CRASH OF A BEAUFORT
NEAR BROADMEADOW AIRFIELD, NSW
ON 11 SEPTEMBER 1943

Typical Beaufort bomber

Beaufort A9-281 took off from Camden Airfield at 0505Z hours on 11 September 1943 on an operational travel flight to Williamtown airfield. The port engine seized in flight and the aircraft crashed near Broadmeadow Civilian Airfield when the pilot attempted a forced landing and burst into flames. The crew of A9-281 were as follows:-

F/Sgt Ian MacFarlane (414418) - Pilot - Serious Injuries - 7 Squadron
F/Sgt Joseph Barker Lenihan (416866) - WOAG - Slightly injured - 7 Squadron
F/Sgt Kevin Richard Toye (405802) - Slightly injured - 1 Wireless and Gunnery School
F/Sgt. William Milton Trengove (416134) - Navigator - Subsequently died from his injuries - 32 Squadron

F/Sgt Trengove was buried at the Sandgate Cemetery, Newcastle on 13 September 1943 in Grave No. 9, Row E.C..

Helen Phillips, who was four years old at the time, told me that she remembers seeing the aircraft coming down with smoke pouring out of it. Helen was standing in the front garden of their home in Hamilton South at the time of the tragic crash.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Helen Phillips for her assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 17 April 2015

This page last updated 02 February 2020