Crash of a Consolidated B-24 M-10-CO Liberator near Balikpapan: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
A72-196
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While approaching Balikpapan, the four engine aircraft was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire (probably from a Japanese Navy ship parked in the Balikpapan harbor) and crashed in an isolated area. The wreckage was found several hours later and all 12 occupants have been killed.
Crew (24th Squadron):
S/Ldr John Robert Walter Redman,
F/Lt Victor Skinnerrex,
W/O Harold Allan Gooding,
F/Sgt Leslie Rogers,
F/Sgt James Ogilvie Ross Vickers,
P/O Martin Allan Burrows,
F/Sgt Ronald Michael Cornelius,
F/Sgt Frederick Leslie Rollings,
F/Sgt Patrick Fraser Stanley,
F/Sgt Roy Tapper,
F/Sgt Harold Shadforth 1.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-210-CO Liberator in Balikpapan: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1945 at 1245 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A72-64
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
While approaching Balikpapan, the heavy bomber was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire and crashed into enemy territory. All 14 crew members were killed.
Crew (24th Squadron):
F/Lt R. McD. Beattie, pilot,
F/Lt A. M. Andrews, copilot,
Cpl R. W. V. Robinson, flight engineer,
F/Lt H. Stroud, navigator,
F/Lt T. Hockings, navigator,
F/Lt D. W. Willett, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt D. G. Featherstone, air gunner,
F/Sgt L. R. Sapwell, air gunner,
F/Sgt L. W. Devereux, air gunner,
F/Sgt A. J. Hogg, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt K. Patten, air gunner,
F/Lt K. R. Harrison,
Cpt H. W. Spry,
W/O F. B. Emanuel.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-210-CO Liberator off Balikpapan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
A72-61
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While flying off Balikpapan, the heavy bomber was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire from a Navy ship. The aircraft went out of control and dove into the sea. Seven crew members were able to bail out and survived while four others were killed.
Crew (21st Squadron):
G/C McLean, †
F/Lt Roy, †
W/O Bardwell, †
Sgt Martin, †
F/Sgt A. J. Stuart 6.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL near Biak: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-100728
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
19191
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a dense wooded area located in the region of Biak. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (57th TCS):
2nd Lt Thomas Fletcher, pilot,
Robert McDowell, copilot,
1st Lt Carl F. Copeland,
Sgt Charles A. Donnelly,
T/Sgt James E. Wilson.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL in Irian Jaya: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1945 at 2300 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-16230
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Merauke – Biak
MSN:
20696
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Australia to Biak with an intermediate stop in Merauke. On board were three passengers returning from leave, four crew members and cargo consisting of fresh food. While cruising at an altitude of 12,000 feet in intermittent rains, the airplane hit the slope of a rocky mountain located in the Sudirman mountains. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. A New Zealander explorer found the wreckage on March 2, 1962.
Crew (21st TCS):
1st Lt Thelbert Vernon Lair, pilot,
2nd Lt Christian J. Ludwig, copilot,
Cpl William O. Waldrop, flight engineer,
Sgt Edwin F. Wummer, radio operator.
Passengers:
Pfc Johnnie M. Ward,
S/Sgt Cecil F. Richardson,
S/Sgt John P. Skodis.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK off Pitu: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-93230
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
13119
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea off Pitu, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
Pfc Roland L. De Cordova,
Sgt Donald D. Dyvig,
1st Lt Gilbert Kaufman,
1st Lt Clarence W. Million.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24M-10-CO Liberator off Borneo: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
A72-177
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances off the north coast of Borneo, killing all 11 crew members.
Crew (200th Squadron):
F/Lt Keith Roy Norman Emmett,
F/Lt Ernest Frederick Theyer,
F/Lt John Oswald Graham,
F/O Reginald Lee Taylor,
F/Lt Rodney Nelson Walker,
W/O Ralph Proudlock,
W/O Phillip Hector Cormack,
F/Sgt Owen William John Davern,
Sgt Lawrence James Starr,
W/O Ernest Travers Shorter,
F/Sgt John Colin William Anderson.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Irian Jaya: 20 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1945 at 1500 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-49788
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
15604/27049
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
Enroute, the aircraft hit the slope of a 2,000 meters high mountain and was destroyed. The wreckage was found two weeks later and three wounded passengers were evacuated while 20 other occupants were killed. All occupants were representatives of women's military corps of the US Army.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24L-5-CO Liberator into the Sawoe Sea: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
A72-81
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fenton - Fenton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was on his way to attack Japanese positions. While overflying the Sawoe Sea at low height, the heavy bomber was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. 10 crew members were killed while W/O K. R. Schilling survived as he bailed out before the crash but was badly injured.
Crew (24th Squadron):
F/O S. L. McDonald, pilot,
P/O K. A. Brown, copilot,
F/O P. A. Mouatt, navigator,
Sgt W. J. Wignall, flight engineer,
A. G. Worley, bombadier,
W/O K. R. Schilling, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt L. K. Walnsley, air gunner,
F/Sgt J. A. Thomas, air gunner,
F/Sgt R. J. Banks, air gunner,
F/Sgt T. E. Bowen, air gunner,
F/Sgt T. A. Davis, air gunner.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24L-1-CO Liberator into the Sawoe Sea: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
A72-77
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fenton - Fenton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was on his way to attack Japanese positions. While overflying the Sawoe Sea at low height, the heavy bomber was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. 9 crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Crew (24th Squadron):
F/Lt Eric V. Ford, pilot,
W/O C. G Vickers, copilot,
F/Lt L. D. Crowther, navigator,
Sgt W. W. Sayer, flight engineer,
F/Lt W. Laing, bombadier,
F/O R. T. Jordon, wireless operator and air gunner,
W/O A. N. Collins, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt K. J. White, air gunner,
F/Sgt L. Raine, air gunner,
F/Sgt J. M. Waddell, air gunner,
F/Sgt L. Faichnie, air gunner.