TAXIING ACCIDENT OF A P-38 LIGHTNING
AT IRON RANGE AIRFIELD, QLD
ON 12 APRIL 1943

On 12 April 1943 at about 11am, P-38G-15-LO Lightning #43-2382 of the 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, piloted by 2nd Lt. Robert M. Bennett broke its nose wheel strut whilst taxiing at Iron Range Airfield, in far north Queensland. The left engine struck the ground cracking the reduction gear. The pilot, who was about to take off on a flight to 3 Mile Drome (Kila) near Port Morseby, was uninjured.

REFERENCES

"P-38G-15-LO Lightning Serial Number 43-2382" by Pacific Wrecks

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Colin Furphy for causing me to look for more information on this accident.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 20 May 2022

This page last updated 20 May 2022