Victoria

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Melbourne – Sydney – Brisbane

MSN:

2030

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Melbourne-Essendon Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines. Unable to gain sufficient altitude, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in an open field located 7 km north of the airport, slid for few dozen metres and came to a halt. All 15 occupants escaped uninjured. The airplane named 'Warana' was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Cpt D. E. Barker, pilot +2.

Probable cause:

Engine failure caused by carburetor problems.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort VIII in Bairnsdale

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A9-104

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bairnsdale - Bairnsdale

MSN:

104

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane crashed for unknown reasons while taking off from Bairnsdale Airfield and was damaged beyond repair. The crew was performing a training flight.
Crew:
P/O S. Davies,
F/O A. Gillespie +2.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I in Bairnsdale: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1943 at 0730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A9-155

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Bairnsdale - Bairnsdale

MSN:

155

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while on a local training mission, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed 5 km southwest of the airbase. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Holden White, pilot,
Sgt Reuben Henry Bates-Brownsword, observer,
Sgt Gordon Clyde Lloyd, wireless operator air air gunner,
Sgt Thomas Henry Straker, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort VII in Bairnsdale

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1943 at 0210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

A9-121

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bairnsdale - Bairnsdale

MSN:

0121

YOM:

1942

Location:

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Region:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a night training flight, the airplane crashed upon landing and came to rest, bursting into flames. All four crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Crew:
P/O John Andrew Goodwin, pilot,
Sgt F. A. Woodbridge, observer,
Sgt N. J. Kelly, wireless operator,
Sgt James Keith Sinclair, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort VII in Bairnsdale

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1943 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

A9-160

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bairnsdale - Bairnsdale

MSN:

160

YOM:

1942

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane was returning to Bairnsdale Airport following a training exercise. Upon landing, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane veered to the right and came to rest. All four crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Crew:
Sgt R. H. Finlay, pilot,
F/O R. W. Fox, observer,
Sgt C. C. Baynes, wireless operator,
Sgt W. H. Flowers, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right main gear upon landing.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-171 in Mallacoota

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1942 at 1101 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-2

Operator:

Registration:

A30-10

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1372

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the right engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed, injuring all six occupants.
Crew (36th Squadron):
F/O J. L. Whiteman, pilot,
P/O F. J. Ball, pilot.
Passengers:
Sgt A. J. Scott,
Lac J. Varderway,
Lac R. L. Vance,
Cpl Greenhill.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine at takeoff.

Crash of a Junkers G.31go in Laverton

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Junkers G.31

Operator:

Registration:

A44-1

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Laverton - Laverton

MSN:

3010

YOM:

1928

Location:

Laverton AFB (Melbourne)

Victoria

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The three-engine airplane was recently transferred to Laverton Airport for repairs, following technical problems on the central engine. The pilot P/O Peter Lavarack decided to perform a test flight and initiated the takeoff run with only left and right engine running. Unfortunately, the aircraft veered off runway and collided with the car of the Minister of Air who was visiting the airport at the time of the accident. While the pilot escaped unhurt, both car and aircraft were damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in Bairnsdale: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1942 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-38

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bairnsdale - Bairnsdale

MSN:

414-1889

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

915

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local test flight at Bairnsdale Aerodrome related to the 80-hours maintenance program. When pulling out of high speed shallow dive at 80 feet and some 200 yards down from the camera (the flight was filmed), the starboard wing failed at wing station # 144, causing part of the outer wing (3 feet from engine) and spar to separate from the aircraft. The aircraft then rolled inverted, causing a further failure of the tail. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed near the airport, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
S/L P. C. Tampion,
Cpl H. P. Smith,
LAC A. P. Thomas,
LAC N. L. Cheshire.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/
Photos: Gordon Birkett

Probable cause:

The starboard wing panel was sent to the CSIR for metallurgy inspection. The finding was that the mainplanes had been repaired per then accepted practices, but had failed in flight where numerous patched repairs were made during its overhaul at 5AD. The report stated that many Hudsons withdrawn from operational service and used in 1 OTU had been flown to the limits with resultant heavy loadings on their wings on operational service. All similar houred Hudsons were inspected some found to have similar problems, which would result in their replacement by GAF Beauforts in the near future in operational squadrons.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA at Laverton AFB

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1942 at 1533 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-224

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site: