On 19 August 1942, P-40E Kittyhawk A29-?? of 77 Squadron RAAF, piloted by Pilot Officer D. H. Kelly (416098) crashed at Alice Springs Airfield in the Northern Territory. The starboard tyre burst whilst at a take-off speed of 115 mile per hour. The starboard compression leg immediately collapsed and the aircraft hit the runway with its propeller and belly tank. The pilot received slight abrasions to his left forearm.