CRASH OF A C-47A DAKOTA
1.5 KMS SOUTH OF TURTLE HEAD,
NORTH QUEENSLAND
ON 13/14 DECEMBER 1943

C-47A Dakota (Constructor's No. 9012) A65-3, VH-CTC of 36 Squadron RAAF, piloted by Flight Lieutenant John Donellan Balfe (272371), crashed 1.5 kms south of Turtle Head in north Queensland on 13 or 14 December 1943. Other crew members were:-

Co-pilot                     Norman John Properjohn (16549)
Wireless Operator      F/Sgt Thomas Henry Dennis (425616)

The aircraft was on a flight from Cooktown to Horn Island when it crashed. All three crew members and the eleven passengers were all rescued.

This aircraft had been delivered to the RAAF on 20 March 1943. It had previously been allocated the serial number A30-17, VH-DAC which was not taken up.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Hubert Hofer, Daniel Leahy and Justin Taylan for their assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 8 August 2007

This page last updated 02 February 2020