Collision of two Beaufighters, 14 miles outh of Evans Head, NSW on 10 November 1944

COLLISION OF TWO BEAUFIGHTERS
14 MILES SOUTH OF EVANS HEAD, NSW
ON 10 NOVEMBER 1944

On the morning of 10 November 1944, seven Beaufighters from No. 5 Operational Training Unit (5 OTU) from Williamtown airfield took off for a simulated low level attack on Evans Head airfield. The flight of Beaufighters was lead by F/Lt Young, DFC.

They flew low in 2 sections to "attack" the Evans Head airfield. They left Williamstown and headed in a north easterly direction. They turned to port when they were due east of Evans Head. They arrived right on target and did a mock beatup of the airfield.

They then began to form up over the beach adjacent to the airfield. Ralph Ind was flying in No. 2 position behind his section leader F/Lt. Young. As he was about to tuck in behind F/Lt. Young's starboard wing, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that the No. 3 pilot was approaching the No. 1 aircraft too quickly. Ralph noticed that that No. 3 pilot was looking down into his cockpit.

Before Ralph could alert the No. 3 pilot, his starboard propeller started to destroy the port wing of F/Lt Young's aircraft. Ralph Ind then had to take evasive action as F/Lt. Young's aircraft then started to veer down on top of Ralph's aircraft. Ralph executed a steep downwards sliding turn to escape the entangled aircraft. Both Beaufighters, A19-194 and A19-36 crashed on their backs at the waters edge about 14 miles south of Evans Head airfield (29.12 / 152.20). Both crews were all killed.

The remaining 5 aircraft were supposed to return to Williamtown but they landed at Evans Head airfield to see what they could do to assist.

Frank Carter was member of a crew of a RAAF Marine Section boat that went out to try to rescue the crew members of the two aircraft.

In Memory of

ARTHUR CURLEWIS YOUNG DFC

Flight Lieutenant
406671
Royal Australian Air Force

who died on
Friday 10 November 1944 . Age 28 .

Additional Information:
Son of Arthur Hall Young and Maria Kathleen Young; husband of
Betty Young, of Bundaberg, Queensland.
Cemetery:
SYDNEY MEMORIALNew South Wales, Australia
Grave or Reference Panel
Number:
Panel 5.

Hodges, Arthur George
Number: 267209
Rank: Flight Lieutenant [Flt Lt]
Unit: 5 Operational Trg Williamtown
Service: RAAF
Conflict: 1939-1945
Date of Death: 10/11/1944
Place of Death: Evans Head, NSW
Cause of Death: Accidental
Memorial Panel: 112

Parker, Norman Lewis
Number: 29099
Rank: Flying Officer [FO]
Unit: 5 Operational Trg Williamtown
Service: RAAF
Conflict: 1939-1945
Date of Death: 10/11/1944
Place of Death: Evans Head
Cause of Death: Accidental
Memorial Panel: 112

Tyack, Neville Martin
Number: 431342
Rank: Sergeant [Sgt]
Unit: 5 Op Training Williamtown
Service: RAAF
Conflict: 1939-1945
Date of Death: 10/11/1944
Place of Death: Evans Head
Cause of Death: Accidental
Memorial Panel: 113

Young, Arthur Curlewis DFC
Number: 406671
Rank: Flight Lieutenant [Flt Lt]
Unit: 5 Operational Trg Williamtown
Service: RAAF
Conflict: 1939-1945
Date of Death: 10/11/1944
Place of Death: Evans Head
Cause of Death: Accidental
Memorial Panel: 113

I'd like to thank Frank Carter from Mourilyan Harbour for his assistance with this home page.

"The Whisperer - The Newsletter of the Beaufighter and Boston Association of Queensland"
September 2002 Edition - Article by Ralph Ind

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