Country
Solomon Islands

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 on San Cristobal Island: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
12405
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
9177
YOM:
1943
Location:
San Cristobal Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Hit a mountain slope on San Cristobal Island, killing all 10 crew members.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Vella Lavella Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2021
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
414-3834
YOM:
1941
Location:
Vella Lavella Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising along the Vella Lavella Island, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the pilots of eight Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. Crew abandoned the sinking aircraft but were strafed by enemy fighters. Four of them were killed while the air gunner was able to reach the shore.
Crew (3rd Squadron):
F/Lt William Allison, †
P/O Frank Kerr, †
Sgt Ronald Douglas, †
Sgt James Johnstone, †
Sgt Trevor Ganley.
Probable cause:
Shot down by 8 Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Vella Lavella Island

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1943 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
08051
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Honiara - Honiara
MSN:
0870
YOM:
1941
Location:
Vella Lavella Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The seaplane left Honiara-Henderson Field at 1900LT on July 16 for a 12 hours anti-submarine mission. By night, while cruising along the Vella LaVella Island, the left engine caught fire. The captain attempted to ditch the aircraft few hundred yards off shore but the aircraft crash landed and sank immediately. All 13 crew members were rescued.
Crew:
Lt James W. Anderson, pilot 12.
Source: http://www.vpnavy.com/vp54_mishap.html
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Tulagi: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
08246
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Tulagi
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Tulagi harbor, killing all seven crew members.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Guadalcanal Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2033
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
414-3856
YOM:
1941
Location:
Guadalcanal Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While flying along the coast of the Guadalcanal Island, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (3rd Squadron):
F/Lt Wilfred Rutherford,
F/O Vivian Eady,
Sgt Lisle Smith,
Sgt William Lankshear,
Sgt John McDougall.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Guadalcanal

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
08078
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Honiara - Honiara
MSN:
897
YOM:
1941
Location:
Guadalcanal Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Henderson Field on a night search mission. It suffered an engine failure and was ditched off Guadalcanal Island and later sank. All crew members were rescued.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Guadalcanal Island: 12 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
04403
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Honiara - Honiara
MSN:
409
YOM:
1941
Location:
Guadalcanal Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The seaplane was engaged in a night maritime patrol flight off Guadalcanal Island. It failed to return to base and no trace of the seaplane nor the 12 crew members was ever found.
Crew (VP-54):
Lt(jg) Walter Howell Cummings, pilot,
Lt(jg) Frederick S. Panetto,
Ens George Ordell Foss,
Ap1c Monta Colma Ellis,
Ap1c John Robert Wolverton,
Amm1c Ralph O. Brent,
Amm2c John Fred Williams,
Amm2c Lyle Cooper Johnson,
Amm3c Raymond B. Williford,
Rm1c Elvin Earl Packer,
Rm2c Grant F. Leonard,
Rm3c William T. Ross.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-1 on Guadalcanal Island

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
37666
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
6256
YOM:
1943
Location:
Guadalcanal Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Honiara

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2041
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
414-6439
YOM:
1942
Location:
Honiara-Henderson Field
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Honiara-Henderson Field, the twin engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and crashed into a ditch. All occupants escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Honiara: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1943 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2061
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
414-6507
YOM:
1942
Location:
Honiara-Henderson Field
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Honiara Airport, a tyre burst. The twin engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and crashed into a ravine, bursting into flames. Bombs stored in the cargo bay exploded and the airplane was totally destroyed. Two crew members were killed and three others were seriously injured.
Crew (3rd Squadron):
F/O Nelson Warner, †
F/Sgt John Jerrat, †
F/L K. King,
Sgt H. Baker,
Sgt B. Dillner.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during the takeoff roll after a tyre burst.
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