MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASHES Crashes, mishaps, prangs, crash landings and missing aircraft |
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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 retitled as the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on 20 June 1941.
Did you
know that there were at least 151 military aircraft crashes or
mishaps in the Northern Territory during 1942?
"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 will take quite a while to load
DATE | LOCATION | SERVICE | AIRCRAFT | SERIAL NO. |
8 Jan 42 | Maranboy | USAAF | Douglas A-24-DE Dauntless | #41-15803 |
28 Jan 42 | Batchelor | USAAF | B-17 | #40-3067 |
Feb 42 | Batchelor | USAAF | Douglas A-24-DE Dauntless | #41-15815, crashed on take off, condemned 7 Nov 1942 |
4 Feb 42 | Bathurst Island | USAAF | Douglas C-53 | #41-20051 |
6 Feb 42 | Daly Waters | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | |
6 Feb 42 | Darwin | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | |
15 Feb 42 | in the sea between Timor and Darwin | USAAF | P-40E Kittyhawk | Lt. Robert J. Buel killed. Shot down by "Mavis" flying boat (see below) |
15 Feb 42 | in the sea between Timor and Darwin | Japanese 21st Air Flotilla | Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" flying boat | 2 killed. Shot down by P-40E Kittyhawk (see above) |
17 Feb 42 | Darwin Civil airfield | USAAF | Douglas A-24-DE Dauntless | #41-15794 |
16-19 Feb 42 | between Brisbane and Darwin | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | One of 3 P-40's that crashed out of 17 being ferried to Darwin |
16-19 Feb 42 | between Brisbane and Darwin | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | One of 3 P-40's that crashed out of 17 being ferried to Darwin |
16-19 Feb 42 | between Brisbane and Darwin | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | One of 3 P-40's that crashed out of 17 being ferried to Darwin |
19 Feb 42 | Bathurst Island airfield | USAAF | Douglas C-53 | #41-20051 was destroyed during Japanese air raid. Was previously damaged in forced landing on 4 Feb 42 |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin Civil airfield | USAAF | Douglas A-24-DE Dauntless | #41-15794 |
19 Feb 42 | near Gunn Point, east of Darwin | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Jack Peres 33rd Pursuit Squadron USAAF killed, shot down by Japanese aircraft. |
19 Feb 42 | In Darwin Harbour | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Lt. Elton S. Perry of 33rd Pursuit Squadron USAAF killed, shot down by Japanese aircraft. |
19 Feb 42 | In Darwin Harbour | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Lt. Charles Hughes of 33rd Pursuit Squadron USAAF killed, hit by Japanese aircraft, |
19 Feb 42 | In Darwin Harbour | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Major Floyd Pell of 33rd Pursuit Squadron USAAF killed when he bailed out too low after aircraft hit hit by Japanese aircraft, |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Aircraft flown by Lt. William R. Walker, destroyed on the ground during Japanese bombing raid on Darwin after landing following wounds to the left shoulder |
19 Feb 42 | In Darwin Harbour | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Lt. Robert McMahon of 33rd Pursuit Squadron USAAF bailed out, when his aircraft hit by Japanese aircraft |
19 Feb 42 | In Darwin Harbour | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Lt. Burt H. Rice of 33rd Pursuit Squadron USAAF bailed out, when aircraft hit by Japanese aircraft |
19 Feb 42 | In Darwin Harbour | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | ?, destroyed by Japanese aircraft, 33rd Pursuit Squadron USAAF |
19 Feb 42 | In Darwin Harbour | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | ?, destroyed by Japanese aircraft, 33rd Pursuit Squadron USAAF |
19 Feb 42 | In Darwin Harbour | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | ?, damaged by Japanese aircraft during a dog fight over Darwin |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin airfield | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Lt. Bert Glover, crashed on airfield, aircraft then destroyed on the ground by strafing Japanese aircraft |
19 Feb 42 | In Darwin Harbour | US Navy | PBY Catalina | #4 (BUAERO Number: 1214, ex- 102-P-27, ex- 102-P-12, ex- 1-P-12) of Patwing 10, destroyed by Japanese aircraft |
19 Feb 42 | In Darwin Harbour | US Navy | PBY Catalina | #8 (BUAERO Number: 1233, ex- 101-P-8, ex- 18-P-8) of Patwing 10, destroyed by Japanese aircraft |
19 Feb 42 | In Darwin Harbour | US Navy | PBY Catalina | #41 (ex- Y-41) of Patwing 10, destroyed by Japanese aircraft |
19 Feb 42 | near Bathurst Island | US Navy | Catalina | Bu. No. 2306 |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin airfield | RAAF | Hudson | Destroyed during Japanese bombing raid |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin airfield | RAAF | Hudson | Destroyed during Japanese bombing raid |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin airfield | RAAF | Hudson | Destroyed during Japanese bombing raid |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin airfield | RAAF | Hudson | Destroyed during Japanese bombing raid |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin airfield | RAAF | Hudson | Destroyed during Japanese bombing raid |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin airfield | RAAF | Hudson | Destroyed during Japanese bombing raid |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin airfield | RAAF | Hudson | Destroyed during Japanese bombing raid |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin airfield | RAAF | Hudson | Badly damaged in hangar during Japanese bombing raid on Darwin |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin airfield | RAAF | Wirraway | A20-232 of 12 Squadron, damaged by shrapnel during Japanese bombing raid |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin airfield | RAAF | Wirraway | 12 Squadron, damaged during Japanese bombing raid |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin | USAAF | LB-30A Liberator | AL521, 1 killed, 1 wounded |
19 Feb 42 | Melville Island | Japanese | A6m2 "Zero" | BII-124 |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | D3A "Val" | Shot down by Lt. Oestreicher |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | D3A "Val" | Shot down by Lt. Oestreicher |
19 Feb 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | D3A "Val" | shot down by a cone of gunfire from town's defences |
25 Feb 42 | Between Biak and Darwin | USAAF | C-46D Commando | #42-96784 |
14 Mar 42 | Daly Waters | USAAF | B-17D Flying Fortress | #40-3079, 1 killed4 injured. |
14 Mar 42 | Cloncurry - Daly Waters | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Lost & out of fuel, forced landing at sheep station |
14 Mar 42 | Cloncurry - Daly Waters | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Lost & out of fuel, forced landing at sheep station |
14 Mar 42 | Cloncurry - Daly Waters | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Lost & out of fuel, forced landing at sheep station |
14 Mar 42 | Cloncurry - Daly Waters | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Lost & out of fuel, forced landing at sheep station |
14 Mar 42 | near Bremer Island off Cape Arnhem | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Hopelessly lost after a Japanese air raid on Horn Island |
17 Mar 42 | Daly Waters | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Pilot Lt. Spehr killed |
aft 18 Mar 42 | Daly Waters | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | crash landing, pilot 2nd Lt. Sid Woods |
18 Mar 42 | In sea off Cape Fourcroy | RAAF | Lockheed Hudson | A16-?? |
20 Mar 42 | Joseph Bonaparte Gulf area, 63 miles north east of Wyndham | RAAF | Wirraway | A20-62 |
22 Mar 42 | west of Bathurst Island | Japanese | Mitsubishi Ki-15 | |
22 Mar 42 | Darwin Harbour | QANTAS | Short Empire S.23 flying boat | G-AEUF "Corinthian", 2 killed |
28 Mar 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | Mitsubishi G4M | Shot down by Bob Vaught of 49 FG during Jap bombing raid |
28 Mar 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | Mitsubishi G4M | Shot down by Bills Sells of 49 FG during Jap bombing raid |
28 Mar 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | Mitsubishi G4M | Possibly shot down by Steven Poleschuk of 49 FG during Jap bombing raid |
30 Mar 42 | Darwin area | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | McComsey bailed out during a bombing raid on Darwin RAAF airfield. |
30 Mar 42 | Darwin RAAF Airfield area | Japanese | Type "O" SSF | Shot down during bombing raid on airfield. |
31 Mar 42 | off north shore of Cox Peninsula | Japanese | Zero | Shot down during bombing raid on Darwin |
31 Mar 42 | Batchelor airfield | USAAF | P-40E Kittyhawk | #41-5574 "Elmer", Belly landed after being shot by Zero over Darwin |
31 Mar 42 | Middle Point, Darwin area | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | One of eight P-40's lost over Darwin in period 28 Mar - 27 Apr |
28 Mar - 27 Apr 42 | Darwin area | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | One of eight P-40's lost over Darwin in period 28 Mar - 27 Apr |
28 Mar - 27 Apr 42 | Darwin area | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | One of eight P-40's lost over Darwin in period 28 Mar - 27 Apr |
28 Mar - 27 Apr 42 | Darwin area | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | One of eight P-40's lost over Darwin in period 28 Mar - 27 Apr |
4 Apr 42 | Cox Peninsula, Darwin | USAAF | P-40E Kittyhawk | #41-5551, #74. Shot down by Australian Anti-aircraft fire during a Japanese air raid, pilot Lt. Gardiner |
4 Apr 42 | 34 Mile Strip | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | 2nd. Lt. Livingstone killed |
12 Apr 42 | Bynoe Bay | RAAF | Wirraway | A20-90 |
21 Apr 42 | Annaburro Station, 6 miles from Burrundi and 23 miles north west of Pine Creek | Guinea Airways | Lockheed 14W | VH-ADY "Adelaide", 12 killed (2 RAAF, 10 USAAF) |
23 Apr 42 | Between Darwin and Koepang | RAAF | Lockheed Hudson | A16-182 |
25 Apr 42 | Bathurst Island | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | |
25 Apr 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | Bomber | ? |
27 Apr 42 | Darwin Harbour | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | 2nd Lt. Owen R. Fish killed shot down by Jap Zero |
27 Apr 42 | Darwin Harbour | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Captain Strauss killed shot down by Jap Zero |
27 Apr 42 | South of Cape Charles lighthouse, near Darwin | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Flown by 2nd Lt. Harvey Martin shot down by Jap Zero |
27 Apr 42 | near Cape Charles lighthouse, Darwin | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | Flown by 2nd Lt. Steven Andrews shot down by Jap Zero |
27 Apr 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | G4M | Shot down by Captain George Kiser |
27 Apr 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | G4M | Shot down by Captain George Kiser |
27 Apr 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | Zero | Shot down by Captain George Kiser |
27 Apr 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | Zero | Shot down by 2nd Lt. Zawisza |
27 Apr 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | Zero | Shot down by 2nd Lt. Steven Andrews |
27 Apr 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | Zero | possibly destroyed |
29 Apr 42 | Batchelor | USAAF | Kittyhawk | General Hal George, 2nd Lt. Jasper & War Correspondent Mel Jacoby killed |
4 May 42 (1) | Darwin | USAAF | P-40E Kittyhawk | #41-24818 |
10 May 42 | On a Darwin Beach | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | 41-35941 (#38), Pilot Lt Linder |
19 May 42 | Millingimbi Island, Arnhem Land | RAAF | Wackett Gannet | A14-6 |
25 May 42 | NE of Alice Springs airfield | USAAF | C-39 (DC-2) | 9 killed, VH-CCA, #38-505 |
2 Jun 42 | Batchelor airfield | USAAF | Kittyhawk | #41-5553 |
5 Jun 42 | 10 miles east of Livingstone airfield | USAAF | Kittyhawk | #41-24816, 2nd Lt. Miller killed |
6 Jun 42 | Adelaide River Airfield | USAAF | Kittyhawk | Heavy landing, Lt. Johnson |
10 Jun 42 | Brocks Creek, 20 miles south of Adelaide River | USAAF | Kittyhawk | #41-5557, 2nd Lt. Payne killed |
11 Jun 42 | Brocks Creek | USAAF | Kittyhawk | #41-5621, Pilot was Lt. Don Dittler who bailed out |
13 Jun 42 | Gun Point | USAAF | Kittyhawk | #41-25181, #50, ex A29-96. Pilot Lt. Alford |
15 Jun 42 | On beach in Hyland Bay | RAAF | Lockheed Hudson | A16-175 |
16 Jun 42 | Darwin Harbour | USAAF | Kittyhawk | Shot down during Japanese bombing raid on Darwin Town area. Lt. Namola listed as MIA. |
16 Jun 42 | southern shore of Melville Island | USAAF | Kittyhawk | Shot down during Japanese bombing raid on Darwin Town area. Pilot Lt. Martin |
16 Jun 42 | Darwin Harbour | USAAF | Kittyhawk | Shot down during Japanes bombing raid on Darwin Town area. Pilot 2nd Lt. Harris |
16 Jun 42 | Cox Peninsula near Darwin | USAAF | Kittyhawk | Forced landing after being hit during a Japanese bombing raid on Darwin - Pilot Lt. Reynolds |
16 Jun 42 | artillery range, 20 miles south of Livingstone airfield | USAAF | Kittyhawk | Belly landing after being hit during a Japanese bombing raid on Darwin - Pilot Lt. McComsey |
16 Jun 42 | Darwin area | Japanese | Zero | Shot down by 2nd Lt. Fowler |
16 Jun 42 | into the sea near Darwin | Japanese | Zero | Shot down by Donalson and Sauber |
16 Jun 42 | into the sea near Darwin | Japanese | Zero | Shot down by Donalson and Sauber |
17 Jun 42 | Timor Sea | RAAF | Lockheed Hudson | A16-132 |
22 Jun 42 | about 1 mile east of the northern end of Livingstone airfield | USAAF | Warhawk (Kittyhawk) | #48 "Sissy", Lt. Fielder killed |
27 Jun 42 | possibly near Darwin? | USAAF | B-17 Flying Fortress | 93 BS, of 19 BG |
30 Jun 42 | Into sea 20 miles from Darwin | USAAF | B-17 Flying Fortress | ? |
30 Jun 42 | approx 20 Miles from Darwin, near Noonamah (near Hughes airfield) | USAAF | B-17E Flying Fortress | #41-9014 of 19th Bomb Group, 3 crew members killed |
1 Jul 42 | 10 miles south of Katherine | RAAF | Tiger Moth | ? |
12 Jul 42 | west of Manton Reservoir | USAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | #41-5509, #85 "Tarheel", mid-air collision with #87 (see below). Pilot Lt. Preddy. |
12 Jul 42 | west of Manton Reservoir | USAAF | P-40 Kitttyhawk | #87, mid-air collision with #85 (see above) 2nd Lt. Sauber killed. |
16 Jul 42 | 3 miles south of Livingstone airfield | USAAC | P-40 Kittyhawk | 41-24809, #83 "Mauree" |
30 Jul 42 | Arafura Sea | RAAF | Lockheed Hudson | A16-234 |
abt Aug 42 | Wamberal (is it in NT?) | RAAF | F.VC Spitfire | A58-25 (BR471) |
2 Aug 42 | Bomb Range, Pine Creek | RAAF | Wirraway | A20-544 |
18 Aug 42 | Alice Springs Airfield | RAAF | P-40E Kittyhawk | A29-?? |
19 Aug 42 | Alice Springs Airfield | RAAF | P-40E Kittyhawk | A29-?? |
20 Aug 42 | Batchelor | USAAC | Kittyhawk | #41-24818 |
23 Aug 42 | 15 miles north west of Batchelor | USAAC | Kittyhawk | #41-24868 |
23 Aug 42 | Batchelor Airfield | RAAF | P-40E Kittyhawk | A29-?? |
25 Aug 42 | Beach in Anson Bay | RAAF | P-40E Kittyhawk | A29-?? |
29 Aug 42 | Batchelor airfield | USAAF | C-47 Dakota | "On Riskey Business", #41-7688 C 49-DO c/n 3273 VH-CDM |
7 Sep 42 | On Melville Island, north of Darwin | RAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | A29-60, piloted by John Gorton |
16 Sep 42 | incident over Anson Bay | RAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | A29-63, #41-13528 |
22 Sep 42 | Wilson Airfield (later Venn Airfield) | RAAF | P-40E Kittyhawk | A29-65 |
27 Sep 42? | Darwin | RAAF | Buffalo | A51-6 (destroyed on the ground during Japanese bombing raid on Darwin) |
1 Oct 42 | Between Darwin and Koepang | RAAF | Lockheed Hudson | A16-243 |
1 Oct 42 | Batchelor airfield | RAAF | Kittyhawk | A29-104, #41-25114 |
3 Oct 42 | 40 miles south west of Batchelor, near Mt. Litchfield | RAAF | Wirraway | A20-503 |
12 Oct 42 | Batchelor airfield | RAAF | P-40E Kittyhawk | A29-62 (#41-5734) |
21 Oct 42 | ? | NEI-AF | B-25D | 18 Sqn NEI-AF |
25 Oct 42 | Between Batchelor and Koepang | RAAF | Lockheed Hudson | A16-170 |
25 Oct 42 | Between Darwin and Koepang | RAAF | Lockheed Hudson | A16-137 |
31 Oct 42 | Adelaide River | RAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | A29-116, #41-36097 |
abt Nov 42 | Coomalie Creek | RAAF | Beaufighter | A19-65 |
3 Nov 42 | off Cape Helvetius, Bathurst Island | USAAC | B-26 Marauder | #41-17593, 1 killed |
4 Nov 42 | near Batchelor | RAAF | Beaufighter | A19-31? |
4 Nov 42 | near Batchelor | RAAF | Beaufighter | ? |
4 Nov 42 | near Batchelor | RAAF | Beaufighter | ? |
13 Nov 42 | At mouth of Daly River | RAAF | P-40E Kittyhawk | A29-59 |
20 Nov 42 | 2 miles west of Livingstone | RAAF | P-38 Lightning | A55-2 |
21 Nov 42 | Livingstone airfield | RAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | A29-115, #41-36094 |
23 Nov 42 | near Coomalie Creek | Japanese | Japanese bomber | shot down during bombing raid on Coomalie Creek airfield |
23 Nov 42 | near Coomalie Creek | Japanese | Japanese bomber | shot down during bombing raid on Coomalie Creek airfield |
25 Nov 42 | Strauss airfield | RAAF | P-40 Kittyhawk | A29-51, #41-5738 |
27 Nov 42 | Livingstone Airfield | RAAF | P-40E Kittyhawk | A29-55 |
30 Nov 42 | North of Cape Fourcroy, Bathurst Island area | RAAF | Beaufighter | A19-69 |
abt Dec 42 | Coomalie Creek | RAAF | Beaufighter | A19-45 |
20 Dec 42 | between Batchelor and Livingstone airfield | RAAF | P-40E Kittyhawk | A29-112, #41-36098 |
29 Dec 42 | Cape Helvetibg | RAAF | Beaufighter | A19-71 |
31 Dec 42 | Cape Fourcroy, Bathurst Island | RAAF | Beaufighter | ? |
OTHER INTERNET SITES
Pacific Wreck Database |
22nd Bombardment Group Aircraft Losses |
MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASHES |
|
Australian Capital Territory | New South Wales |
Northern Territory | |
South Australia | Tasmania |
Victoria | Western Australia |
Norfolk Island | Unknown |
SOURCES
(1) From Mike Stowe (Accident-Report.Com).
Can anyone help me with more information?
"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products
© Peter Dunn OAM 2020 |
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This page first produced 25 July 1999
This page last updated 08 July 2022