Solomon Islands | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Tulagi: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

08246

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Tulagi harbor, killing all seven crew members.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Guadalcanal Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

NZ2033

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

414-3856

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying along the coast of the Guadalcanal Island, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (3rd Squadron):
F/Lt Wilfred Rutherford,
F/O Vivian Eady,
Sgt Lisle Smith,
Sgt William Lankshear,
Sgt John McDougall.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Guadalcanal Island: 12 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

04403

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Honiara - Honiara

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While performing a maritime patrol flight off the Guadalcanal Island, the seaplane crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances. No trace of the aircraft nor the 12 crew members was ever found.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Honiara: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1943 at 1300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

NZ2061

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

414-6507

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the take off run at Honiara Airport, a tyre burst. The twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames into a ravine. Bombs stored in the cargo bay exploded and the aircraft was totally destroyed. Two crew members were killed while three others were seriously injured.
Crew (3rd Squadron):
F/O Nelson Warner, †
F/Sgt John Jerrat, †
F/L K. King,
Sgt H. Baker,
Sgt B. Dillner.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during take off run caused by a tyre burst.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Gavutu Island

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

08136

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Gavutu – Luganville

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a combat mission over the Gavutu Island, the aircraft was returning to its base in Luganville with nine crew members on board. Shortly after take off, the pilot initiated a sharp turn when both engines stopped. He attempted an emergency landing but the seaplane hit the water surface 1,2 km off shore and came to rest. While all nine crew members could evacuate and were rescued, the aircraft sunk by 60 feet deep and was lost.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the engine failed during a sharp turn because water in the tank sucked into the carburetors.