Region
Oceania
code

PNG

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Rabaul: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-13
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
307
YOM:
1941
Location:
Rabaul
East New Britain
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The floatplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Rabaul, killing the entire crew.
Crew (11th Squadron):
Cpl Raymond James Adams,
S/L Ernest Victor Beaumont,
LAC Maxwell Dawson Raymond Berghouse,
F/O Michael Whittam Edwards,
AC1 Leonard Leslie Farrands,
LAC George Lancelot Formby,
LAC Cyril Grainger,
Sgt Raymond John Richardson.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Agaiambo swamp

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-2446
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
2257
YOM:
1941
Location:
Agaiambo swamp
Oro (Northern)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful bombing mission over Rabaul, the crew was returning to base in Port Moresby when he encountered technical problems. The captain reduced his altitude and attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in a marshy field and slid for several yards before coming to rest. All eight occupants escaped unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was recovered in 2006 and later convoyed to the US.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical problems in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IV near Gasmata: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-126
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
414-6055
YOM:
1941
Location:
Gasmata
West New Britain
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Port Moresby on an operation to Gasmata. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed in an isolated area. The wreckage was eventually found 66 years later, in May 2008. Some bullet holes were noted in the tail.
Crew (6th Squadron):
F/O Graham Ian Gibson, pilot,
P/O Frank Leslie Oliver Thorn, copilot,
Sgt Arthur Edward Quail,
Sgt Barton Irving Coutie.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II off Papua New Guinea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-87
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
414-1941
YOM:
1940
Location:
Papua New Guinea
All Papua New Guinea
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea off PNG. The exact place of occurrence remains unknown. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (8th Squadron):
F/O Kenneth Vernon Hewett +3.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Salamaua: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-8
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Salamaua
MSN:
250
YOM:
1941
Location:
Salamaua
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a flight to Salamaua, carrying radio equipment, and was in formation with a second RAAF Catalina registered A24-9. Approaching Salamaua, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. Three crew members were killed and five others were rescued.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/Lt Robert Thompson, pilot,
F/Lt Paul Metzler, copilot,
LAC Charles Sollitt, wireless operator,
LAC Leo Clarke, wireless operator, †
AC1 Ken Parkyns, flight engineer,
Cpl Jack Perrett, flight engineer, †
AC1 Bill Blackman, rigger,
LAC James Cox, armourer. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Salamaua: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-9
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Salamaua
MSN:
259
YOM:
1941
Location:
Salamaua
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a flight to Salamaua, carrying radio equipment, and was in formation with a second RAAF Catalina registered A24-8. Approaching Salamaua, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. A crew survived while eight others were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
Lt G. Hutchinson, pilot, †
P/O Tom Rowe, copilot, †
Sgt Doug Coote, wireless operator, †
Cpl Jack Wyche, flight engineer, †
LAC Arthur Meadow, wireless operator, †
LAC Alan Downes, wireless operator, †
LAC John Graigie, armourer, †
AC1 Kenneth Murphy, flight engineer, †
Cpl Tom Keen, rigger.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IVA near the Kabu River: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-145
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lae – Rabaul
MSN:
414-6074
YOM:
1941
Location:
Kabu River
East New Britain
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While flying at night on a trip from Lae to Rabaul, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in the region of the Kabu River. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (24th Squadron):
F/Lt Paul Pryde Paterson,
F/O James Sinclair McIntyre,
Sgt Oliver Frederick George Claxton,
LAC James Arthur Wilson.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Kavieng: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-11
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kavieng - Kavieng
MSN:
279
YOM:
1941
Location:
Kavieng
New Ireland
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The seaplane was engaged in a reconnaissance flight in the region of Kavieng, New Ireland. Shortly after take off from the Kavieng's Bay, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control, crashed and sunk immediately in deep water. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
S/L Tom Davies, pilot,
P/O Russell Hender, copilot,
Cpl Harry Hornby, flight engineer,
LAC Leslie Hoare, flight engineer,
LAC Fred Anthony, wireless operator,
LAC Brian Wilcox, wireless operator,
LAC John Marks, armourer,
LAC C. Ogilvie, rigger.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina on Gemo Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-15
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
322
YOM:
1941
Location:
Gemo Island (Hanudamava Island)
National Capital District
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Port Moresby, while climbing, the floatplane impacted the slope of a mountain located on Gemo Island (Hanudamava Island). The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/O Lincoln James Sloan, pilot,
F/Lt Nelson Prior Reid, copilot,
Cpl Neville Lawrence Ernst, flight engineer,
Cpl Eric John O’Donnell, rigger,
LAC Charles James Matheson, flight engineer,
AC1 Keith Mighell Sidey, wireless operator,
AC1 Arthur Wallace Magee, wireless operator,
AC1 George Robert Peterson, armourer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Black Cat Creek

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4020
YOM:
1932
Location:
Black Cat Creek
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Black Cat Trail, in the Bitoi Valley. All three occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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