FORCED LANDING OF A DH-89 DRAGON RAPIDE
AT CAPE SIDMOUTH, QLD
ON 26 JANUARY 1944

On 26 January 1944, ANA DH-89 de Havilland Dragon Rapide VH-ADE made a forced landing at Cape Sidmouth on a flight from Cooktown to Horn Island in Queensland.

The aircraft was eventually located by an RAAF Catalina. The occupants and mail bags were picked up by the Catalina which landed nearby.

It was badly damaged and written off. It was used as spares holdings which were trucked back to Cairns. It is believed these spares were transferred to Airlines (WA) Ltd to assist in overhaul of VH-UZY.

VH-ADE had previously been impressed by the RAAF from Guinea Airways on 25 August 1940 and became A33-7. It was called "Morobe" when it was with Guinea Airways.

It was received at 3 EFTS in November 1940. It was later attached to 1 AOS from January 1941 to April 1942. It was transferred back to Civil Aviation as VH-ADE on 16 April 1942 and was operated by ANA from 21 April 1941 until 27 January 1944.

VH-ADE was also identified as EI-ABP and G-AENO during its early career.

The following entries are from 103 Fighter Sector Headquarters Operations Record Book:-

27 January 1944
This Sector co-operated with Aeradio, Garbutt in endeavoring to locate Rapide VH-ADE which had left Cooktown for Iron Range and was long overdue. The aircraft had been in touch with Aeradio but message had broken off and nothing further was received. A V.A.O.C. sighting was reported through Cairns of an aircraft, believed to be the Rapide, 90 miles north of Cooktown.

28 January 1944
At 1100 hours Aeradio advised that Rapide VH-ADE had been located by Catalina, 13 miles south of Cape Sidmouth, in the sea.

REFERENCES

ADF Serials - RAAF A3/A33 DH-89 Dragon Rapide

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"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 30 December 2009

This page last updated 08 August 2023