CRASH LANDING OF A D.H.82 TIGER MOTH
AT DUNK ISLAND, QLD
ON 9 OCTOBER 1943

On 9 October 1943, F/Sgt Robert Henry Stinton (410393) of 42 Radar Wing in D.H.82 Tiger Moth A17-684 KF-Z (c/n 82186) of No. 5 Communication Flight flew from Garbutt Airfield in Townsville to Dunk Island to pick up some Wireless equipment. The aircraft crashed on landing at Dunk Island at about 1101 hours E.A.S.T. The aircraft was then allotted to 13 A.R.D. The Wireless equipment was probably associated with 27 Radar Station RAAF located on Dunk Island. F/Sgt. Stinton received abrasions to the nose.

A17-684 overshot in a cross wind on approach to the poor landing strip on Dunk Island. "Aircraft swung around and tail unit struck an obstruction on the edge of strip following which the aircraft swung into ditch." The pilot F/Sgt Stinton received abrasions in the landing incident.

Interestingly enough, D.H.82 Tiger Moth A71-684 still exists today. It was exported to USA and registered as N82MK and in September 2025, A17-684 was based at KC77 Poplar Grove Airport, Illinois, USA, where it has been based since 3 August 2001.

Photo:- Tom Peterson collection

Tiger Moth A17-684 is the middle aircraft.

Photo:- Tom Peterson collection

Recent photo taken at KC77 Poplar Grove airport, Illinois,
USA, where A17-684 has been based since 3 Aug 2001

Note:- Tiger Moth A17-684 was involved in three other accidents.

Crash landing 2 miles north of Essendon Airfield, VIC on 22 Dec 1940

Forced Landing at Mittagong, NSW on 10 Jan 1942

Crash landing at Narromine Airfield, NSW on 15 June 1942

REFERENCES

RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) Operations Record Book - Communications Flight 5

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Tom Peterson, the current owner-caretaker of Tiger Moth A17-684 and Gordon Birkett 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 29 January 2019

This page last updated 19 September 2025