Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA on Mt Kekneno: 5 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 9, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
A16-195
Survivors:
No
MSN:
414-6459
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a bombing mission to Penfoei with three other similar airplanes. En route, weather conditions deteriorated with thunderstorm. Two crews decided to return to base and a third was forced to return due to an engine failure. Despite the situation, the pilot decided to continue to Penfoei when the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain near Mt Kekneno located some 100 km northeast of Kupang. The airplane was destroyed and all five occupants were killed. The wreckage was found after the war.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
S/L C. C. Williams, pilot,
F/Lt A. M. Fowler, navigator,
F/O W. A. Hepworth, wireless operator,
F/O R. C. Lindsay, air gunner,
F/Sgt D. C. Farmer, air gunner.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
S/L C. C. Williams, pilot,
F/Lt A. M. Fowler, navigator,
F/O W. A. Hepworth, wireless operator,
F/O R. C. Lindsay, air gunner,
F/Sgt D. C. Farmer, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.
