12 MAY 1943
FORCED LANDING OF A BEAUFORT
3/4 TO 1 MILE N.E. OF CAMDEN AIRFIELD, NSW

RAAF Beaufort, A9-283 of 32 Squadron RAAF, forced landed after the port engine partially failed after takeoff at Camden Airfield in New South Wales at about 0012 hours E.S.T. on 12 May 1943. The aircraft struck the top of a small hill about 3/4 of a mile from the upwind end of the runway and about 100 feet above the level of the runway. The crew were listed as follows:-

Sgt. Peter Bowers (415393) - pilot - slightly injured, lacerations to face
F/O John Murchison Sharpe (415362) - 1st WOAG - slightly injured, lacerations to temple, slight shock
Sgt. Colin Douglas Sinclair (406881) - 2nd WOAG - slightly injured, abrasions
F/O Henry Kenneth Kemp (416264) - seriously injured - shock, slight concussion and bruises

NOTE:-  "Aircraft in Australian Service" by Stewart Wilson incorrectly shows this crash at Bundaberg in Queensland on 13 May 1943.

I also received some information on this incident from Ross McNeill (RossMcN@aol.com) of Worcestershire, UK, who is a  researcher specialising in sea losses of Allied aircraft 1939-45.  His Beaufort data comes from the RAF 800 movement cards held at the RAF Museum, Hendon. Ross spent a few months transcribing the info in about 1997.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Andy Anderson for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 4 February 2025

This page last updated 04 February 2025