Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P2 Bandeirante off Hoskins: 14 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1987
Operator:
Registration:
P2-RDM
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rabaul - Hoskins
MSN:
110-262
YOM:
1980
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
While descending to Hoskins Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and severe turbulences. Control was lost and the aircraft crashed in the sea few km offshore. Three passengers were rescued while 14 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to severe atmospheric turbulences.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK near Jacquinot Bay: 28 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1945 at 0920 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A65-54
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lae – Finschhafen – Jacquinot Bay – Rabaul
MSN:
13339
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Jacquinot Bay Airstrip at 0900LT bound for Rabaul with Australian and Indian soldiers on board. About 20 minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of an unnamed mountain located in the region of the Wide Bay. The wreckage was found at 150 feet from the summit and all 28 occupants were killed.
Crew (33rd Squadron):
F/Lt Ron Alexander Hanrahan, pilot,
F/Lt Grahame Patrick Lobwein, copilot,
F/Sgt Douglas Albert Bruderlin, radio operator.
Passengers:
Sister Verdun Bernice Sheah,
Cpl Hugh Cushing,
Cpl Stanley William Bridge,
LAC Maurice James Mills,
LAC Norman Harold Blake,
Seaman David Thomas Bristow,
Seaman Edgar Murry Hancock,
Lt John Lisle Honey,
Lt Leonard Henry Beard,
Lt Col Thomas Dennis Hannon,
W/O Clive Frederick Martin,
Maj Lionel Charles Saunders,
Lt William Reaburn Grieve,
Pvt Ronald Arthur Spencer
Sepoy Lakhu Ram,
Sepoy Shiv Singh,
Cpl Dina Nath,
Sepoy Jan Abdullah,
Sepoy Chain Singh,
Sgt Humir Singh,
Sgt Chint Singh,
2nd Lt Abdul Ratif
Sepoy Jogandel Singh,
Cpl Shai Singh,
Sepoy Chelu Rham.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Lelet Plateau: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4613
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Emirau - Rabaul
MSN:
6268
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew left Emirau Airport on a bombing mission to Rabaul. Following a uneventful mission and while returning to its base, the twin engine aircraft crashed in the Lelet Plateau. The wreckage was found in November 1945 only. All six crew members have been killed.
Crew (8th Squadron):
F/O Norman Benton,
F/Sgt James Cunneen,
F/Sgt Robert Buchanan,
W/O Chris Jeffares,
F/Sgt James Mallett,
Sgt Norman Merfield.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress into the Baining Mountains: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-2430
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Dobodura - Port Moresby
MSN:
2241
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Dobodura Airfield at 0145LT to bomb the airport of Rabaul-Vunakanau. Following an uneventful mission, the crew left the combat area when it was attacked by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. The aircraft christened 'Naughty But Nice' went out of control and only the navigator was able to bail out before the aircraft crashed into the Baining Mountains, south of Rabaul. All nine other crew members were killed.
Crew (43rd BG):
1st Lt William J. Sarsfield Jr., pilot, †
2nd Lt Charles E. Trimingham, copilot, †
1st Lt Francis G. Peattie, bombardier, †
1st Lt Jose L. Holguin, navigator
2nd Lt Herman H. Knott, bomb aimer, †
T/Sgt Robert L. Christopherson, flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Henry Garcia, second flight engineer, †
T/Sgt Leonard A. Gionet, radio operator, †
S/Sgt Robert E. Griebel, assistant to the radio operator, †
S/Sgt Pace P. Payne, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress off Rabaul: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-9244
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Dobodura - Port Moresby
MSN:
2716
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Port Moresby-7 Mile Airfield in the morning and flew to Dobodura where a stock of bombs was loaded. It left Dobodura to attack the Rabaul-Vunakanau Airport. While approaching the target, the aircraft what shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. All four engines were hit by bullets and the captain ordered his crew to bail out but only three crewmen were able to do so. Out of control, the aircraft went into a spin and crashed into the St George Channel, off Rabaul. All eight other occupants were killed.
Crew (43rd BG):
Maj Paul I. Williams, pilot, †
2nd Lt John S. Rippy, copilot,
M/Sgt Gordon R. Manuel, bombardier,
2nd Lt Richard U. Aguirre, navigator, †
S/Sgt Robert B. Gills Jr., flight engineer, †
Sgt Edward Driscoll, radio operator, †
Sgt Lawrence L. Rexroat, air gunner, †
Sgt Robert A. Curry,
Pfc William R. Smith, air gunner, †
Sgt Joseph F. Murray, air gunner, †
Passenger:
1st Lt Robert F. Heller. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Mitsubishi G4M near Buin: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1943 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T1-323
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rabaul – Lakunai – Balalae Island
MSN:
2656
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Rabaul-Vunakanau Airport in early morning bound for Balalae Island with an intermediate stop in Lakunai to pick up passengers. The twin engine aircraft was flying together with another Mitsubishi G4M and an escort of six Mitsubishi Zero. It left Lakunai Airfield at 0610LT and while approaching the south of the Bougainville Island, the formation was attacked by a squadron of 12 USAAF P-38. The G4M was shot down and crashed in a jungle located some 25 km north of Buin, killing all 12 occupants, among them Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and several high rank Navy Officers who were performing an inspection of the Japanese installations in the area of the Solomon Islands.
Crew (705th Kōkūtai):
W/O Takeo Koyani, pilot,
W/O Takeo Kotani, pilot,
F/S Akiharu Ozaki, copilot,
P/O Haruo Ueda, flight engineer,
P/O Nobuo Hara, radio operator,
P/O Minoru Tanaka, air gunner,
F/S Mitsuo Ueno, air gunner,
F/S Harumasa Kobayashi, air gunner.
Passengers:
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto,
Admiral Takata,
Cdr Kurio Toibana,
Cdr Noburu Fukusaki.
Probable cause:
Shot down by USAAF fighters.

Crash of a Mitsubishi G4M off Moila Point: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1943 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T1-326
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rabaul – Lakunai – Balalae Island
MSN:
2659 ?
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Rabaul-Vunakanau Airport in early morning bound for Balalae Island with an intermediate stop in Lakunai to pick up passengers. The twin engine aircraft was flying together with another Mitsubishi G4M and an escort of six Mitsubishi Zero. It left Lakunai Airfield at 0610LT and while approaching the south of the Bougainville Island, the formation was attacked by a squadron of 12 USAAF P-38. The G4M was shot down and crashed into the sea off Moila Point, some 15 km southwest of Buin. Two passengers and the captain were found alive while all other occupants were killed, among them several high rank Navy Officers who were performing an inspection of the Japanese installations in the area of the Solomon Islands and were accompanying Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.
Crew (705th Kōkūtai):
F/O Hiroshi Hayashi, pilot,
Cdr Hiroaki Tanimura 6.
Passengers:
Vice-Admiral Matome Ugaki,
Cpt Motoharu Kitamura,
Cdr Rinji Tomoro,
Cdr Kaoru Imananka,
Cdr Suteji Muroi.
Probable cause:
Shot down by USAAF fighters.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress near Rabaul: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-9196
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mareeba - Port Moresby - Mareeba
MSN:
2668
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Mareeba in Queensland and made a fuel stop at Port Moresby-Seven Mile airfield. It then continued to Rabaul on a mission to attack the Vunakanau Airfield. Upon arrival, the bomber was attacked by 11 Japanese Mitsubishi Zero and crashed, killing all nine crew members.
Crew (19th BG):
1st Lt Earl L. Hageman Jr.,
1st Lt Dale E. Hanson,
2nd Lt Angelo P. Bianco,
2nd Lt Wade H. Lowry,
S/Sgt Michael G. Adamow,
Sgt Thomas H. Jack,
Cpl Frank J. Mehock,
Pfc Thomas W. Wilzbacher,
Sgt Frank W. Plunkett, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Rabaul: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-2660
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
2471
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a bombing mission over Rabaul. While approaching its target, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed in a huge explosion. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew (19th BG).
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Rabaul: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1400
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1400
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While flying near Rabaul, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed. Five crew members were killed while two others were rescued and taken POW.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.