Salamaua

While approaching Salamaua on a bombing mission, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed and came to rest. A crew member was killed while seven others were injured.
Crew (22nd BG):
Cpl Willard H. Lindeman. †

The aircraft christened 'Yeah' left Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airfield to attack Japanese ships off Lae. Over the target, the aircraft was attacked by Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. With the left engine on fire, the pilot was able to leave the combat area but was eventually forced to ditch the aircraft 40 miles south of Salamaua. Three crew members were rescued while four others were killed.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Leonard T. Nicholson, pilot,
1st Lt Jack L. Childers, copilot,
1st Lt Norman E. Oefreese, navigator, †
Sgt Jack C. Moseley, bombardier, †
S/Sgt William M. Brown, flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Joseph P. Papp, radio operator, †
Cpl Thomas A. Moffitt, air gunner.

The crew left Horn Island Airport at 2300LT on a combined flight to Salamaua (PNG) with three other similar aircraft. While flying over the Coral Sea, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. No trace was ever found.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
F/Lt Patrick Randal McDonnell,
P/O Alexander Mackay Petrie,
P/O Randolph Loring Fairfax,
Sgt Murray Charles Ellis.

While overflying the Huon Gulf, the twin engine aircraft christened 'The Virginian' was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea, some 30 miles off Salamaua. All eight occupants were killed.

The airplane was on a flight to Salamaua, carrying radio equipment, and was in formation with a second RAAF Catalina registered A24-9. Approaching Salamaua, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. Three crew members were killed and five others were rescued.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/Lt Robert Thompson, pilot,
F/Lt Paul Metzler, copilot,
LAC Charles Sollitt, wireless operator,
LAC Leo Clarke, wireless operator, †
AC1 Ken Parkyns, flight engineer,
Cpl Jack Perrett, flight engineer, †
AC1 Bill Blackman, rigger,
LAC James Cox, armourer. †

The airplane was on a flight to Salamaua, carrying radio equipment, and was in formation with a second RAAF Catalina registered A24-8. Approaching Salamaua, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. A crew survived while eight others were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
Lt G. Hutchinson, pilot, †
P/O Tom Rowe, copilot, †
Sgt Doug Coote, wireless operator, †
Cpl Jack Wyche, flight engineer, †
LAC Arthur Meadow, wireless operator, †
LAC Alan Downes, wireless operator, †
LAC John Graigie, armourer, †
AC1 Kenneth Murphy, flight engineer, †
Cpl Tom Keen, rigger.

The pilot was completing a cargo flight from Salamaua to Wau. Approaching the destination area, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Marble Creek. The wreckage was found four days later and the pilot was killed.

On final approach to Wau, the twin engine aircraft was too low following a poor judgement on part of the pilot. He attempted to initiate a go around and increased engine power but the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a dense wooded area near the airport. The pilot and two passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Ron E. Doyle.

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Salamaua to Wau, carrying five bags of rice and two oil drums. Too low over the Bitoi Valley, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located in the Black Cat Range. The pilot W. Forgan Smith walked away in a thick forest for few days before finding help.

Shortly after take off from Danip Airfield, the single aircraft stalled and crashed, killing all five occupants, among them the pilot Willy Schaffhausen.