CRASH OF A BEAUFORT
20 MILES WEST OF DENILIQUIN, NSW
ON 28 DECEMBER 1943

At approximately 10:20 hours local time on 28 December 1943 Beaufort A9-451 from 5 Operational Training Unit 5 OTU at Tocumwal crashed 20 miles west of Deniliquin in New South Wales. The wreck was converted to components in January 1944. Beaufort A9-451 was taking part in a low level cross country exercise.

Sergeant Edgar Hubert Crosby (437118), the Navigator was sending a wireless message at the time of the accident said that he felt a slight bump, and on looking up the aircraft appeared to be at approximately 150 feet. The nose then appeared to go down and the aircraft crashed striking the ground with the starboard main plane and nose. By that time, Sgt. Crosby had moved out of the W/T Operator's seat, and after the impact made his way to the rear hatch which he unsuccessfully endeavoured to open with his left arm. He then kicked the hatch open and freed himself. By that time the aircraft was burning furiously, and it was impossible to locate or rescue the pilot Sergeant Albert Ronald Mainerd (432221).

Flight Lieutenant Claude Robert Sladen (1765) of Central Flying School was flying over the area in Wackett Trainer A387 at that time. He saw the aircraft burning. He landed his aircraft beside the burning wreck and picked up and conveyed Sgt. Crosby to Deniliquin where he was immediately admitted to S.S.Q.

The funeral for Sgt. Mainerd left RAAF Station Deniliquin at 1500 hours on 29 December 1943 and his remains were interred in the Deniliquin War Cemetery in Grave No. D.B.5.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 29 August 2007

This page last updated 27 January 2020