Crash of a P-38 Lightning at the Town Common, Townsville, Queensland, on 25 February 1944

CRASH OF A P-38 LIGHTNING
NEAR THE TOWN COMMON,
TOWNSVILLE, QLD
ON 25 FEBRUARY 1944

On 25 February 1944, 1st Lieutenant Robert Q. Cordell O-671507, of the 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, USAAF, and some other pilots from the 36th Fighter Squadron were ferrying some P-38 Lightnings to Nadzab, New Guinea. The 36th Fighter Squadron was having some difficulties checking out the pilots. 1st Lt. Cordell had a close call when he touched down at Garbutt Airfield in Townsville when another pilot came in too fast and landed almost on top of his aircraft.

Later in the day while testing P-38J Lightning #42-103994 he lost an engine which he feathered. Whilst coming around for an emergency landing, the other engine failed, causing the P-38J Lightning to crash to the ground from around 400 feet. 1st Lt. Robert Q. Cordell was tragically killed in this unfortunate accident.

Keith Hopper told me that he has wartime records that place the crash site in the vicinity of the saltpan behind Wackett Street at Pallarenda. Keith stated that the aircraft was carrying two large drop tanks of fuel for the ferry flight, and he believes that the wreckage burned for some time.

The Cemetery Records for the USAF Military Cemetery Ipswich show Robert G. Cordell, (Note - they have his middle Initial incorrect) who died on 25 February 1944, being buried at Ipswich, west of Brisbane in south east Queensland on 25 June 1945. This would suggest that he was initially buried at the US Military Cemetery at Belgian Gardens in Townsville.