Incident Overview
Date: Monday 26 April 1943
Aircraft Type: Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina
Owner/operator: Royal Australian Air Force – RAAF
Registration Number: A24-43
Location: near Aita –
ÿ Papua New Guinea
Phase of Flight: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 9
Component Affected: Catalina aircraftCatalina aircraft
A Catalina aircraft, operated by 11 Sqn, departed Cairns at 15:00 to deliver supplies to coastwatchers in Aita, Bougainville, and Bunbun, New Ireland. An impact was detected and engine revved to full power prior to the third drop. The aircraft crashed on a ridge following impact with trees.A Catalina aircraft, operated by 11 Sqn, departed Cairns at 15:00 to deliver supplies to coastwatchers in Aita, Bougainville, and Bunbun, New Ireland. An impact was detected and engine revved to full power prior to the third drop. The aircraft crashed on a ridge following impact with trees.
Description
The RAAF Catalina, operated by 11 Sqn took off from Cairns at 15:00 to drop supplies to coastwatchers at two locations: Aita, Bougainville and Bunbun, New Ireland. The flying boar arrived at Aita at 23:00, and two supplied were dropped. Prior to the third drop, an impact was heard and engine revved to full power. The Catalina impacted trees and crashed on a ridge. RAAF crew members killed were: 403318 FL William James CLARK; 408268 FO John Nigel Elmhirst POTTS; 32917 Sgt Dudley James WARD.
Primary Cause
Impact with trees and subsequent crash.Impact with trees and subsequent crash.Share on:
