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Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Malaita Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4578
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
6209
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Enroute, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and disintegrated on impact. All five crew members were killed. As the aircraft was carrying a load of bombs, the explosion on impact was so severe that no trace of the crew was found.
Crew (4th Squadron):
F/O Keith Graham,
Sgt Melville Moxham,
F/Sgt Leo Marshall,
Sgt Eric Priest,
Sgt Douglas Reid.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Piva: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1945 at 0924 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2012
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honiara - Piva
MSN:
414-3825
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach, the twin engine aircraft stalled, crashed onto the runway and exploded. Two crew members were seriously injured while three others were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Robert Lamason, †
F/O Wilfred Hall, †
LAC John Medhurst, †
W/O P. Doody,
LAC R. McAnich.

Crash of a Consolidated PB2B-1 Catalina off Funafuti: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1945 at 0620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4031
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
28120
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from the Funafuti harbor, while climbing at a height of 15 feet, the aircraft stalled and hit the water surface. Seven crew members were rescued while three others were drowned with the seaplane that sank by 100 feet deep. Crew was from the 5th Squadron.
Probable cause:
The crash was caused by a mishandling of the controls by the copilot through a misunderstanding between him and the Captain.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Kaukapakapa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1945 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4518
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission out of Whenuapai AFB when the twin engine aircraft collided with a RNZAF C-47 registered NZ3501 over Kaukapakapa. The crew of the C-47 was able to return to Whenuapai AFB with minor damages and landed safely. The captain of the Ventura ordered his crew to bail out and attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field in Kaukapakapa. The pilot F/Lt William Farnsworth was killed while his crew was unhurt.

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

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1945 at 1058 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4022
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Suva - Suva
MSN:
1470
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The seaplane stalled and spun into water some 10 miles south of Beqa Island, while operating with No. 6 squadron. During a post maintenance test flight, the aircraft was deliberately stalled at 5,500 feet but entered an uncontrollable spin and dove into the sea near Beqa Island. Four crew and eight passengers were killed while two crew and four passengers got clear of the wreckage before it sank and survived.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off Piva: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4623
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Piva – Emirau
MSN:
6338
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Few minutes after take off from Piva Aerodrome, en route to Emirau Island, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea some 15 miles offshore. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found, except two dinghies and a headset.
Crew (4th Squadron):
W/Cdr Norman Lecher,
F/Lt John Wright,
F/Lt Harald Thomson,
W/O William Boughey,
F/O Barclay Harrington,
Sgt Lewis Mawson,
Sgt Rex Mossman.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura near the Aita River: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4634
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
6396
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a supply mission. After some of the load was dropped, while flying in a valley, the pilot increased power on both engines to leave the valley but the aircraft hit the ridge of a mountain and crashed. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant was seriously injured.
Crew (1st Squadron):
F/Sgt N. Gardiner,
F/Lt Dennis Hobbs, †
F/Lt Robert Scarlett, †
W/O Stanley Nuttall, †
F/Sgt Fred Murphy. †

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Nausori: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1944 at 1649 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4550
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Funafuti – Nausori
MSN:
5899
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Funafuti (Tuvalu Islands) to Nausori with a load of bomb. The approach and landing were completed in strong cross winds and upon landing, the twin engine aircraft went of control, skidded and veered off runway to the right before coming to rest in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed. The explosion on final impact was largely contributed by the presence of bombs.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off Guadalcanal Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4567
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
6095
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Honiara-Henderson Field bound for New Zealand. While cruising off the Guadalcanal Island in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea south of the island. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Sgt Charles St John,
Sgt Stanley Claughton,
F/Sgt Patrick Maher,
Sgt John Leonard,
Sgt Vere Mullany.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura into the Pacific Ocean: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4624
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gisborne – Luganville
MSN:
6271
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route from Gisborne to Luganville, the aircraft suffered an engine failure and crashed into the sea, killing all five crew members.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.