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Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 near Kokoda: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
39090
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cairns – Momote
MSN:
13859
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kokoda
Central
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
En route, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located some 30 km west of Kokoda, in the center PNG. The wreckage was eventually found in 1970. All 17 occupants were killed. Other source reports the accident occurred in the region of Cairns.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DL on Mt Victoria: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23500
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dobodura – Port Moresby
MSN:
9362
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mt Victoria
Central
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Dobodura-North Borio Airfield at 1451LT but failed to arrive in Port Moresby-Wards Airport. SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was spotted on January 12, 1944, on the slope of Mt Victoria located in the Owen Stanley Range. Unfortunately, it was impossible for a rescue team to reach the site due to the difficult terrain.
Crew:
S/Sgt Benton D. Campbell,
1st Lt Gale J. Chase,
S/Sgt Joseph C. Draper,
1st Lt Frank C. Gecan,
Cpl Joseph J. Ransdell,
Cpl Everett F. Rogers.
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