18 November 1942 - RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk crashed into the sea near Cairns

18 NOVEMBER 1942
RAAF P-40E KITTYHAWK
CRASHED INTO SEA NEAR CAIRNS, QLD

kittyhawk.jpg (10661 bytes)
Kittyhawk

An RAAF P-40E-1 Kittyhawk A29-124 ex ET599/#41-35953, of 75 Squadron, crashed into the sea off Cairns at 0847 hours on 18 November 1942. The pilot, Flying Officer Richard Tweedy Holt (404103) was only slightly injured. He suffered some shock. He was released from the RAAF section of the Cairns hospital two days later.

F/O Holt took off on the reserve tank and immediately changed over to the fuselage tank through the wing tank. The engine continued running smoothly for approximately 2 minutes and then commenced to splutter. The pilot changed over to the wing tank and switched on the emergency fuel pump and unsuccessfully endeavored to unlock the priming pump. The fuel pressure warning light did not light nor did the fuel pressure drop to any great extent. All other gauges read normal.

F/O Holt attempted to return to the airfield hoping that the engine would recover, but whilst at a low altitude the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea. The aircraft was later salvaged and trucked to the Repair and Salvage Unit at Breddan. It was considered the the engine failure was most likely caused by water in the fuel. The investigation of the crash also found "that the pilot showed:-

(a) poor technique in so much that he allowed the aircraft to stall.

(b) negligence in so much that he changed petrol tanks at a very low altitude.

Pic Source: Neville Rourke per Geoff Atherton Album via Gordon Birkett

Crew recovering P-40 Kittyhawk A29-124

Pic Source: Neville Rourke per Geoff Atherton Album via Gordon Birkett

Crew recovering P-40 Kittyhawk A29-124

Subject:     RAAF P-40
Date:              Thu, 3 Aug 2000 20:18:12 +1200
From:            "Haig Torrens" <haigt@ihug.co.nz>

Dear Sir

I'am a keen young WW2 aviation nut from Auckland NZ, as well as a divemaster.

I was just surfing the web and looked up my all time favourite fighter the Kittyhawk and came across your site about the P40 that ditched into the sea off Cairns.

Do you have any other info on this particular crash?, was it recovered? how far off land was it?, do you know if it has been found since by other divers or fishermen?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I have the "remains" of 2 Mark2 Harvards, large parts from Avenger, 2 T-moth props and an assortment of smaller instruments and other bits'N' pieces.

I'm currently trying to track down a Corsair that went in off Rangatoto Is near Auckland. I talk with Graham Orphane alot and love CWD.

If you know of any aircraft ditchings into the sea anywhere else off aussy's east coast I would be very happy to hear from you.

Cheers for now and many thanks

PS great web page.

REFERENCE BOOK

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

"Aircraft of the RAAF 1921- 71"
By Geoffrey Pentland & Peter Malone

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Gordon Birkett for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?