Crash of a B-25D Mitchell between Townsville and Charters Towers, in Queensland on 31 December 1942

CRASH OF A B-25D MITCHELL
BETWEEN TOWNSVILLE AND CHARTERS TOWERS
ON 31 DECEMBER 1942

visits since 31 May 2003

Late on the morning of 31 December 1942, B-25D Mitchell, #41-29698, "The Bird Dog", piloted by Captain William R. "Red" Johnson, of the 90th Bomb Squadron of the 3rd Bomb Group, left Charters Towers for Townsville to pick up some friends, to bring them back to Charters Towers for a party in the newly completed Officer's Club. While returning to Charters Towers they struck some bad weather and crashed into a mountainside about 20 miles west of Townsville. Another source suggest it was 20 miles south of Townsville. The crash site was not located until 3 January 1943. Private Coen from the 90th Bomb Squadron's Intelligence Section had also gone along for the ride. Therefore there were 8 personnel killed in this tragic accident.

On board were two members of the 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron of the 374th Troop Carrier Group whom were killed. They were Captain John R. Linn (or Lenn) and 1st Lt. Malcolm E. Peterson.

The burial records for the US War Cemetery in Townsville shows the following records. I have assumed that they were all killed in the one crash:-

NAME	SERVICE NO.	UNIT	CAUSE	BURIAL DATE	RELIGION
Lelik, Andrew	12029966 USA	90th Bomb Sq., 3rd Bomb Gp.	Air Crash	9 Jan 43	Catholic
Gibson, Archibald B.	6971481 USA	90th Bomb Sq., 3rd Bomb Gp.	Air Crash	9 Jan 43	Protestant
Petersen, Malcolm E.	0397451 USA	22nd TP. Carrier Sq.	Air Crash	9 Jan 43	Protestant
Lenn, John R.	0315444? USA	22nd TP. Carrier Sq.	Air Crash	9 Jan 43	Protestant
Johnson William R.	0422025 USA	90th Bomb Sq., 3rd Bomb Gp.	Air Crash	9 Jan 42	Protestant
Penler, Stephen	0321823 USA	CML. SEC, HQ USASOS	Air Crash	9 Jan 42	Catholic
Faris, Robert M.	0295946 USA	CML. SEC., 5th Air Force	Air Crash	9 Jan 42	Protestant