B-25 MItchell crash at Cairns Airfield, far north Queensland on 20 July 1944

USAAF B-25C Mitchell #41-12903 was extensively damaged when it crashed whilst taking off at Cairns Airfield in far north Queensland. The B-25 failed to gain sufficient speed to become airborne before reaching the end of the airfield. The B-25C struck the earth levee bank just past the end of the runway with its tail. The aircraft bounced about 20 feet into the air, but the pilot was able to right the aircraft and made a crash landing in the scrub adjoining the airfield.

B-25C Mitchell #41-12903 was assigned to either the 71st Bomb Squadron of the 38th Bomb Group or perhaps the 405th Bomb Squadron of the 38th Bomb Group.

25 Operational Base Unit's crash waggon was manned and proceeded immediately to the crash scene but no further action was required as no fire resulted and the passengers had been able to free themselves from the crashed aircraft. Crew members were uninjured and injuries to the passengers were as follows:-

All inured personnel were admitted to the American Naval base Hospital, Cairns and their condition was regarded as satisfactory.

Vera Bradley's book, "I Didn't Know That", refers on page 49 to some reminisces of Corporal Ken Hutchinson of RAAF North-Eastern Area, Advanced Operational Base (AOB) at Cairns airfield.

"Another incident involved a B-25 Mitchell Bomber which could not clear the flood leverage bank at the end of the drome, clipped its wings and crash landed in the mangrove swamp just south of the drome. The lads from the Ack Ack Battery nearby were the first on the scene and hacked into the side of of the plane with axes to free the crew. There was only one injured, a gash to the side of his face - it was not known if this was caused by the crash or the axe-wielding rescuers. We used this crashed plane as a warning to many other US men who wanted to fly out with their aircraft overloaded. The remains of this plane lay in the mud near the highway at Salt Water Creek for many years after the war."

Two ID plates were removed from the wreckage of B-25C #41-12903 by Kevin Clark as it was laying on the mud at the Cairns airfield. He was scavenging the wreck for Perspex to make a fish tank.

Joe Baugher's web site, shows B-25C Mitchell #41-12903 being salvaged on 23 July 1944. This seems to differ from Vera Bradley's comment that it remained there for many years after the war.

"I Didn't Know That"
"Cairns and Districts, Tully to Cape York, 1939-1946,
Service Personnel and Civilians"
By Vera Bradley (1943 AAMWS)

I'd like to thank Bob Neilsen, Edward Rogers and Gordon Birkett for their assistance with this web page.

I need your help

Copyright

Disclaimer

Please e-mail me
any information or photographs

"Australia @ War"
8GB USB Memory Stick