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Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.12 in Paraparaumu

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
PH599
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Paraparaumu-Kapiti Coast
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. No casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in the Tararua Mountain Range: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1946 at 0710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4573
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Meteorological / Weather
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
6203
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tararua Mountain Range
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a meteorological survey mission and left Ohakea AFB at 0700LT. Ten minutes later, while cruising in the Waitohu Valley in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Tararua Mountain Range. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 4 crew members was found. On March 19, 1949, walkers found the wreckage of the aircraft in a wooded area located near Otaki.
Crew:
F/Lt Walter Jacobs,
F/Lt Sydney Langton,
W/O Hedley Newell,
AC1 Anthony Hayhurst.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Palmerston North

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3511
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18-2551
YOM:
1943
Location:
Palmerston North
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Palmerston North, while on a delivery flight to Union Airways, the twin engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK into the Pacific Ocean: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1945 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3526
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luganville – Whenuapai
MSN:
14562/26007
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pacific Ocean
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
Enroute from Vanuatu to Whenuapai, the crew made a last radio call around 0900. While flying in marginal weather conditions (thunderstorm activity and turbulence), the aircraft failed to arrive and probably crashed into the south Pacific ocean. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew:
F/O Jack Hoffeins, pilot,
F/O Kenneth McArthur, navigator,
P/O Clifton Kennedy, wireless operator and air gunner,
Cpl John Jacobs, flight engineer.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Seeadler Harbour: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1945 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4619
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
6264
Location:
Seeadler Harbour (Los Negros Island)
Manus
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While returning to his base and completing a turn at a height of 75 feet, the crew lost control of the aircraft that crashed inverted in the Seeadler Harbour. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (4th Squadron):
F/Sgt Jack Mummery,
F/Sgt Joseph Hartley,
F/Sgt Arthur Doreen,
F/Sgt Richard Anderson,
F/Sgt Kenneth Taylor,
Cpl James Gibson.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK off Savo Island

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3521
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
13929/25374
YOM:
1944
Location:
Savo 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 into the sea, some 400 yards offshore. The aircraft sank and was lost while there were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Luganville

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3529
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15205/26650
YOM:
1944
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft veered to the right, went off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest into trees. The aircraft was written off but there were no casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Emirau: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1945 at 0707 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4607
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6205
YOM:
1944
Location:
Emirau Island
New Ireland
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft banked left, hit the ground and crashed in flames. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (21st Squadron):
W/Cdr Andrew Henderson,
F/Lt Alexander Baxter,
F/Lt Arthur Lambie,
F/Sgt William Torkington.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Ohakea AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2045
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
414-6443
Location:
Ohakea AFB (Bulls)
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, the aircraft stalled, hit the ground, went out of control and eventually crashed on a construction vehicle. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and both pilots were slightly injured while the vehicle's driver was killed.
Probable cause:
It appears that the crew did not prepare the flight properly and did not proceed to any deice prior to takeoff while the aircraft (wings, tail and stabilizers) were contaminated by ice. This cause the aircraft to stall just after liftoff.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Lelet Plateau: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4613
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Emirau - Rabaul
MSN:
6268
Location:
Lelet
New Ireland
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 crew left Emirau Airport on a bombing mission to Rabaul. Following a uneventful mission and while returning to its base, the twin engine aircraft crashed in the Lelet Plateau. The wreckage was found in November 1945 only. All six crew members have been killed.
Crew (8th Squadron):
F/O Norman Benton,
F/Sgt James Cunneen,
F/Sgt Robert Buchanan,
W/O Chris Jeffares,
F/Sgt James Mallett,
Sgt Norman Merfield.
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