Crash of a Tiger Moth at Goomalibee Park, Near Benalla, Victoria on 11 December 1941

Tiger Moth A17-129 of No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School 11 EFTS at Benalla was being flown by Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Carrol Burns (1331) with Corporal Lawrence Henry Myers (9103) in the rear cockpit. The purpose of the flight was "Instructor's Practice". They flew directly to Goomalibee Park, near Benalla and circled a paddock adjacent to No. 2 Emergency Landing Ground which is located 5 miles north west on Benalla Airfield. The crop in the paddock was on fire.

They circled the paddock twice. The aircraft then circled down low over the southern boundary of No. 2 ELG. The engine spluttered twice and F/Lt Burns decided to make a forced landing. The throttle was then violently opened, the engine responded and the aircraft climbed sharply. The evasive action however did not prevent the aircraft colliding with four civilians he had spotted on the ground in front of his aircraft. F/Lt. Burns must have then gained sufficient height in the 176 yards after hitting the civilians to glide over the northern boundary of the field, then execute a turn in the opposite direction and skidded into the northern fence of No. 2 ELG.

Cr. George Forshaw and Thomas Russell Fleming were killed and Constable William Henry David Roberts received severe lacerations to the left ear, minor lacerations of the left hand and knee, sever bruises of the left shoulder, concussion and shock. Constable Leslie Hurley received a scalp wound in the right frontal region, a sprain of the knuckle joint of the left forefinger, and minor bruises and slight concussion.

A Court of Inquiry was held to investigate the cause of the incident. The court recommended that disciplinary action be taken against the pilot Flight Lieutenant Burns

Advocate (Burnie, Tasmania) - Friday 12 December 1941

PLANE CRASHES INTO FIRE-FIGHTERS

Two Killed and Two Injured

Two civilians were killed and two policemen injured when an R.A.A.F. plane crashed into them as it was making a forced landing four miles from Benalla today.

The victims were:

Killed: George Forshaw (60), of Violet Town & Russell Fleming (31), of Benalla.

Injured: Constables Leslie Hurley and William Roberts, both of Benalla.

The four men had arrived at Mr. Armstrong's property about 10.30 a.m. to help fight a bush fire. They were about six chains from the fire when they noticed a plane flying low at close range. It crashed into the midst of the men, two being killed instantly.

Hearing the crash and not seeing the men lying on the ground, Mr. T. Fleming, father of one of the dead men, rushed to the plane. He found a flying instructor, who had been making a practice flight, and a mechanic injured. He then went to the four men, finding his son one of those killed.

The undercarriage of the plane, which was a Tiger Moth, was damaged.

Constable Roberts was admitted to hospital with a fractured skull, but Constable Hurley, who was admitted for treatment, was later able to go home.

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