MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASHES
IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
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

 

My first visit
to a WW2 Crash Site

 

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 179 military aircraft crashes or
mishaps in Western Australia 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 Just east of Wapet Shoal in Exmouth Gulf ? Catalina ? Source - Wrecks of the Coral Coast
Unknown near Enderby Island, Dampier Archipelago ? Catalina ?
18 Mar 39 Pearce RAAF Hawker Demon A1-54
20 Mar 40 Dunreath Golf Club, Redcliffe contract to RAAF DH-94 Moth Minor VH-ADB
3 Sep 40 5 miles west of Pearce airfield RAAF Moth Minor A21-12
19 Feb 41 In sea 2 miles SW of South Mole at Fremantle RAAF Wirraway A20-125, 2 killed
19 Jan 42 Albany RAAF Lockheed A-28-LO Hudson A16-104 (ex #41-23174), 14 Squadron RAAF,  crashed and exploded on take off
18 Feb 42 Maylands airfield, Perth USAAF P-40E Kittyhawk #41-389
26 Feb 42 On beach near Cape Londonderry, Vansittart Bay, 400 miles north east of Broome USAAF C-53-DO #41-20066 VH-CDW
28 Feb 42 Drysdale Mission USAAF C-53  
Mar or Apr 42 creek bed near Cunderdin airfield USAAF B-24 Liberator ?
2 Mar 42 Broome airfield USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress Destroyed during a Japanese bombing raid
2/3 Mar 42  Anna Plains Royal Netherlands Navy, Naval Air Service Dornier Do-24 K Flying boat X-36
3 Mar 42 Broome area Japanese Fighter aircraft  
3 Mar 42 In sea 10 miles from Broome USAAF B-24A Liberator #40-2374 of Ferrying Command, 19 killed
3 Mar 42 Broome airfield USAAF B-24A Liberator "Arabian Nights", #40-2370,
3 Mar 42 Broome airfield USAAF B-17E Flying Fortress 7th BG
3 Mar 42 Broome airfield USAAF B-17E Flying Fortress 7th BG
3 Mar 42 Broome airfield RAAF Hudson  
3 Mar 42 Broome airfield RAAF Hudson  
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour Royal Netherlands Navy, Naval Air Service Dornier Do-24 K Flying boat X-1, during a Japanese Air Raid
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour Royal Netherlands Navy, Naval Air Service Dornier Do-24 K Flying boat X-3, during a Japanese Air Raid
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour Royal Netherlands Navy, Naval Air Service Dornier Do-24 K Flying boat X-20, during a Japanese Air Raid
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour Royal Netherlands Navy, Naval Air Service Dornier Do-24 K Flying boat X-23, during a Japanese Air Raid
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour Royal Netherlands Navy, Naval Air Service Dornier Do-24 K Flying boat X-28, during a Japanese Air Raid
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour RAF Catalina 205 Squadron RAF, during a Japanese Air Raid

Catalina FV-N (serial W8433, a Consolidated Model 28-5MNE)
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour RAF Catalina 205 Squadron RAF, during a Japanese Air Raid

Catalina FV-W (ex-MLD Y-54, a Model 28-5MNE)
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour USN Catalina ?, during a Japanese Air Raid

# 6 (PBY-4 BUAERO Number: 1227, ex- 101-P-26, ex-102-P-26)
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour USN Catalina ?, during a Japanese Air Raid

#7 (PBY-4 BUAERO Number: 1237, ex-101-P-13)
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour Royal Netherlands Navy, Naval Air Service Catalina Y-59, during a Japanese Air Raid
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour Royal Netherlands Navy, Naval Air Service Catalina Y-60, during a Japanese Air Raid
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour Royal Netherlands Navy, Naval Air Service Catalina Y-67, during a Japanese Air Raid
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour Royal Netherlands Navy, Naval Air Service Catalina Y-70, during a Japanese Air Raid
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour RAAF Empire Flying Boat, Short S23 C-Class S.811 A18-10, ex QANTAS "Centaurus" G-ADUT, during a Japanese Air Raid
3 Mar 42 Broome Harbour QANTAS Empire Flying Boat G-AEUC, "Corinna", during a Japanese Air Raid
3 Mar 42 60 miles north of Broome Netherlands East Indies KLM DC-3 PK-AFV, shot down by Japanese aircraft
3 Mar 42 Broome Netherlands East Indies KLM Dc-3 PK-ALO, destroyed by Japanese aircraft
3 Mar 42 Broome Netherlands East Indies - Air Force Lockheed Lodestar LT9-18
3 Mar 42 Wyndham RAAF De Havilland DH-84 Dragon A34-9, VH-URF, Construction No 6045
4 Mar 42 Broome USAAF B-24A Liberator #40-2373
4 Apr 42 Pearce Airfield RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-56
16 Apr 42 Dunreath Airfield RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-58
18 Apr 42 Geraldton US Navy PBY-5 Catalina BUNO #2409
19 Apr 42 At sea off Australia? US Navy PBY-5 Catalina BUNO #2418
19 Apr 42 Perth US Navy PBY-5 Catalina BUNO #2455
20 Apr 42 Pearce Airfield RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-60
20 Apr 42 Pearce Airfield RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-62
24 Apr 42 Pearce Airfield RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-67
26 Apr 42 Australia - assumed to be Western Australia US Navy PBY-5 Catalina BUNO #2264
abt May 42 Dunreath RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-61 (#41-5740)
15 May 42 Geraldton RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-64 (#41-386)
22 May 42 Upper Swan Airfield RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-55
5 Jun 42 Guildford RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-115
8 Jul 42 Pearce Airfield RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-49
10 Jul 42 Pearce Airfield RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-56
11 Jul 42 Pearce Airfield RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-57
25 Sep 42 Derby RAAF Buffalo A51-5
15 Jul 42 near Pearce Airfield RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-50 (#41-5737)
30 Sep 42 Cardabia Station, Point Maud RAAF Avro Anson AX299, 1 killed
9 Oct 42 Side of ridge near Clackline RAAF Avro Anson W2262
26 Nov 42 Exmouth Bay US Navy PBY-5A Catalina BUNO #2407, 1 killed
13 Dec 42 At sea off Australia - assumed to be off Western Australia US Navy PBY-5A Catalina BUNO #02966
29 Dec 42 Pearce Airfield US Navy Grumman J2F-5 Duck 101-S-61 of Fleet Air Wing Ten
abt Jan 43 Pearce RAAF Beaufort A9-174
23 Jan 43 In sea 60 miles north of Perth US Navy PBY-5 Catalina BUNO #04431
25 Jan 43 Fremantle area US Navy OS2U-2 Vought Kingfisher BU No. 2281
2 Feb 43 Off Australia - assumed to be Western Australia US Navy PBY-5 Catalina BUNO #02961
9 Feb 43 Geraldton RAAF Avro Anson Avro Anson W2129 collided with Avro Anson W1938 (see below)
9 Feb 43 Geraldton RAAF Avro Anson Avro Anson W1938 collided with another Avro Anson W2129 (see above)
abt Mar 43 near Yetna RAAF Beaufort A9-173
28 Mar 43 Exmouth Gulf RAAF Kittyhawk A29-150, S/L "Bluey" Truscott killed
20 Apr 43 Onslow RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-160 (#41-24823), collided with A29-163 (see below)
20 Apr 43 Onslow RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-163 (#41-5503), collided with A29-160 (see above), F/O Peter Todd Read killed in A29-163.
28 Apr 43 in Exmouth Gulf near Potshot USAAF? Catalina 3 killed
5 May 43 Guildford RAAF Boomerang A46-76
13 May 43 Guildford RAAF Boomerang A46-18
14 May 43 Guildford RAAF Boomerang A46-67
15 May 43 Potshot RAAF Boomerang A46-28
17 May 43 22.05S 115.85E (which plots as approx 113 miles East of Learmonth) US Navy OS2U-2 Vought Kingfisher BU No. 3078, 2 killed
17 May 43 Potshot RAAF Boomerang A46-52
18 May 43 Guildford RAAF Boomerang A46-25
21 May 43 Potshot RAAF Boomerang A46-77
22 May 43 Guildford RAAF Boomerang A46-83, 1 died
25 May 43 Guildford?? RAAF Boomerang A46-81
29 May 43 Corunna Downs RAAF Hudson A16-217
3 Jun 43 Harvey RAAF Boomerang A46-33
15 Jun 43 Noonkanbah Airfield RAAF Beaufort A9-221
1 Jul 43 Potshot RAAF Boomerang A46-78
3 Jul 43 Exmouth Gulf US Navy PBY-5 Catalina Buno #08294
3 Jul 43 Wreck Point RAAF Boomerang A46-25
6 Jul 43 Guildford RAAF Boomerang A46-72
15 Jul 43 ? RAAF Boomerang A46-26 taxied into A46-97. See below.
15 Jul 43 ? RAAF Boomerang A46-97 hit by a taxying A46-26. See above.
21 Jul 43 southern boundary Georgina Satellite Airfield RAAF Avro Anson R-3550, 2 killed, 2 died later.
21 Aug 43 in sea off WA coast near Scarborough RAAF Boomerang A46-34
11 Aug 43 Lake Monger, near Leederville about 6 kms from Crawley Flying Boat Base USN Grumman J2F Duck  
12 Aug 43 Guildford RAAF Boomerang A46-72
18 Aug 43 Guildford RAAF Boomerang A46-67
14 Aug 43 Drysdale Mission USAAF B-24D Liberator "Shady Lady" #42-40369
8 Sep 43 Wongan Hills RAAF Boomerang A46-28
9 Sep 43 Possibly between D'Entrecastreaux Point and Rottnest Island RAAF Beaufort A9-317, 5 killed
12 Sep 43 Swan River, near Sandringham Hotel, Perth? US Navy OS2U-2 Vought Kingfisher BN 2283, 2 killed
19 Sep 43 Exmouth Gulf Station RAAF Boomerang A46-61
22 Sep 43 Guildford RAAF Boomerang A46-31, 1 killed
2 Oct 43 Guildford RAAF Boomerang A46-22, 1 killed
3 Oct 43 into sea in King Sound, off Derby RAAF Boomerang A46-61, 1 killed
10 Oct 43 Guildford airfield RAAF Boomerang A46-28
21 Oct 43 Western Australia US Navy OS2U-2 Vought Kingfisher BU No. 3077
24 Oct 43 Northampton RAAF Beaufort A9-314
27 Oct 43 Guildford airfield RAAF Boomerang A46-97
27 Oct 43 ?? RAAF Boomerang A46-80
29 Oct 43 (1) APO 926 (Fremantle) USAAF? C-47A Dakota #42-24400
29 Oct 43 ?? RAAF Boomerang A46-20
30 Oct 43 ?? RAAF Boomerang A46-26
abt Nov 43 Harvey RAAF Boomerang A46-33
abt Nov 43 Yanchep RAAF Boomerang A46-74
1 Nov 43 3 miles north of Greenough RAAF Avro Anson W2072, 4 killed
9 Nov 43 ?? RAAF Boomerang A46-80
10 Nov 43 Guildford airfield RAAF Boomerang A46-28
24 Nov 43 Guildford airfield RAAF Boomerang A46-97
22 Dec 43 near Regent River near Drysdale RAF F.VC Spitfire A58-51 (BR545)
19 Dec 43 (1) APO 926 (Fremantle) USAAF? C-47A Dakota #43-30742
27 Dec 43 Guildford airfield RAAF Boomerang A46-68, 1 killed
abt Jan 44 Drysdale RAAF Beaufighter A19-148
1 Jan 44 Guildford RAAF Boomerang A46-18
6 Jan 44 into sea 20 kms west of Sorrento between Pearce and Rottnest RAAF Beaufort A9-346, Wing Commander Charles Learmonth killed plus 3 others
10 Jan 44 north of Rockingham RAAF Boomerang A46-135
16 Jan 44 Guildford airfield RAAF Boomerang A46-69
23 Feb 44 Western Australia US Navy OS2U-3 Vought Kingfisher BU No. 5659
9 Mar 44 Wyndham RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-203 (JL360)
19 Mar 44 Lake Pinjar RAAF Boomerang A46-162
14 Mar 44 Carnarvon area RAAF Lockheed Hudson A16-122
23 Mar 44 1 mile south of Bannister RAAF Boomerang A46-168
8 Apr 44 Wyndham RAF F.VC Spitfire A58-174 (JG795)
18 Apr 44 ?? RAAF Boomerang A46-133
18 Apr 44 ?? RAAF Boomerang A46-167
12 Jun 44 ?? RAAF Boomerang A46-97
18 Jun 44 ?? RAAF Boomerang A46-74
5 Jul 44 Guildford RAAF Boomerang A46-30
20 Jul 44 Drysdale area Japanese "Dinah" Shot down by 54 Sqn RAF Spitfires
27 Jul 44 Bald Hill, 10 miles south of Beverley RAAF Boomerang A46-33
1 Aug 44 5 miles SE of Pearce RAAF DH-94 Moth Minor A21-9
14 Aug 44 ?? RAAF Boomerang A46-167
25 Aug 44 50 yards offshore, 1 mile inland from airfield at Exmouth Gulf RAAF Gannet A14-198
27 Aug 44 57 miles east of Narembeen, 55 miles south of Southern Cross RAAF Vultee Vengeance A27-295
18 Sep 44 Into sea off Cable Beach near Broome RAAF Beaufighter A19-163, 2 killed
28 Sep 44 200 miles east of Kalgoorlie RAAF Spitfire ??
9 Oct 44 Guildford RAAF Boomerang A46-52
14 Oct 44 Guildford RAAF Spitfire A58-223
10 Nov 44 on a beach 7 miles north of Rockingham RAAF Boomerang A46-135
16 Nov 44 Truscott RAF LF.VIII Spitfire A58-300 (JF620), air collision with A58-364 (see below)
16 Nov 44 Truscott RAF LF.VIII Spitfire A58-364 (JG429), air collision with A58-300 (see above)
1 Nov 44 near Belgravia St., Belmont 3 miles from Guildford airfield RAAF Boomerang A46-70
8 Nov 44 into sea 60 miles NE of Truscott airfield RAF LF.VIII Spitfire A58-347 (JG352), 1 killed
20 Nov 44 Guildford RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-103 (BS305)
19 Dec 44 Broome RAAF Catalina A24-76
29 Jan 45 Truscott area RAAF Catalina A24-204
3 Feb 45 Learmonth RAAF Avro Anson W1530
14 Feb 45 Cunderdin airfield RAAF B-24L Liberator A72-124, 5 killed
26 Feb 45 Guildford RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-257 (MH644), ground collision with A58-137 (see below)
26 Feb 45 Guildford RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-137, ground collision with A58-257 (see above)
6 Mar 45 Cunderdin airfield RAAF B-24L Liberator A72-134
23 Mar 45 In Vansittart Bay, 4 miles NW of Truscott RAAF B-24 Liberator A72-80, "Old Nick", 12 killed
19 Apr 45 Gooseberry Hill, Kalamunda, near Perth US Navy R4D-5 transport aircraft (DC-3) Serial #3?9067, "Blue Goose", 13 killed
23 May 45 Pearce RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-250 (MH586)
20 May 45 Truscott airfield RAAF LF.VIII Spitfire A58-399 (JG432)
20 May 45 Truscott RAAF B-24M Liberator A72-160, 11 killed
9 Jun 45 Wollal (possibly Wallal Downs) RAAF Avro Anson AW 914
24 Jun 45 Geraldton MacRobertson Miller DH-86A VH-USF, Originally Qantas "Melbourne" and originally RAAF A31-6
30 Jun 45 Pearce airfield RAAF Spitfire A58-16
14 Jul 45 Pearce airfield RAAF Spitfire A58-162
31 Jul 45 Cunderdin airfield RAAF B-24M Liberator A72-178
10 Aug 45 Rockingham Bay RAAF Spitfire A58-150 of 85 Squadron
6 Aug 45 Busselton RAAF Tiger Moth A17-614
7 Sep 45 Noonkanbah Airfield RAAF Avro Anson W2132
20 Sep 45 Nullagine RAAF Beaufort Unknown
5 Oct 45 Kalgoorlie RAAF Spitfire A58-223
28 Oct 45 Broome RAAF Catalina A24-70
28 Oct 45 Glenelg River north of Broome NEI-AF B-25 Mitchell N5-254

 

CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT CRASHES

DATE LOCATION SERVICE AIRCRAFT SERIAL NO.
28 Feb 42 Between Java and Broome, possibly 140 miles NW of Broome Civil Empire Flying Boat G-AETZ, "Circe"

 

E-Mails from Justin Taylan

E-Mails from Visitors to this Site

 

OTHER INTERNET SITES

Pacific Wreck Database
By Justin R. Taylan

22nd Bombardment Group Aircraft Losses
during B-26 and B-25 era
Go to "Table of Contents" and select "Aircraft Losses"

 

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).

 

Can anyone help me with more information?

 

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This page first produced 02 August 1999

This page last updated 10 September 2022