Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 on Vella Lavella Island: 19 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
39086
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
13855
YOM:
1943
Location:
Vella Lavella Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
En route, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain on Vella Lavella Island, Solomon Islands. All 19 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Vella Lavella Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2021
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
414-3834
YOM:
1941
Location:
Vella Lavella Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising along the Vella Lavella Island, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the pilots of eight Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. Crew abandoned the sinking aircraft but were strafed by enemy fighters. Four of them were killed while the air gunner was able to reach the shore.
Crew (3rd Squadron):
F/Lt William Allison, †
P/O Frank Kerr, †
Sgt Ronald Douglas, †
Sgt James Johnstone, †
Sgt Trevor Ganley.
Probable cause:
Shot down by 8 Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Vella Lavella Island

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1943 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
08051
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Honiara - Honiara
MSN:
0870
YOM:
1941
Location:
Vella Lavella Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The seaplane left Honiara-Henderson Field at 1900LT on July 16 for a 12 hours anti-submarine mission. By night, while cruising along the Vella LaVella Island, the left engine caught fire. The captain attempted to ditch the aircraft few hundred yards off shore but the aircraft crash landed and sank immediately. All 13 crew members were rescued.
Crew:
Lt James W. Anderson, pilot 12.
Source: http://www.vpnavy.com/vp54_mishap.html
Probable cause:
Engine fire.
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