Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Lae: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1467
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1467
YOM:
1940
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the Huon Gulf off Lae. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpl Raymond A. Arendell,
S/Sgt Russell R. Bradley,
1st Lt Spears Randall Lanford,
Sgt D. A. Martin Jr.,
2nd Lt Gerald W. McClune,
2nd Lt John T. Moore,
Pvt Anthony J. Petitti.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-8
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Salamaua
MSN:
250
YOM:
1941
Location:
Region:
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:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-9
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Salamaua
MSN:
259
YOM:
1941
Location:
Region:
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 De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Black Cat Creek

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4020
YOM:
1932
Region:
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.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Wau

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UTB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
5-AT-068
YOM:
1929
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wau Airport, the right engine failed. The airplane banked right, lost height and crashed in a river located near the airfield. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The airplane was performing a cargo flight, carrying a load of wood.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after takeoff due to the failure of the right engine.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Wau

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ULJ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bulolo – Wau
MSN:
1074
YOM:
1929
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the single engine airplane landed hard at Wau Airport. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair after cracks were found in the rear fuselage spars.
Probable cause:
Hard landing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.66 Hercules in Marble Creek: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1941 at 1200 LT
Registration:
VH-UJO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
344
YOM:
1929
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a cargo flight from Salamaua to Wau. Approaching the destination area, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Marble Creek. The wreckage was found four days later and the pilot was killed.

Crash of an Avro 616 Avian IVM in Slate Creek

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
VH-UOE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
372
YOM:
1930
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while taking off from Slate Creek and was wrecked. The pilot was rescued.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon II in Wau: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
6080
YOM:
1934
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Wau, the twin engine aircraft was too low following a poor judgement on part of the pilot. He attempted to initiate a go around and increased engine power but the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a dense wooded area near the airport. The pilot and two passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Ron E. Doyle.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of the pilot.

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

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1939
Registration:
VH-AAZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
4089
YOM:
1934
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Salamaua to Wau, carrying five bags of rice and two oil drums. Too low over the Bitoi Valley, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located in the Black Cat Range. The pilot W. Forgan Smith walked away in a thick forest for few days before finding help.
Probable cause:
Pilot's accident report to DCA: "I tried to regain height after a downdraft by zig-zagging up the valley because there was not enough room to turn. I had full throttle, the trees were getting closer and closer and the nose higher and higher until the machine stalled. I throttled back and hoped for the best. I hit the trees and got out. I walked to the river but there was a big waterfall which I could not get up, so I walked down the river in the other direction."