Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Piva: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1945 at 0924 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2012
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honiara - Piva
MSN:
414-3825
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach, the twin engine aircraft stalled, crashed onto the runway and exploded. Two crew members were seriously injured while three others were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Robert Lamason, †
F/O Wilfred Hall, †
LAC John Medhurst, †
W/O P. Doody,
LAC R. McAnich.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off Piva: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4623
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Piva – Emirau
MSN:
6338
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Few minutes after take off from Piva Aerodrome, en route to Emirau Island, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea some 15 miles offshore. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found, except two dinghies and a headset.
Crew (4th Squadron):
W/Cdr Norman Lecher,
F/Lt John Wright,
F/Lt Harald Thomson,
W/O William Boughey,
F/O Barclay Harrington,
Sgt Lewis Mawson,
Sgt Rex Mossman.