CRASH OF A P-400 AIRACOBRA
NEAR AMBERLEY AIRFIELD, QLD
ON 15 MARCH 1942
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

2nd Lieutenant Melvin J. Price O-427659, Class 41G, ex 34th Pursuit Squadron, 35th Pursuit Group, was killed when his P-400 Airacobra crashed near Amberley Airfield at 12:22am on 15 March 1942.

2nd Lt Melvin J. Price was buried at the Ipswich USAF Military Cemetery on 18 March 1942. The Ipswich USA Military Cemetery records indicate that he was reburied on 24 May 1942.

The Operation Record Book for 3 Aircraft Depot, Amberley shows the following entry:-

106 airmen formerly engaged in special erection duties with No. 3 SFTS were transferred to No. 3 A.D. as initial party.

During the months of March and April 123 P30 Aeracobra (sic) Fighter Aircraft were erected and despatched.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Gordon Birkett for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 5 January 2022

This page last updated 05 January 2022