CRASH OF A WACKETT TRAINER 
AT "WOOLOOMANATA" PROPERTY, VIC
ON 21 MARCH 1942

Wackett Trainer

RAAF Wackett Trainer A3-166 CA-6 crashed about one and a quarter miles north of Fairburn Homestead at "Wooloomanata", near Geelong, Victoria at about 1010 hours on 21 March 1942. "Wooloomanata" is located on the Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Rd, No 1580. The two occupants of the Wackett Trainer were US Army Air Force personnel who were both killed as follows:-

Lt. Francis R. Weber O-327065, USAAF (pilot) - seated in the front of the aircraft
Sgt. J.W. Brown ASN 6382137, USAAF (passenger) - seated in the rear of the aircraft

The Court of Inquiry meet on 24 March 1942 at No. 1 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Station Laverton to investigate this accident by order of Headquarters, Southern Area. Squadron Leader Harold Clayton (250298) was the President of the Court of Inquiry. The other member was F/Lt V.H. Hothe? (1553). 

There were many witnesses called to appear at the Inquiry:-

S/Ldr E. L. Chapman (75) No. 1 A.D. (probably Edmond Laidler Champan)
S/Ldr F. J. P. Wood (205) E.T.S. No. 1 A.D.
W/O George Thomas Victor Tremayne (734) E.T.S. No. 1 A.D.
L.A.C. George Richard Gascoyne (13409) E.T.S. No. 1 A.D.
L.A.C. Norman Ernest Vogel (19626) E.T.S. No. 1 A.D.
F/Lt. F. D. Power No. 1 A.D.
L.A.C. James David Crosier (13302) No. 1 A.D.
Major W. A. Crone?, Southern Command, Training School
Mr. S. Cadwell, Manager "Woollamanatta"
F/Lt. F. G. Favaloro (3716) No. 1 RAAF Hospital
F/O C. T. J. Ryan, No. 1 A.D.

This Wackett Trainer had a Warner Super Scarab engine, Serial No. S3-2291-D. The aircraft was totally destroyed.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I'd like to thank Mark Pilkington and Gordon Birkett for their assistance with this home page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 16 October 2001

This page last updated 16 October 2022