Queensland

The crew was engaged in a test flight to control a new flare dropping mechanism. En route, a failure occurred on the mechanism, causing flares to explode inside the cabin. Out of control, the airplane crashed into the sea a mile off Cairns. All 11 occupants were killed.
Crew (19th BG):
Maj Dean C. Hoevet, pilot,
Sgt Coy Adams,
T/Sgt Stephen A. Androkovich,
2nd Lt William T. Chesser,
1st Lt Paul M. Lindsay,
T/Sgt Hermon T. Randall,
2nd Lt Arthur F. Sorrell,
2nd Lt Maxwell D. Stone,
1st Lt George W. Hammersmith,
S/Sgt Bernard Merker,
T/Sgt Ralph Tarod.

The crew departed Cloncurry Airfield, Queensland, on a mission to Lae, PNG, with an intermediate stop on Horn Island. Shortly after a night take off from Horn Island Airport, while in initial climb in rain and high winds, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea some 300-400 metres offshore. Three crewmen were killed while three others were rescued. A second B-17 registered 41-2636 crashed at the same location and in similar circumstances two minutes earlier.
Crew:
Lt Paul D. Lindsay, pilot,
Lt Edward R. Budz, navigator, †
Sgt Ralph Dietz, air gunner,
Sgt Vernon O. Elder, air gunner,
S/Sgt Houston A. Rice, †
S/Sgt James E. Houchins. †

The crew departed Cloncurry Airfield, Queensland, on a mission to Lae, PNG, with an intermediate stop on Horn Island. Shortly after a night take off from Horn Island Airport, while in initial climb in rain and high winds, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea some 300-400 metres offshore. Two crewmen were killed while three others were rescued. A second B-17 registered 41-2655 crashed at the same location and in similar circumstances two minutes later.

While on a training sortie out from Bundaberg, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea 2 km off Bargara, Queensland. The airplane sank in 12 metres of water and all three crew members were killed.
Crew (8th SFTS):
F/Sgt Ronald Campbell Davies, pilot,
LAC Walter James Regan,
LAC Clifford James Lucas.

The crew was performing a training flight over the Northumberland Islands. In unknown circumstances, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off the Beverley Islands. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
F/Lt Arthur E. Adams,
P/O John D. Power,
Sgt Brian Bright.

The crew was engaged in a combined training exercise with a second RAAF Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA registered A16-191 and also carrying a crew of four. While cruising in the vicinity of Giru, both aircraft collided in unclear circumstances. A16-191 crashed in a dense mangrove and all four crew members were killed. The pilot of A16-194 was able to complete an emergency landing between Barrattas and Barramundi Creek. The airplane was destroyed and all four occupants were rescued.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
P/O L. Haliday, pilot,
Sgt Lancel Badman +2.

The crew was engaged in a combined training exercise with a second RAAF Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA registered A16-194 and also carrying a crew of four. While cruising in the vicinity of Giru, both aircraft collided in unclear circumstances. A16-191 crashed in a dense mangrove and all four crew members were killed. The pilot of A16-194 was able to complete an emergency landing between Barrattas and Barramundi Creek. The airplane was destroyed and all four occupants were rescued.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
Sgt M. W. Cooper, pilot,
Sgt H. T. Gillam, copilot,
Sgt J. A. Herman, wireless operator,
P/O John L. Jewell, air gunner.

Crashed while taking off from Reid River Airfield, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
S/Sgt George H. Bullock,
T/Sgt John E. Cunningham,
2nd Lt James William Currie,
Cpl Durward Rucker Davis Jr.,
Cpl Joseph A. Kovach,
2nd Lt Jack Ward Oliver 2L KS 15 5 1942 B-26 # 40-1390,
2nd Lt John A. Phipps,
2nd Lt Robert Henry Rye.

The airplane was engaged in an operation against Japanese warships. While returning to base, the crew got lost in the growing darkness. Low on fuel, the airplane was abandoned by the crew who bailed out. The airplane continued for about 60 km then dove into the ground and crashed some 30 km south of Mount Fox, near Ewan (Zig Zag Station). The airplane was destroyed. All six crew members landed unhurt and were rescued.

Shortly after takeoff from Charters Towers Airfield, the pilot encountered problems with controls. He decided to return to the airfield where the airplane crashed upon landing and was wrecked. All six crew members escaped unhurt.