew was involved in a 50 hours inspection flight. While approaching Townsville, the floatplane named 'Coogee' hit the water surface and crashed in the Cleveland Bay. Six crew members were killed while five other occupants were injured.
Crew killed:
F/O Robert John Love, pilot, †
P/O Harold John Wagner, pilot, †
LAC Maurice Clayton, †
Cpl William James French, †
P/O Peter Satterswaite Devonshire, †
Sgt John Gordon Nicholson. †

Crash of a De Havilland DH.86 Express near Brisbane: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1942 at 0830 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.86 Express

Operator:

Registration:

VH-USE

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Brisbane – Mount Isa – Darwin

MSN:

2309

YOM:

1935

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Circumstances:

The airplane was late and departed Brisbane-Archerfield with two hours delay. Few minutes after takeoff, it entered an area of clouds with heavy rain falls. It entered an uncontrolled descent, spiraled to the ground and crashed in a wooded area located in Belmont (Mount Petrie), some 13 km south of Archerfield Airport. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Charles Henry Cecil Swaffield,
C/O Lindsay Stuart Marshall.
Photo: www.ozatwar.com

Probable cause:

Three quarters of the fin had been found quite some distance from the main wreckage of the aircraft. Nevertheless, the subsequent official inquiry into the loss was inconclusive.

Crash of a General Aircraft ST-12 Monospar in Orford Bay

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1942

Type of aircraft:

General Aircraft ST-12 Monospar

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UTM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Horn Island – Cairns

MSN:

YOM:

1935

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Horn Island on a flight to Cairns, carrying three passengers and one pilot. While cruising along the east coast of Queensland, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Orford Bay, some 95 km southeast of Horn Island. SAR operations were initiated and the wreckage was found three days later. All four occupants were injured and transported to local hospital.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-H2 Super Electra in Cairns: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

Operator:

Registration:

VH-ADS

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Cairns – Wau

MSN:

1431

YOM:

1938

Location:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Cairns Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a mangrove. Both crew members were killed. They were performing a positioning flight to Wau to evacuate refugees.