16 February 1945 - Collision of 2 P-40 Kittyhawks about 2 miles west of Wentworth Bombing Range, NSW

COLLISION OF TWO P-40 KITTYHAWKS,
ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTH WEST OF
WENTWORTH BOMBING RANGE, NSW
ON 16 FEBRUARY 1945

RAAF P-40 Kittyhawks A29-186 and A29-167 from No. 2 Operational Training Unit (2 OTU) Mildura, were involved in a combat exercise near Wentworth Bombing Range in New South Wales on 16 February 1945. Both aircraft failed to return to their base at Mildura airfield. Intensive searches were conducted by all available aircraft from 2 OTU aided by 6 Avro Ansons each from 6 SFTS and 3 ACS. The search was abandoned at 1630 hours on Sunday 18 February 1945.

On Monday, 2 OTU was informed by a resident of Wentworth of the wreckage of an aircraft 2 miles south west of the Wentworth Bombing Range. A further search revealed the other aircraft approximately 3/4 to 1 mile away from the first aircraft found.

A wing tip from one of the aircraft was located 1 3/4 to 2 miles north west of one of the aircraft and the fact that the two aircraft had crashed so close to each other, it was concluded that they had collided in the air and crashed unobserved.

F/Lt Robert Ambrose Milne (406362) - pilot of A29-167
F/Sgt. Norman Robert Hammond (419804) - pilot of A29-186

Both pilots were buried in the Mildura War Cemetery on 20 February 1945. The ceremony was conducted by Squadron Leader Correll of the Church of England Church.

© Peter Dunn 2002
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