6 JULY 1943
CRASH OF A BEAUFORT BOMBER
NEAR BOHLE RIVER AIR STRIP

Bristol Beaufort

RAAF Beaufort bomber, A9-264, of 8 Squadron suffered a failure of both engines and was destroyed by fire at about 1150 hours on 6 July 1943, after a forced landing in lightly timbered country 2 miles south west of Bohle River Airfield near Townsville in north Queensland. The aircraft was returning to the airfield after a practice bombing exercise.

The following crew members were all died as a result of this tragic crash:-

F/Off Daniel William Courtman (405347) - killed
F/Off John Francis Goodison (401786) - seriously injured but died after admission to 5 Medical Receiving Station RAAF
P/Off John Mitchell (400994) - killed
F/Sgt David Llewellyn Cole (401419) - died after admission to 5 Medical Receiving Station RAAF

They were all buried at the Townsville War Cemetery.

In Memory of

DAVID LLEWELLYN COLE

Flight Sergeant
401419
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on
Tuesday, 6th July 1943. Age 24

Son of Lewis George and Amy Cole, of Toorak, Victoria.

TOWNSVILLE WAR CEMETERY, Queensland, Australia
Grave Reference/Panel Number: A.D.16.

In Memory of

DANIEL WILLIAM COURTMAN

Flying Officer
405347
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on
Tuesday, 6th July 1943. Age 28

Son of William Henry and Briget Angeline Courtman; husband of
Thelma Agnes Marion Courtman, of Upper Burringbar, New South Wales

TOWNSVILLE WAR CEMETERY, Queensland, Australia
Grave Reference/Panel Number:   A.D.13.

In Memory of

JOHN MITCHELL

Pilot Officer
400994
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on
Tuesday, 6th July 1943. Age 27.

Son of John and Emily Jane Mitchell, of Elsternwick, Victoria.

Cemetery:  TOWNSVILLE WAR CEMETERY, Queensland, Australia
Grave Reference/Panel Number: A.D.15.

In Memory of

JOHN FRANCIS GOODISSON

Flying Officer
401786
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on
Tuesday, 6th July 1943. Age 22.

Son of John Roy and Rubina Marguerita Goodisson, of Trawalla, Victoria.

Cemetery: TOWNSVILLE WAR CEMETERY, Queensland, Australia
Grave Reference/Panel Number: A.D.14.

REFERENCE BOOK

"Diary of WWII - North Queensland"
Complied by Peter Nielsen

"Aircraft and Markings of the RAAF 1939 - 1945"
By Geoffrey Pentland

NOTE:-  I also received information on this crash from a list of aircraft crashes compiled by Bruce Stewart from a series of books called "Aircraft in Australian Service" by Stewart Wilson.

SOURCE:-   Aircraft Crash Sites - Australia

Crash:         No. 327 or 328

Position:     19.12 - 145.39

Department of Aviation Chart No:       3219

NOTE:-   Crash Nos. 327 and 328 show the location as:- "Burnt out wreckage located near Black River Strip".  I've assumed that this is meant to be the Bohle River Strip as I am unaware of a Black River Strip. I have shown both of these crashes against the above crash of RAAF Beaufort bomber, A9-264, of 8 Squadron at this stage.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 8 February 1999

This page last updated 02 February 2020