28 February 1943 - Crash of a Catalina in the sea near Frankland Islands, off Gordonvale, Queensland

28 FEBRUARY 1943
CRASH OF CATALINA
IN THE SEA NEAR THE FRANKLAND ISLANDS
OFF GORDONVALE, QLD

catalina01.jpg (9850 bytes)
Catalina

UPDATE:- The RAAF announced on 21 September 2015 that
wreckage found in waters south of Cairns is that of Catalina A24-25

Video footage of the wreck

RAAF Catalina, A24-25 (RCAF 9708), of 11 Squadron RAAF, failed to return from an anti-submarine patrol off Cairns to protect a Convoy. A24-25 left the Convoy at dusk and was ordered to return to Cairns. The Catalina sent an incomplete message at 2251 hours E.A.S.T. which contained the words "Force land". This message was received at Townsville but not at Cairns. There was no further news from the Catalina.

This aircraft had been delivered to the RAAF in April 1942. The crew of A24-25, who were eventually all presumed dead, were as follows:-

Captain	Wing Commander John "Jack" William Daniell (140)
2nd Pilot	Sqn/Ldr Eric Hamilton Barkley (250281)
Navigator	Flying Officer Lewis "Lou" Melvin Dunham (406672)
1st Engineer	Sergeant Norman Notley Moore (408861)
2nd Engineer	Corporal John Corbett Stain (2437)
1st W/T	Sergeant Allen Richard Eather (402703)
2nd W/T	Sergeant Alexander Eric John Elsbury (415378)
Rigger	Sergeant John Daniel O'Grady (5778)
Armourer	Corporal Douglas Douglas Giffen Shaw Russell (13970)
Supernumerary	Sergeant Keith Arnold Watson (22692)
Supernumerary	Flying Officer Stuart Patrick King (255266) (Intelligence Officer 20 Squadron)

RAAF Guards reported that an aircraft had been seen circling Fitzroy Island which is located about 23 kms ESE of Cairns. They reported that an aircraft rounded Cape Grafton and disappeared in a north easterly direction. This information led to an incorrect conclusion that the Catalina may have force landed in the sea north east of Green Island.

I was contacted by Judy Taylor in October 1999 and she advised that her father, John Gordon Beckenham (403709), served with 9 Squadron RAAF and had taken notes on several aircraft crashes. His entry for 3 March 1943 refers to a Catalina crash a few days earlier as follows:-

3 March 1943 Cat-25 been missing off Innisfail. Last message "forced landing". . . . .Cairns flight been searching for last two days. Lot of extra men on board too.

4 March 1943 No news Catalina. Not much hope now.

The Operations Record Book for 9 Squadron RAAF has the following entries:-

BOWEN    2 March 1943 - P/O Angove in X 2510, F/O Stacy in W2783 and F/O Clark in X9517 carried out a search to sea for Catalina A24-25, which was reported missing. No trace was found.

CAIRNS    3 March 1943 - P/O Angove in X9517 carried out a search for missing Catalina A24-25, with negative results.

CAIRNS    6 March 1943 - P/O Angove in X9510 carried out a search patrol along beaches and any protruding reefs for wreckage of missing Catalina A24-24 (this is probably a typo as A24-24 did not crash off Bowen until 17 August 1943). The aircraft alighted at Archer Point lighthouse and received a paddle picked up on 5 March 1943.

CAIRNS    7 March 1943 - P/O Angove in X9510 carried out a search around Hope Island and coast north to Cape Flattery for wreckage of missing Catalina A24-25, with negative results.

Archer Point Lighthouse is located about 14 kms SE of Cooktown. Hope Island is about 120 kms NNW of Cairns and Cape Flattery is about 220 kms NNW of Cairns.

The Operations Record Book for 11 Squadron RAAF has the following entry:-

Catalina A24-17 S/L Burrage, F/O Ryan & F/O Potts - Search of Missing A/C - Time Up 2025/2Z Time Down 0840/3Z - Nil sightings throughout search for A24-25.

Wing Commander Keith Parsons and Squadron Leader Ralph Wiley in A9-145 from 7 Squadron RAAF also spent two days searching in the vicinity of the area from Cairns to Cooktown and up to 25 miles inland for the missing aircraft without result.

A three day search for the aircraft was unsuccessful. No trace was found of the aircraft or its crew. It was initially believed that the Catalina may have crashed into the sea north east of Green Island.

In about early August 2013, a recreational diver from Cairns, Kevin Coombs, discovered the remains of a Catalina flying boat in about 40 metres of water near the Frankland Islands, near Gordonvale, about 43 kms south east of Cairns. The Frankland Islands are about 40 kms NNE of Innisfail, the rough location that John Gordon Beckenham (403709) had noted. The RAAF are investigating the discovery of the Catalina, which is believed to be Catalina A24-25. One of the wings has sheared off crushing the cockpit. The metalwork on the wreck is in poor condition.