FORCED LANDING OF A C-47 SKYTRAIN (DAKOTA) ON PIPON ISLAND,
NEAR CAPE MELVILLE, FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND
ON 4 NOVEMBER 1944

C-47A-30-DL Skytrain (Dakota) #42-23661 "Breezy Ann", Radio Call Sign VHC-HF, (Construction No. 09523), Nose No. 8, of the 40th Troop Carrier Squadron, 54th Troop Carrier Wing forced landed on Pipon Island near Cape Melville in far north Queensland on 4 November 1944. C-47A #42-23661 was written off (condemned) on 7 November 1944.

Gordon Birkett advised that Robert Kelly's book (referenced below) states that #42-23661 was assigned to the 386th Service Squadron APO 920 on 22 November 1944 presumably for salvage. It had only flown 8-9hrs in Oct/Nov 1944 since it was received from the 392nd Service Squadron APO 565 on 14 October 1944.

I found I had this photo of a "Breezy Anne" spelt with
an "e". All other records that I have found call the C-47
that forced landed on Pipon Island by the name "Breezy
Ann". I wonder if it is the same aircraft. Most likely!

The following entries in the Operations Record Books for No. 41 Squadron RAAF and North Eastern Area Headquarters shows that C-47 Dakota, 661, forced landed on Pipon Island on 4 November 1944.

The 41 Squadron ORB incorrectly spells the island as Pippon Island rather than Pipon Island. The stranded C-47 was located by C-47 VH-CUK of 34 Squadron RAAF which was flying from Higgins Airfield to Garbutt Airfield on 4 November 1944.

North Eastern Area Headquarters ORB

4 Nov 1944 (page 212 of ORB)
Mariner to proceed to 1520S 14540E and investigate source of S.O.S. messages. E.T.D. 040302Z. Mariner VHCPL alighted Cairns 040635Z. Mariner recalled. C47 661 located force landed Pipon Is. 1408S 14432E by 34 Squadron. C47 CUK on travel Higgins to Garbutt. Crew safe. Rescue operations proceeding.

 

No. 41 Squadron RAAF ORB

4 Nov 1944 (page 414 of ORB)
A70-8, Captain F/Lt. H. H. Rohde, instructed by A.O.R. co-operated with Navy in search for tug and launch, vicinity Cooktown. Search successful. Later information revealed that search should have been for C 47 aircraft forced landed at Pippon (sic Pipon) Island.

9 Nov 1944 (page 414 of ORB)
F/Lt. Robinson, 13 A.R.D. Salvage Officer, arrived at this Unit to proceed to Pippon (sic Pipon) Island to salvage C 47. Squadron maintenance party arranged to accompany.

10 Nov 1944 (page 414 of ORB)
Salvage party now not required to proceed to Pippon (sic Pipon) Island.

3 Dec 1944 (page 434 of ORB)
F/L Gardiner NEA Salvage visited Unit to inspect salvage work being carried out on C 47 aircraft force landed at Pippon (sic Pipon) Island.

 Robert Kelly's book, referenced below, shows that #42-23661 "Breezy Ann" was involved in an earlier taxying accident at Dobodura No. 7 Airfield on 29 February 1944 when attached to the 317th Troop Carrier Group.

NOTE:- There is a file in National Archives of Australia in Melbourne titled "Salvage Operations Salvage of Aircraft at Pipon Island", Item ID 384625. Can someone in Melbourne please access this for me and let me know whether it was recovered back to somewhere like Cairns.

REFERENCES

"RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 41 Squadron Aug 42 - Jun 45", pages 414 and 434.

"Allied Air Transport Operations South West Pacific Area in WWII - Volume Four 1944 - Supporting the Allied advances" by Robert H. Kelly

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 17 April 2022

This page last updated 19 April 2022