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Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Bereina

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BMN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Bereina
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft landed hard, causing a wing to touch the ground and to be sheared off. Out of control, the airplane veered off runway and came to rest. All 15 occupants were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-5-BO Flying Fortress off Hood Point: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-24425
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
3110
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Port Moresby-Jackson (7 Mile Drome) on a training flight with other similar airplanes. While flying in close formation over the sea, the airplane was caught by a sudden downdraft and the propellers collided with B-17F registered 41-24355, causing some damage to its tail. Following the collision, the engines caught fire then the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the sea off Hood Point, 48 km southeast of Port Moresby. All seven crew members were killed. The other B-17 returned to Port Moresby safely.
Crew:
Cpt Charles N. McArthur,
2nd Lt La Rue Haralson,
T/Sgt Joseph C. Whitelaw,
Sgt Robert R. Greenwood,
Sgt George N. Neuman,
Pvt William N. Phillips,
Pvt Brony C. Wysocki.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision with another airplane after being caught by a sudden downdraft.

Crash of a North American B-25C-1 Mitchell in Veimauri

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-13088
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
82-5723
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Port Moresby-Durand (17 Mile Drome) at 0900LT on a test flight after the engines have been serviced. En route, the pilot feathered a propeller at low altitude when the airplane impacted a tree and crash landed in swamp located in Veimauri. The crew escaped unhurt and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
2nd Lt Charles Howe, pilot +2.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Mt Kokoda: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1529
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
1529
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Port Moresby-Schwimmer (12 Mile Drome) at 1015LT on an operation to Buna Airfield. En route, weather conditions worsened and the aircraft disappeared above the Kokoda Mountains shrouded in clouds. No trace of the aircraft named 'Fury' nor the crew was found.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Franklin J. Anderson, pilot,
Sgt William Llewellyn Scanlan, copilot,
2nd Lt Sidney H. Willoughby, navigator,
1st Lt Edward H. Hansen, bombardier,
Sgt John H. McLean, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Thomas R. Powell, radio operator,
S/Sgt George W. Whitley Jr., air gunner.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL on Mt Obree: 17 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1942 at 1330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-18564
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Pongani
MSN:
4689
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
Named 'The Flying Dutchman', the airplane departed Port Moresby on a flight to Pongani on behalf of the 33rd Troop Carrier Squadron's to deliver supplies and troops from the 32nd Infantry Division and the 126th Infantry Regiment. While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the aircraft encountered severe downdrafts, lost altitude and eventually crashed against Mt Obree, in the center of PNG. Of the 23 aboard, 17 survived the crash. Many had serious injuries and burns, and died afterwards waiting for help. Eventually, some of the survivors found help and only six survived. The wreckage was rediscovered during an air search mission for a missing Piaggio on March 8, 1961. The airplane has the dual registration 41-18564 and VH-CCU.
Crew:
2nd Lt George W. Vandervort, pilot, †
Cpt Theodore W. Barron, †
T/Sgt Stephen J. Pitch, flight engineer, †
Sgt George B. Kershner, radio operator.
Passengers:
Tec Lawrence E. Peterson, †
Sgt James M. Verstay, †
Sgt Edward K. Holleman,
Pfc Gerald M. Grove, †
Pfc Frank A. Thomas, Jr.,
Pfc Malvern E. Patton, †
Pfc William L. Smith, †
Pvt Vernon R. Moak, †
Pvt Charles W. Raddatz, †
Pvt Charles I. Stokes, †
Pvt Margarito Padilla, †
Pvt Carlos D. Failin, †
Pvt Duane R. Butler,
Pvt Floyd L. August,
Pvt John W. Mobley,
Pvt John J. Bellus, †
Pvt Theodore Romero, †
Pvt Martin J. Brandon, †
Pvt Antonio T. Montes. †
Probable cause:
Caught by severe downdrafts and crashed.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder near Sogeri

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1493
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
1493
YOM:
1940
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was returning to base in Port Moresby following a reconnaissance mission to locate Japanese ships off Lae. On the return trip, the captain was forced to attempt an emergency landing after the airplane ran out of fuel. It crash landed near the Laloki River, in the region of Sogeri, and was damaged beyond repair. All eight occupants escaped unhurt and were rescued.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Bodinumu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-18585
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
4710
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Port Moresby-5 Mile Airfield on a supply mission. The crew was supposed to drop food and supplies to the Australian Army soldiers based in the Kokoda Trail. The airplane failed to return to base and the wreckage was later found in an uninhabited area near Bodinumu. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Wilson C. Cater, pilot,
S/Sgt Glenn E. Webb, copilot,
M/Sgt Donald A. Mackey, crew chief.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I in Tapini: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A9-52
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
052
YOM:
1941
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was on an operation to Lae Airfield when the airplane crashed in hilly terrain near Tapini. The wreckage was found about 120 km north of Port Moresby. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Charles Walter Lyndsay, pilot,
F/O Joseph Anderson Wormald, observer,
Sgt Douglas Wallace Desmond, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Charles Forbes Patterson, air gunner.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon II on Yule Island

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A34-8
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6065
YOM:
1934
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Port Moresby, the airplane suffered an engine failure in flight. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed on Yule Island. Both crew members were uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress on Mt Obree: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-2505
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
2316
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Port Moresby on an operation to Rabaul. It failed to return to base and was declared missing. Following the crash of a USAAF C-47 on November 10 in the same area, the wreckage was found on the slope of Mt Obree (Ghost Mountain). The airplane was flying at an altitude of 9,000 feet when it impacted the mountain. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Joe A. Carter,
1st Lt Daniel White Fagen,
2nd Lt Jim Sam Grant,
Sgt Edward L. Hargrove,
2nd Lt Ralph Howard,
2nd Lt Robert R. Meyer,
Sgt Paul A. Reimer,
Sgt Elton J. Rose.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.