CRASH OF A P-40E KITTYHAWK
AT BATCHELOR AIRFIELD, NT
ON 23 AUGUST 1942
On 23 August 1942, P-40E Kittyhawk A29-57 of 77 Squadron RAAF, piloted by Sergeant Robert Kenneth Boyd (402992) crashed at Batchelor Airfield in the Northern Territory. During a formation take-off at Batchelor Airfield his aircraft swung to port, due to the slip stream of the leading aircraft. The starboard wing lifted. Thinking his port oleo leg had collapsed, Sgt. Boyd held the control column to starboard. The undercarriage hit a slit trench, collapsed and the aircraft skidded on its radiator. The aircraft was repairable.
Peter May told me that A29-57 featured the nose art of a dog, and was known as "Snifter" or just "Snif". It was flown most often by Clive Irving Winter-Irving (408717), who considered it "his" aircraft.
REFERENCES
Operations Record Book for 77 Squadron RAAF, page 20
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I'd like to thank Peter May for his assistance with this web page.
Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?
"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products
© Peter Dunn 2015 |
Please
e-mail me |
This page first produced 19 February 2017
This page last updated 11 June 2023