CRASH LANDING OF A D.H.82 TIGER MOTH
AT NARROMINE, NSW
ON 15 JUNE 1942

At approximately 1400 hours E.S.T. on 15 June 1942, DH-72 Tiger Moth A17-684 of 5 EFTS crash landed at Narromine Airfield. The pilot, L.A.C. William Arthur Thorne (414968) was uninjured. L.A.C. Thorne, whilst landing on his first solo flight, held off too high when landing at Narromine and dropped the aircraft in from about 10 feet. The undercarriage gave way and the aircraft overturned. The cause of the accident was put down to inexperience and poor technique.

One mainplane and the undercarriage were damaged. Radius rods, compression strut and airscrew were broken.

Interestingly enough, D.H.82 Tiger Moth A71-684 still exists today. It was exported to USA and registered as N82MK and in September 2025, A17-684 was based at KC77 Poplar Grove Airport, Illinois, USA, where it has been based since 3 August 2001.

Photo:- Tom Peterson collection

Tiger Moth A17-684 is the middle aircraft.

Photo:- Tom Peterson collection

Recent photo taken at KC77 Poplar Grove airport, Illinois,
USA, where A17-684 has been based since 3 Aug 2001

Note:- Tiger Moth A17-684 was involved in three other accidents.

Crash landing 2 miles north of Essendon Airfield, VIC on 22 Dec 1940

Forced Landing at Mittagong, NSW on 10 Jan 1942

Crash landing at Dunk Island on 9 Oct 1943

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Tom Peterson, the current owner-caretaker of Tiger Moth A17-684 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 19 September 2025

This page last updated 19 September 2025