CRASH OF A LOCKHEED HUDSON
15 MILES SOUTH WEST OF CAMDEN, NSW
ON 26 JANUARY 1943

At 1320 hours on 26 January 1943, Lockheed Hudson A16-152 of 32 Squadron RAAF, crashed in an inverted position on a wooded slope at Victoria Park, Picton, 15 miles south west of Camden airfield in New South Wales, whilst on a cross country training flight  killing the crew of five as follows:-

F/Sgt Stuart Kennedy Scott (402996) Pilot
F/Sgt. Henry Bennett Langman Johns (407122) Observer
Sgt. Bertie Clifford James Pearson (402978) Wireless Operator Air Gunner
Sgt. George Douglas Voyzey (402930) Wireless Operator Air Gunner
Sgt. Gordon Thomas Lawson (412545) Wireless Operator Air Gunner

The aircraft caught fire and the engines and airframe were extensively damaged and burned. The "Preliminary Report (External) of Flying Accident or Forced Landing" gave the probable cause as "Unknown".

Their cross country crew training flight took off from Camden at 1315L hours and they were headed for Wagga, then Forbes, then Lithgow and back to Camden.

The Aerodrome Control Officer at Camden received a report from The Public Works Department at The Oaks Airfield at 1337L hours stating that an aircraft appeared to have crashed nearby. Winesses on the ground reported the aircraft had a "crook" engine.

No. 2 Volunteer Air Observer Corps (2 V.A.O.C.) had a diary entry for the 30 January 1943 as follows:-

Fighter Sector reported that an aircraft had crashed in the vicinity of The Oaks and asked for all available information from Posts in the area concerned. The following Post were contacted, E.A., J6, J7, J5, J10, and J8. J6 reported that a Lockheed Hudson had crashed between the Oaks and Dr. Barnardo's Home. Locality would be approximately 8 miles west of Picton. This information was passed to Sector.

The five crew members were all buried at the Camden War Cemetery.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Russell Adams for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 26 January 2015

This page last updated 02 February 2020