MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASHES
IN THE TOWNSVILLE AREA
DURING WW2 YEARS

Crashes, mishaps, prangs, crash landings and missing aircraft

crashoz.jpg (14825 bytes)

 

NAA Aircraft Accident Files
Links to 283 National Archives of Australia
Aircraft Accident Files - mostly RAAF Aircraft

 

10 Worst Aircraft Crashes in Australia

 

NOTE - The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was re-titled as the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on 20 June 1941.

Did you know that there were at least 231 military aircraft crashes or
mishaps in the Townsville area during World War 2?

"You won't have any trouble finding your way to Darwin. Just follow the trail of crashed Kittyhawks, you can't go wrong."

The words of the Corporal in charge of the refuelling crew at Cloncurry in November 1942.

The table below may take a while to load

 

DATE LOCATION SERVICE AIRCRAFT SERIAL NO.
Unknown Robbery Shoals, Rib Reef, 30kms NE of Palm Island ? possibly a Beaufighter ?
Unknown Hervey's Range USAAF B-25 Mitchell ?
Unknown Palm Island USN Catalina ?
Unknown Calliope Channel, Palm Island USN Catalina ?
Unknown Philips Reef USAAF B-25 Mitchell? ?
Unknown 1 mile off Pallarenda USAAF A-20G Havoc ?
Unknown Kings Reef USAAF B-25 Mitchell? ?
6 Nov 40 5 miles north east of Ayr or 50 miles south east of Townsville RAAF Moth Minor A21-25
22 Nov 40 26 miles south of Townsville RAAF Wirraway A20-70
18 Apr 41 Ravenswood RAAF Wirraway A20-117, 2 killed
30 Jun 41 Townsville RAAF Wirraway A20-118
abt 1942 Charters Towers USAAF A-20 Havoc ?
16 Jan 42 Townsville USAAF P-40 Kittyhawk Plane No. 9
19 Jan 42 Unknown RAAF Hudson A16-143
22 Feb 42 Townsville USAAF B-17E #41-2416 "San Antonio Rose"
25 Feb 42 Unknown - lost after departing Townsville USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress ? Could this be the one above ?
27 Feb 42 Cleveland Bay RAAF Empire flying boat, Short S23 C-Class S.849  A18-12, G-AEUG "Coogee" VH-ABC, 8 died
3 Mar 42 Townsville area USAAF B-25 Mitchell ?
13 Mar 42 Garbutt airfield RAAF P-40 Kittyhawk A29-4
18 Mar 42 Garbutt airfield RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-13
19 Mar 42 near Townsville RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-2
19 Mar 42 near Townsville RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-3
25 Mar 42 Herveys Range near Townsville RAAF on loan to USAAF Moth Minor Serial No unknown
abt Apr 42 Between Townsville & Port Moresby USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress ?
5 Apr 42 Vicinity of Stock Route Airfield USAAF B-26 Marauder  
6 Apr 42 Charters Towers USAAF A-24 Dauntless #41-15779
6 Apr 42 Charters Towers USAAF B-25C Mitchell 41-12514
8 Apr 42 Townsville area USAAF B-25 Mitchell ?
11 Apr 42 Woodstock USAAF P-39 Airacobra 2nd Lt. Bernard P. Gillingham killed
21 Apr 42 Off Palm Island USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1419, 7 killed
21 Apr 42 Garbutt USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1473, 8 killed
22 Apr 42 Reid River USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1447
abt May 42 Garbutt airfield ? Fairey Battle ?
24 Apr 42 Weir Airfield RAAF Kittyhawk A29-68
4 May 42 Between Garbutt and Rabaul? USAAF F-4 Lightning ?, 1 killed, Cpt. Conolly of 8th Photo Recon Sqn.
4 May 42 near Townsville (possibly Toonpan area) USAAF F-4 Lightning ?
7 May 42 Charters Towers USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress #41-2631
9 May 42 Charters Towers USAAF B-25 Mitchell #41-12447, 7 killed?
10 May 42 Unknown USAAF B-26 Marauder ?
10 May 42 Woodstock USAAF P-400 ?
10 May 42 Great Palm Island RAAF Wirraway A20-457
14 May 42 Near Townsville possibly Cleveland Bay USAAF P-39 Airacobra  
15 May 42 Reid River USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1390, "Lil De Icer", 8 killed
15 May 42

Garbutt Airfield

 USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1489
20 May 42

Reid River Airfield

 USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1405 "Goosie Lucy"
21 May 42 15 miles NE of Weir Airfield, Townsville RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-37, #41-5530, 1 killed
24 May 42 Giru RAAF Hudson A16-191 (collided with A16-194 below)
24 May 42 Giru RAAF Hudson A16-194 (collided with A16-191 above)
1 Jun 42 Charters Towers Airfield USAAF B-25C Mitchell #41-12451, 1 died from burns on 14 June 1942
3 Jun 42 Garbutt Airfield USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1517
5 Jun 42 Into the sea off Cape Bowling Green about 65 kms east of Townsville RAAF Kittyhawk A29-70, 1 killed
5 Jun 42 Charters Towers USAAF Douglas A-24 Dauntless 41-15816, collided with A-24 shown below. 1 killed (not sure which aircraft he was from)
5 Jun 42 Charters Towers USAAF Douglas A-24 Dauntless 41-15774, collided with A-24 shown above.
7 Jun 42 Woodstock RAAF Wirraway A20-470, 1 killed
7 Jun 42 Woodstock RAAF Wirraway A20-473
8 Jun 42 Charters Towers USAAF Douglas A-24 Dauntless 41-15821
9 Jun 42 1 mile west of Woodstock Airfield USAAF P-400 Airacobra BW153
23 Jun 42 Charters Towers USAAF DC-2 ?
26 Jun 42 Mount Louisa RAAF Wirraway A20-84
18 Jul 42 Antil Plains Airfield USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1491
19 Jul 42 near Townsville RAAF Kittyhawk A29-85 "Y" for Wurry flown by "Bluey" Truscott. Collided with A29-71 (see below)
19 Jul 42 near Townsville RAAF Kittyhawk A29-71, collided with A29-85 (see above)
19 Jul 42 El Arish area RAAF Tiger Moth A17-476
20 Jul 42 near Palm Island RAAF Catalina A24-27
22 Jul 42 Charters Towers USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1518
24 Jul 42 Charters Towers USAAF Douglas RA-20A-1 Havoc #40-112
27 Jul 42 Woodstock airfield area USAAF P-39 Airacobra 1 killed
28 Jul 42 Charters Towers USAAF Douglas RA-20A-1 Havoc #40-3161
14 Aug 42 10 miles north east of Charters Towers USAAF Bell P-400 BW144, c/n14-336
22 Aug 42 Bohle River airfield RAAF Beaufort A9-54 (#T9606) "Malay Mascot" of 100 Squadron
23 Aug 42 Garbutt Airfield RAAF Beaufighter A19-54
abt Sep 42 saltpan at Pimlico after taking off from Stock Route Airstrip USAAF F-4 Lightning Piloted by Ralph K. Watts
9 Sep 42 Charters Towers USAAF A-20 Havoc 13 ground service personnel died in this accident.
10 Sep 42 Halifax Bay USAAF Tiger Moth Captain Bevlock killed, collided with P-39 Airacobra below
10 Sep 42 Halifax Bay USAAF P-39 Airacobra Collided with Tiger Moth above
15 Sep 42 last contact 25 miles from Townsville USAAF B-25 Mitchell ?
24 Sep 42 Charters Towers USAAF B-25C Mitchell 4 killed, #41-12890, "Sunsetter"
25 Sep 42 between Townsville and Mareeba USAAF P-39 Airacobra #41-38339, Capt. Paul G. Brown killed
26 Sep 42 Reid River Airfield USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1392
Late 42 Stock Route Airstrip RAAF Oxford ?
5 Oct 42 4 miles downstream from Burdekin Rail Bridge, Home Hill USAAF P-39 Aircaobra  
5 Oct 42 1.5 miles upstream from the above aircraft i.e. 2.5 miles downstream from the Burdekin Rail Bridge, Home Hill USAAF P-39 Airacobra  
22 Oct 42 Cockle Bay, Magnetic Island RAAF Beaufort A9-26, 4 killed
23 Oct 42 last contact 25 miles from Townsville USAAF B-25 Mitchell ?
24 Oct 42 Charters Towers USAAF Douglas RA-20A-1 Havoc #40-82
abt Nov 42 Palm Island RAAF Wirraway A20-?
1 Nov  42 Townsville area USAAF P-39 Airacobra ?
2 Nov 42 Off Cape Pallarenda, Townsville USAAF B-25D Mitchell #41-29702 "Satan's Pet"
12 Nov 42 Townsville USAAF C-60 Lodestar Belly landing of 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron C-60 Lodestar
bef 9 Nov 42 Unknown USAAF Unknown 1 killed
abt Dec 42 Bowen RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-131 (#41-36082)
1 Dec 42 Charters Towers USAAF B-25 Mitchell #41-29728
10 Dec 42 15 miles east of Palm Island RAAF Beaufort A9-161
23 Dec 42 Stock Route Airstrip RAAF DC2 A30-6
23 Dec 42 Reid River USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1481, "Dumbo"
30 Dec 42 Beach near Townsville Town Common USAAF RA-20A-1 Havoc #40-3150, 1 killed
31 Dec 42 Coral Sea between Port Moresby and Charters Towers USAAF B-25D Mitchell #41-29733, "Hell's Belles", 12-14 killed
31 Dec 42 Herveys Range near Townsville USAAF B-25D Mitchell #41-29698, "The Bird Dog", 8 killed
abt Jan 43 Bohle River area RAAF Beaufort A9-?
abt Jan 43 Garbutt USAAF B-26 Marauder ?
2 Jan 43 (1) Townsville, possible at Depot No. 2, Mount Louisa USAAF P-22B #3778, from the 45th Service Group based at Depot #2 (Townsville Air Depot) involved in a ground accident
3 Jan 43 Near Reid River Airfield USAAF A-24 Banshee #41-15771, 2 killed
7 Jan 43 Coral Sea area enroute from Charters Towers to Port Moresby USAAF B-25 Mitchell #41-12483, "Not in Stock", 9 killed
8 Jan 43 30 miles north west of Charters Towers USAAF P-400 Airacobra AH738, c/n14-169
8 Jan 43 Townsville USAAF C-47A  
28 Jan 43 north of Charters Towers, Tara, Wandovale Station near Maryvale Station USAAF P-400 Airacobra  
29 Jan 43 (1) On a beach near Townsville USAAF CW-22B Curtiss Falcon #3771
8 Feb 43 Bowen RAAF Supermarine Seagull V A2-9
10 Feb 43 Garbutt Airfield USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1420 "Murder Inc."
24 Feb 43 Stock Route Airfield RAAF Tiger Moth A17-604
26 Feb 43 Garbutt airfield ANA ex RNEIAF C-56 LT9-24, X2, VH-CAJ
29 Feb 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? CW-22B #771
abt Mar 43 Garbutt RAAF Kittyhawk A29-4
2 Mar 43 Townsville USAAF P-38 Lightning ?
9 Mar 43 a few miles from Woodstock Airfield USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1480 "Thunderbird", 1 killed
29 Mar 43 (1) Townsville USAAF P-70 Havoc #39-768
1 Apr 43 Townsville RAAF Seagull A2-13
7 Apr 43 Rattlesnake Island RAAF P-40 Kittyhawk A29-462
8 Apr 43 8 miles NE of Townsville USAAF B-25C Mitchell #41-12904, "Half Pound Mary", 4 killed
8 Apr 43 Between Townsville and Port Moresby USAAF B-25 Mitchell ?
12 Apr 43 slipway area at Bowen RAAF Catalina A24-24
8 May 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? P-40E Kittyhawk #41-365
11 May 43 3 miles north of Magnetic Island, Townsville USAAF P-40 Kittyhawk #41-35954, 1 killed
15 May 43 Woodstock Airfield USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1476 "The Flying Parson"
23 May 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? B-25 Mitchell #41-29703
27 May 43 submerged reef near Bowen lighthouse RAAF Catalina A24-48
28 May 43 Woodstock USAAF B-25D Mitchell #41-30045
"The Round Robin"
4 Jun 43 Garbutt airfield USAAF B-26 Marauder #40-1522
13 Jun 43 Garbutt airfield RAAF Spitfire EE-954, pilot killed
13 Jun 43 Garbutt airfield RAAF Spitfire JG-897
14 Jun 43 20 miles east of Townsville RAAF Beaufort A9-295
22 Jun 43 Garbutt airfield USAAF P-40 Kittyhawk Major George S. Aubert killed
27 Jun 43 Charters Towers USAAF B-25D Mitchell Collided with B-25 below, 11 killed overall.
27 Jun 43 Charters Towers USAAF B-25D Mitchell Collided with B-25 above, 11 killed overall.
6 Jul 43 2 miles SW Bohle River airfield RAAF Beaufort A9-264, 4 died
10 Jul 43 Bohle River airfield RAAF Beaufort A9-229
11 Jul 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? P-40 Kittyhawk #41-35950
17 Jul 43 Garbutt aerodrome USAAF B-25 Mitchell #41-30324
17 Jul 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? C-47 #41-18568
21 Jul 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? B-25D Mitchell #41-30275
abt Aug 43 Ross River airfield RAAF P-40N Kittyhawk A29-443 (#42-104725)
5 Aug 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? B-25 Mitchell #41-30183
5 Aug 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? C-47A Dakota #42-23653
6 Aug 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? CW-22B #65-3761
7 Aug 43 Into Cleveland Bay, Townsville USAAF C-47 Dakota #41-7733,  27 killed
13 Aug 43 Breddan RAAF P-40 Kittyhawk A29-105
15 Aug 43 Sellheim USAAF P-400 Airacobra AP372, pilot John M. Hibbard was killed in the crash.
16 Aug 43 Ross River RAAF Beaufort A9-383
17 Aug 43 Bowen RAAF Catalina A24-24, 14 killed
18 Aug 43 14miles south east of APO 710 - Charters Towers USAAF P-39F Airacobra #41-7233, 1 killed
29 Aug 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? P-38 Lightning #42-66823
30 Aug 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? P-39F Airacobra #41-7203
7 Sep 43 Cleveland Bay, Townsville RAAF Catalina A24-52, 13 killed
14 Sep 43 Reid River USAAF B-25 Mitchell #41-30410, 4 killed
14 Sep 43 Bowen ? PBY-5 Catalina 2424, VP-101
23 Sep 43 3 miles from Rattlesnake Island USAAF B-25G Mitchell B-25G #42-64882 (1), 4 killed
1 Oct 43 Garbutt Airfield USAAF P-40E-1 Warhawk #41-36157 (ex ET803)
4 Oct 43 Near Cape Bowling Green RAAF Walrus X9510
5 Oct 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? P-40N Kittyhawk #42-105817
24 Oct 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? A-20G #42-54093
19 Nov 43 Breddan RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-202 (JL348), ground collision with A58-230 (see below)
19 Nov 43 Breddan RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-230 (LZ934), ground collision with A58-202 (see above)
12 Nov 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? O-47A #37-282
13 Nov 43 Possible Palm Island USN PBY-5 Catalina Bu No. 08422
20 Nov 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? P-47 Thunderbolt #42-22656
20 Nov 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? L-4B Grasshopper? #43-1033
22 Nov 43 on a mud flat near Garbutt airfield USAAF A-24 Dauntless #41-15821
28 Nov 43 Aitkenvale Airfield RAAF P-40N Kittyhawk A29-498 (#42-104720)
1 Dec 43 Townsville USAAF C-47A Dakota #43-30752 had a landing accident and collided with the two C-47As below
1 Dec 43 Townsville USAAF C-47A Dakota #42-24227 damaged by #43-30752 after it crash landed
1 Dec 43 Townsville USAAF C-47A Dakota #43-30755 damaged by #43-30752 after it crash landed
4 Dec 43 (1) Townsville USAAF? A-20G Havoc #42-54139
5 Dec 43 Townsville USAAF CW-22B Curtiss Falcon #3771
28 Dec 43 Mt. Elliott USAAF P-38J Lightning #42-67604, The pilot was Capt. Bobby R. Taylor
abt Jan 44 mouth of Alligator Creek USAAF C-46 Commando C46-?
12 Jan 44 (1) FAFSC Depot No. 2 (Assumed Townsville) USAAF? P-40K Kittyhawk #42-46285
20 Jan 44 APO 926 (Townsville) USAAF? Tiger Moth #960
26 Jan 44 Hill 15 miles south west of Charters Towers USAAF B-24D Liberator #42-40226, 1 killed
28 Jan 44 Unknown in Coral Sea USAAF B-25G Mitchell #42-64881
5 Feb 44 (1) Townsville USAAF? P-47D Thunderbolt #42-22656
9 Feb 44 (1) Townsville USAAF? B-24D Liberator #42-40510
14 Feb 44 Townsville harbour RAAF Seagull A2-5
17 Feb 44 (1) Townsville USAAF? P-47D Thunderbolt #42-76035
18 Feb 44 (1) Townsville USAAF? P-47D Thunderbolt #42-22952
21 Feb 44 Port Moresby - Townsville USAAF B-25 Mitchell #41-30374
23 Feb 44 Garbutt Airfield, Townsville USAAF C-47A-65-DL Dakota (Skytrain) #42-100619
25 Feb 44 (1) Near the Town Common, Townsville USAAF P-38J Lightning #42-103994, 1 killed
27 Feb 44 Palm Island US Navy PBY-5 Bureau No. 08354
8 Mar 44 (1) Townsville USAAF? C-87 Liberator (VIP aircraft?) #41-24160
21 Mar 44 5 miles south east of Fanning Airfield RAAF Beaufort A9-452, 3 died
28 Mar 44 near Leichardt Creek, north of Bluewater Creek USAAF B-24J Liberator #42-73483, 7 killed
10 Apr 44 (1) Young Bay, Magnetic Island, Townsville USAAF C-47A-50-DL Dakota #42-24396
29 May 44 Half a mile off Magnetic Island USAAF A-20G-4-DO Havoc #43-21307
10 Jun 44 Cape Bowling Green area RAF Spitfire Piloted by F/Sgt Buchan
10 Jun 44 Garbutt Airfield RAF Spitfire A58-350 (JG416), piloted by P/O Brown
10 Jun 44 near Giru RAAF LF.VIII Spitfire A58-383 (JG415) crash landed, piloted by F/Sgt Hopkins
19 Jun 44 Aitkenvale Airfield RAAF Kittyhawk A29-704
14 Jul 44 Ross River Airfield RAAF P-40N Kittyhawk A29-603 (#43-23205)
25 Sep 44 Townsville area USAAF B-25 Mitchell ?
28 Nov 44 Townsville RAAF Short Sunderland flying boat  A26-6
abt Nov 44 Off Arcadia, Magnetic Island USAAF P-38 Lightning ?
4 Nov 44 Breddan RAAF Wirraway ?, collided with Vultee Vengeance (see below)
4 Nov 44 Breddan RAAF Vultee Vengeance ?, collided with Wirraway (see above)
20 Dec 44 Burdekin River RAAF Norseman A71-3
8 Jan 45 Breddan airfield RAAF P-40N Kittyhawk A29-480 (#42-104681)
24 Feb 45 Bowen RAAF Beaufort A9-199
16 Mar 45 Salt water swamp between Alligator Creek and Crocodile Creek RAAF Kittyhawk A29-443
9 Mar 45 Bohle River airfield RAAF P-40M Kittyhawk A29-335 #43-5652), collided with A29-342 (see below)
9 Mar 45 Bohle River airfield RAAF P-40M Kittyhawk A29-342 (#43-5422), collided with A29-335 (see above), 1 killed
11 Mar 45 north of Bowen RAAF Beaufort A9-566
16 Mar 45 Alligator Creek - Crocodile Creek area RAAF Kittyhawk A29-443
19 Mar 45 Bohle River airfield RAAF P-40M Kittyhawk A29-330 (#43-5434)
6 Apr 45 near Ross River airfield RAAF P-40N Kittyhawk A29-1185 (#44-47805), collided with A29-1220 (see below), pilot killed
6 Apr 45 near Ross River airfield RAAF P-40N Kittyhawk A29-1220 (#44-47918), collided with A29-1185 (see above), pilot killed
8 Apr 45 Bohle River airfield RAAF P-40N Kittyhawk A29-446 (#42-104728)
16 May 45 Garbutt RAAF Beaufighter A19-207
4 Jul 45 Bohle River RAAF P-40 Kittyhawk A29-460 collided with Kittyhawk below
4 Jul 45 Garbutt Airfield RAAF P-40 Kittyhawk A29-484 collided with Kittyhawk above
7 Jul 45 Bohle River RAAF P-51 Mustang A68-506 (#44-12482)
31 Jul 45 Garbutt RAAF Beaufighter, Mark 21 A8-126
4 Aug 45 Breddan RAAF P-40N Kittyhawk A29-1200 (#44-47828)
5 Aug 45 Bohle River airfield RAAF Mustang A68-546 (#44-12626)
7 Aug 45 Ross River airfield RAAF P-51K Mustang A68-565 (#44-12512)
9 Aug 45 into the sea near Townsville between Bay Rock and West Point on Magnetic Island RAAF Mustang A68-501
8 Sep 45 north of Townsville USAAF B-25 Mitchell #43-4913
3 Oct 45 Breddan RAAF P-40N Kittyhawk A29-1190 (#44-47811)
5 Oct 45 3,000 feet above Bohle River Airfield RAAF Mustang A68-549 (#44-12479)
16 Oct 45 near Bohle River airfield RAAF P-40 N20 Kittyhawk A29-481 (#42-104703)
abt Nov 45 * Garbutt aerodrome (ADF Serials has a forced landing at Cairns on 5 Dec 1945?) RAAF Beaufort A9-466
13 Nov 45 2 miles west of Garbutt airfield RAAF Beaufreighter VIII A9-733 (ex Beaufort A9-367), 7 killed
18 Nov 45 Garbutt airfield RAAF Beaufighter A19-51
21 Nov 45 Garbutt airfield RAAF B-24J Liberator A72-340 (#44-28096) Force landing
13 Nov 45 Mount Louisa, 1 mile west of Garbutt Airfield RAAF Beaufort A9-733

 

AFTER WW2

23 May 46 Garbutt RAAF P-40 Kittyhawk A29-1123
25 Mar 47 Saddle Mountain (near Giru) RAAF Mosquito A52-607, 2 killed

 

 

MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASHES
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WORLD WAR 2
Australian Capital Territory New South Wales
Northern Territory

Queensland
South Australia Tasmania
Victoria Western Australia
Norfolk Island Unknown

 

SOURCES

(1) From Mike Stowe (Accident-Report.Com).

 

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This page first produced 14 June 1998

This page last updated 19 September 2025