Crash of a US Navy Vought Kingfisher into the Swan River, near the Sanfringham Hotel, Perth, Western Australia on 12 September 1943

CRASH OF A VOUGHT KINGFISHER
INTO THE SWAN RIVER,
NEAR THE SANDRINGHAM HOTEL, PERTH, WA
ON 12 SEPTEMBER 1943

A US Navy Vought Kingfisher, designated OS2U-2 Bu. No. 2283, of Navy Scouting Squadron Sixty-One VS-61, appeared to be in difficulties before it turned over and nose-dived suddenly into the middle of the Swan River a short distance from the Sandringham Hotel on Sunday 12 September 1943. It exploded after disappearing beneath the surface of the river. They were on a routine training flight from Maylands Airfield.

The aircraft was a piloted by William Burt Beck. The aircraft crashed while performing an engine test.

The crew of two were both killed:-

AP1 William Burt Beck (3684457), Pilot
ACRMA Robert Le Roy Carrier (3930731), Radio-operator

The Pilot, William Beck, had married a local girl from Perth (see photo below). The two crew members were buried in the USAF Cemetery at Rookwood in Sydney, New South Wales.

Photo:- via Wendy Dunstan

AP1 William Burt Beck (3684457) on the
day he married Inez Freide Keane

It would appear that Inez Beck (nee Keane) was pregnant at the time that her husband William Beck was killed in the Kingfisher crash on 12 September 1943. Their son's name was William Beck.

REFERENCE

"The West Australian" 14th September 1943

Aviation Archaeological Investigation & Research

War Diary "Deputy Commander Fleet Air Wing Ten" dated 12 September 1943

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Wendy Dunstan, Greg Shea and Ian Parker for their assistance with this page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products