Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL on Tarawa Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
41-18530
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4622
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
At least one crew member was killed when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances on the Tarawa Island.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-7 near Touho: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
39100
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nouméa – Touho
MSN:
16048/32796
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While descending to Touho Airfield in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft crashed onto a hill and was destroyed. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Hobart: 25 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1946 at 2055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AET
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hobart – Melbourne
MSN:
6013
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Captain / Total flying hours:
3500
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1400
Aircraft flight hours:
7477
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Hobart-Cambridge Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control, nosed down and crashed in the Derwent estuary, near the Seven Mile Beach. The aircraft was destroyed and no survivor was found among the 25 occupants.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the captain inadvertently switched on the autopilot system in lieu of the fuel cross feed system. A forward movement on the control column was then noted and the aircraft plunged into the sea. At the time of the accident, the capacities and the performances of the captain were considered as reduced because he suffered of diabetes and was under influence of insulin, which could be considered as a contributory factor.

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:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4573
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
6203
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
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 Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Lae

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
A65-11
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9591
YOM:
1943
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. While all four crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
F/Lt Bagshaw,
F/Lt Thompson,
F/Lt Smith,
P/O Jacobsen.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman near Lockhart River: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1946 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A71-4
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Townsville – Cooktown – Iron Range
MSN:
182
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Departed Cairns for Iron Range Camp, stopped at Cooktown for fuel then encountered severe weather conditions near Iron Range. Radio contact was lost and the aircraft reported missing. An aerial search was mounted over the next four days by RAAF and civilian search planes. Five days later, a Catalina located the wreckage near the old Claudie bush strip 10 miles south of Iron Range. A RAAF Court of Enquiry determined that the aircraft crashed after it struck a tree at 1445LT when trying to land at Claudie strip in bad weather. The aircraft was destroyed and all three on board were killed. Access to crash site was impossible because of flood waters.
Crew:
F/O Colin William Law,
F/Sgt John Brian Crawford,
F/Sgt George Morris Geisel.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Curtiss R5C-1 Commando in Tinian

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
39579
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
30540
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tinian Airfield, the twin engine aircraft crashed in a field. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60GIII Moth Major in Sydney: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
VH-AAQ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sydney - Sydney
MSN:
1
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While on a local flight, the single engine went out of control and spun in between Prince Henry Hospital and Long Bay Gaol, south Sydney. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, Mrs. Betty Faux, was killed. VH-AAQ was an aircraft rebuilt by the Aero Club of NSW at Mascot during the war when acquiring replacement aircraft required desperate measures. It was based on the wreck of Moth VH-UHQ which was badly burnt in a hangar fire at Wagga 10DEC1939. The rebuilt aircraft was designated a D.H.60GIII Moth Major (with c/n 1) and was test flown on 14DEC1943. It continued to fly with the RACNSW for almost exactly two years until it crashed.
Source: Ed Coates

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK near Jacquinot Bay: 28 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1945 at 0920 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A65-54
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lae – Finschhafen – Jacquinot Bay – Rabaul
MSN:
13339
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Jacquinot Bay Airstrip at 0900LT bound for Rabaul with Australian and Indian soldiers on board. About 20 minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of an unnamed mountain located in the region of the Wide Bay. The wreckage was found at 150 feet from the summit and all 28 occupants were killed.
Crew (33rd Squadron):
F/Lt Ron Alexander Hanrahan, pilot,
F/Lt Grahame Patrick Lobwein, copilot,
F/Sgt Douglas Albert Bruderlin, radio operator.
Passengers:
Sister Verdun Bernice Sheah,
Cpl Hugh Cushing,
Cpl Stanley William Bridge,
LAC Maurice James Mills,
LAC Norman Harold Blake,
Seaman David Thomas Bristow,
Seaman Edgar Murry Hancock,
Lt John Lisle Honey,
Lt Leonard Henry Beard,
Lt Col Thomas Dennis Hannon,
W/O Clive Frederick Martin,
Maj Lionel Charles Saunders,
Lt William Reaburn Grieve,
Pvt Ronald Arthur Spencer
Sepoy Lakhu Ram,
Sepoy Shiv Singh,
Cpl Dina Nath,
Sepoy Jan Abdullah,
Sepoy Chain Singh,
Sgt Humir Singh,
Sgt Chint Singh,
2nd Lt Abdul Ratif
Sepoy Jogandel Singh,
Cpl Shai Singh,
Sepoy Chelu Rham.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU near Boana: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-78490
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Biak – Finschhafen
MSN:
22313
YOM:
1945
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions at an altitude of 11,000 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Sarwaged located 22 km north of Boana. The wreckage was found few hours later and all five occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to rain falls.