CRASH OF A RYAN TRAINER
AT MACROSSAN AIRFIELD, QLD
ON 25 APRIL 1943

At approximately 1440 hours on 25 April 1943, Ryan Trainer STM-22, A50-10, which was attached to No. 2 Air Ambulance Unit 2 A.A.U. at Kingaroy, crashed after taking off from Macrossan Airfield near Charters Towers in north Queensland, killing the two RAAF crew members onboard as follows:-

Flying Officer Leonard Jack Ingham (400803) - pilot
Flight Lieutenant Charles Stanford Hill (272324) - passenger (also a qualified pilot)

 

Photo:- via Gordon Birkett

Flight Lieutenant Charles Stanford Hill (272324)

 

Photo:- via Gordon Birkett

Flight Lieutenant Charles Stanford Hill (272324)

 

The Confirmatory Report issued by the Commanding Officer of No. 12 R.S.U. read as follows:-

RYAN Monoplane A50-10, with Flight Lieutenant Charles Stanford (2324) and Flying Officer Leonard Jack INGHAM (400803) of No. 2 Air Ambulance Unit, KINGAROY, landed at this Unit at approximately 1130 hours on 25th APRIL, 1943. At approximately 1430 hours on the same day, this aircraft, with officers enumerated above, took off in an easterly direction on the east-west runway, and after a run of approximately 500 yards the aircraft was airborne. Climbing steeply the aircraft swung to the south, into a gusty cross-wind, and at approximately 200 feet, it turned on its back and dived into the ground, at a position approximately 300 yards from where it became airborne and 40 yards from the edge of the strip. The trees are approximately 30 to 40 feet high at this position. When observers reached the aircraft F/O INGHAM, who was in the front cockpit, was dead. F/Lt HILL still breathing, was lifted out of the rear cockpit within 10 minutes of the accident. Lieutenant Colonel CHENNELL, Commanding Officer of 11 Convalescent Depot, administered two tubonic omnopon morphine 1/4's. Flight Lieutenant HILL was then removed from the scene of the accident to 116 A.G.H. by the unit ambulance, arriving at approximately 1500 hours, and died at 1600 hours. Both bodies were taken to CHARTERS TOWERS General Hospital morgue (All Souls Hospital), where they were identified by P/P G. D. NICHOLLS (404361) of No. 2 Air Ambulance Unit.

Burial arrangements were made by Messrs. Herbert HALL, Undertakers, CHARTERS TOWERS, contractors to the R.A.A.F. The Funeral was held at 1500 hours on 26th APRIL, 1943, the bodies being buried in the war cemetery CHARTERS TOWERS. F/Lt. N. R. SCOTT, Chaplain of the R.A.A.F., conducted the service. F/O L. J. INGHAM (400803) was buried in grave A.A.7 and F/LT. C. S. HILL (2324) was buried on grave A.A.8.

No. 12 Repair and Salvage Unit RAAF Operations Record Book recorded this tragic incident as follows:-

25.4.43
F/Lt. C.S. HILL (2324)G.D. and F/O L.J. INGHAM (400803) No. 2A.A.U. Kingaroy, killed on strip when Ryan A50-10 monoplane crashed after taking off.

26.4.43
Funeral of F/Lt HILL and F/O INGHAM took place. Buried in Military section of CHARTERS TOWERS cemetery.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to than 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 8 July 2022

This page last updated 08 July 2022