MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASHES
IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
DURING 1943

Crashes, mishaps, prangs, crash landings and missing aircraft

 crashoz.jpg (14825 bytes)

 

NAA Aircraft Accident Files
Links to 283 National Archives of Australia
Aircraft Accident Files - mostly RAAF Aircraft

 

10 Worst Aircraft Crashes in Australia

 

NOTE - The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was retitled as the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on 20 June 1941.

Did you know that there were at least 149 military aircraft crashes or
mishaps in the Northern Territory during 1943?

"You won't have any trouble finding your way to Darwin. Just follow the trail of crashed Kittyhawks, you can't go wrong."

The words of the Corporal in charge of the refuelling crew at Cloncurry in November 1942.

The table below will take quite a while to load

DATE LOCATION SERVICE AIRCRAFT SERIAL NO.
abt Jan 43 Strauss airfield RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-19 (BR241)
27 Jan 43 4 miles SE of Coomalie Creek RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-55 (BR549), mid air collision with A58-73 (see below)
27 Jan 43 4 miles SE of Coomalie Creek RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-73 (BS184), mid air collision with A58-55 (see above),1 killed
2 Jan 43 mud flat, Arnhem Land coast RAAF Beaufighter ?
31 Jan 43 returning to McDonald airfield NEI-AF B-25C Mitchell N5-139 (#41-12913)
31 Jan 43 returning to McDonald airfield NEI-AF B-25 Mitchell N5-134, #41-12885.
abt Feb 43 Marpoon Mission RAAF Beaufort A9-157
abt Feb 43 Darwin RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-11(BS158) landing collision with A58-41 (see below)
abt Feb 43 Darwin RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-41 (BR535) landing collision with A58-11 (see above)
abt Feb 43 near Strauss airfield RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-15 (BR237)
abt Feb 43 Strauss airfield RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-22 (BR386)
abt Feb 43 Livingstone RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-30 (BR493)
abt Feb 43 Strauss airfield RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-60 (BR584)
5 Feb 43 3 to 4  miles east of McDonald field, Darwin area NEI-AF B-25C Mitchell N5-132,  #41-12919, 9 killed
25 Feb 43 Howard Island RAAF Wirraway A20-545
25 Feb 43 Coomalie Creek RAAF Beaufighter A19-66
27 Feb 43 Tabletop Range, near Litchfield Park, en route Wyndham from Strauss RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-69 (BS175)
abt Mar 43 Strauss RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-62 (BS163)
abt Mar 43 Coomalie Creek RAAF Beaufighter A19-81
abt Mar 43 near Strauss RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-98 (BS237)
2 Mar 43 Coomalie Creek RAAF Beaufighter A19-31
2 Mar 43 In sea off Northern Territory Japanese Zero Shot down by Spitfire after air raid on Coomalie Creek
2 Mar 43 In sea off Northern Territory Japanese Zero Shot down by Spitfire after air raid on Coomalie Creek
2 Mar 43 In sea off Northern Territory Japanese Zero Shot down by Spitfire after air raid on Coomalie Creek
14 Mar 43 Annesley Point RAAF Lockheed Hudson A16-242
15 Mar 43 into the sea in Point Charles area RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-92 (BS231),  during a Japanese air raid on Darwin
15 Mar 43 "Picnic Cove", 12 miles south of Pt. Charles RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-101 (BS293), shot down by Japanese aircraft during a Japanese air raid on Darwin
15 Mar 43 Darwin area RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-8 (AR619), shot down during a Japanese air raid on Darwin
15 Mar 43 into sea Darwin area RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-9 (AR620), shot down during a Japanese air raid on Darwin
15 Mar 43 Darwin area Japanese Zero Shot down during a Japanese air raid on Darwin
abt 16 Mar 43 Millingimbi airfield RAAF Hudson ?
17 Mar 43 15 miles south of Darwin RAAF Beaufighter ?
18 Mar 43 Millingimbi RAAF Hudson A16-181
30 Mar 43 Pt. Jahleel, Melville Island NEI-AF B-25D Mitchell N5-133, (#41-29713)
abt Apr 43 30 Miles from Tennant Creek RAAF DH-84 Dragon A34-45, Construction No 2034
1 Apr 43 25 miles south of Adelaide River RAAF Wirraway A20-535
5 Apr 43 In water 1 mile seawards from Nightcliff, Darwin area RNAF B-25 Mitchell N5-140, 5 killed
5 Apr 43 Melville Island Japanese Zeke ?
14 Apr 43 Drysdale RAAF Hudson A16-178
20 Apr 43 Crocodile Island (or Yabooma Is.), NW of Millingimbi RAAF Lockheed Hudson A16-183, located 160 yards from A16-197 below
20 Apr 43 Crocodile Island (or Yabooma Is.), NW of Millingimbi RAAF Lockheed Hudson A16-197, located 160 yards from A16-183 above
28 Apr 43 30 mins from Millingimbi RAAF Lockheed Hudson A16-241
2 May 43 Into sea, 70 miles west of Darwin RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-66 (BS171), shot down by Japanese aircraft - total of 15 Spitfires lost
2 May 43 12 miles south of Pt. Charles near Picnic Point RAAF Spitfire BS191 - total of 15 Spitfires lost
2 May 43 In sea off West Point, Darwin RAAF Spitfire Mk. VC A58-42 (BR536), total of 15 Spitfires lost
2 May 43 Into sea 20 miles SW of Peron Island RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-17 (BR239) - total of 15 Spitfires lost
2 May 43 Darwin area RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-53 (BR547)
2 May 43 Into sea about 30 miles NW of Darwin RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-34 (BR526), shot down by Japanese aircraft - total of 15 Spitfires lost
2 May 43 60 miles west of Darwin RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-67 (BS173), shot down by Japanese aircraft - total of 15 Spitfires lost
abt May 43 near Point Charles RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-58 (BR572) May possibly be one of the 15 Spitfires listed below
abt May 43 Darwin RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-76 (BS188) May possibly be one of the 15 Spitfires listed below.
abt May 43 Darwin RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-86 (BS221) May possibly be one of the 15 Spitfires listed below.
2 May 43 Darwin Harbour area RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-89 (BS225), lost during Air Raid on Darwin airfield - total of 15 Spitfires lost
2 May 43 Darwin area RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-90 (BS226), lost during Air Raid on Darwin airfield - total of 15 Spitfires lost
2 May 43 Darwin area RAAF Spitfire Lost during Air Raid on Darwin airfield - total of 15 Spitfires lost
2 May 43 Darwin area RAAF Spitfire Lost during Air Raid on Darwin airfield - total of 15 Spitfires lost
2 May 43 Darwin area RAAF Spitfire Lost during Air Raid on Darwin airfield - total of 15 Spitfires lost
3 May 43 On beach 4 miles west of Pt. Charles RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-26 (BR480), shot down by Japanese aircraft
7 May 43 Millingimbi RAAF Hudson A16-211
9 May 43 near Millingimbi Japanese "Sally" medium bomber Damaged during air raid on Millingimbi
10 May 43 near Millingimbi RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-81 (BS199), crashed during combat
10 May 43 near Millingimbi Japanese Zero Shot down during air raid on Millingimbi
10 May 43 near Millingimbi Japanese Zero Shot down during air raid on Millingimbi
10 May 43 near Millingimbi Japanese Zero Probably destroyed during air raid on Millingimbi
10 May 43 near Millingimbi Japanese Zero Damaged during air raid on Millingimbi
10 May 43 near Millingimbi Japanese Zero Damaged during air raid on Millingimbi
10 May 43 Millingimbi RAAF Beaufighter A19-72 - strafed by Japanese
10 May 43 Millingimbi RAAF Beaufighter A19-16 - strafed by Japanese
abt 12 May 43 near Fish Hole, on the Daly River RAAF Beaufighter A19-19
15 May 43 Batchelor RAAF Vengeance A27-5
21 May 43 Coomalie Creek RAAF Beaufighter ?
22/23 May 43 Batchelor airfield NEI-AF B-25C Mitchell N5-152 (#42-32483) "Tangerine"
23 May 43 Dum In Mirrie Island, Port Patterson RAAF Vengeance A27-208
28 May 43 Millingimbi area RAAF Spitfire BR493, shot down by Japanese aircraft during air raid on Millingimbi
28 May 43 Millingimbi area RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-3 (AR526), shot down by Japanese aircraft during air raid on Millingimbi
28 May 43 Millingimbi area Japanese "Betty" bomber Shot down by Spitfires during air raid on Millingimbi
28 May 43 Millingimbi area Japanese "Betty" bomber Shot down by Spitfires during air raid on Millingimbi
28 May 43 Millingimbi area Japanese "Betty" bomber Shot down by Spitfires during air raid on Millingimbi
28 May 43 Millingimbi area Japanese Zero possible crash during air raid on Millingimbi
28 May 43 Millingimbi area Japanese Zero possible crash during air raid on Millingimbi
29 May 43 15 miles SW of Goulbourn Island RAAF Dragon A34-51
30 May 43 Batchelor RAAF Vengeance A27-218
31 May 43 Coomalie Creek RAAF Beaufighter A19-103
abt Jun 43 Coomalie Creek RAAF Beaufighter A19-62
abt Jun 43 8 miles north west of Adelaide River RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-29 (BR490) - shot down during Japanese air raid
abt Jun 43 Anson Bay RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-37 (BR530)
abt Jun 43 Batchelor RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-52 (BR546)
abt Jun 43 Point Stuart RAAF Beaufighter A19-70
abt 7 Jun 43 Coomalie Creek RAAF Beaufighter A19-112
10 Jun 43 Batchelor? RAAF Vengeance A27-202
12 Jun 43 1 mile SE of the southern end of Hughes airfield RAAF Lockheed Hudson A16-186, 7 killed
14 June 43 Livingstone Airfield RAAF Spitfire A58-164, ER760
20 Jun 43 In sea off Adam Bay, Darwin RAAF Spitfire A58-107 (EE607)
20 Jun 43 9 miles SE of Koolpinyah Station RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-68 (BS174)
23 Jun 43 1.5 miles east of Point Margaret and 1.5 miles south of Papa (or Tapa) Bay RAAF Spitfire AR510, A58-1
28 Jun 43 20 miles NW of Tumbling Waters RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-23 (BR462)
28 Jun 43 Shoal Bay area RAAF Spitfire EE603 or EE600 or AR600?
30 Jun 43 North of Sweeps Lookout, Darwin area (Anson Bay area?) RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-114 (EE670), crashed after enemy action
30 Jun 43 South west of Batchelor Airfield in today's Litchfield National Park RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-2 (AR523)
30 Jun 43 Paper Bark Swamp, Pine Creek RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-36 (BR528), crashed after combat
30 Jun 43 Fenton USAAF Liberator ?, during a Japanese bombing raid
30 Jun 43 Fenton USAAF Liberator ?, during a Japanese bombing raid
30 Jun 43 Fenton USAAF Liberator ?, during a Japanese bombing raid
abt Jul 43 near Fenton RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-79 (BS193), lost during combat
abt Jul 43 Pt. Patterson (is this in NT?) RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-31 (BR495)
6 Jul 43 In Roper River (near Darwin?) RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-33 (BR499) damaged in combat
6 Jul 43 Batchelor area (over Strauss?) RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-32 (BR497)
6 Jul 43 Billabong Ridge north of Litchfield Station Fenton area (off Anson Bay) RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-61, (BR589) Billabong Ridge, Flg Off F. D. 'Bush' Hamilton, 457 Squadron
6 Jul 43 Fenton area (near Anson Bay?) RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-80 (BS197)
6 Jul 43 35 miles west of Batchelor RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-172 (JG731)
10 Jul 43 Between Aru Islands and Darwin USAAF B-24D Liberator #42-40492
14 Jul 43 Millingimbi RAAF Hudson A16-189
18 Jul 43 Opium Creek Station, about 100 kms east of Darwin Japanese "Dinah" Mitsubishi Ki 46-II No. 2414, 2 killed
23 Jul 43 60 miles east of Darwin RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-96 (BS235)
29 Jul 43 Black Sand Plain near Daly River USAAF B-24D-53-CO Liberator "Poochie" #42-40491
5 Aug 43 near Darwin RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-6 (AR563)
15 Aug 43 Between Millingimbi and Kanniva village RAAF Lockheed Hudson A16-181
18 Aug 43 Darwin Civilian Airfield RAAF Spitfire AR-558
25 Aug 43 Fenton USAAF B-24 Liberator "Alley Oop", #41-24248, 4 killed
abt Aug 43 Livingstone RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-70 (BS178)
abt Sep 43 Darwin RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-113 (EE669)
2 Sep 43 Groote Island area RAAF Catalina A24-50
7 Sep 43 15 miles west of Strauss RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-227 (LZ884)
9 Sep 1943 Batchelor airfield NEI-AF B-25C Mitchell N5-153, #42-32339, "René"
13 Sep 43 Bathurst Island Mission RAAF Wirraway A20-605
17 Sep 43 Blyth River near Millingimbi RAAF Beaufighter A19-30
17 Sep 43 near Millingimbi RAAF Beaufighter A19-43
17 Sep 43 in a swamp at Blyth River near Millingimbi RAAF Beaufighter A19-70
21 Sep 43 Sugar Loaf Hill, 3 miles from Fenton airfield  USAAF B-24 Liberator #42-40509 (D-65-CO), 10 killed
25 Sep 43 Millingimbi RAAF Beaufighter A19-116
26 Sep 43 Near Manton Dam RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-121 (EE677), collided mid air with A58-201 (see below)
26 Sep 43 Near Manton Dam RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-201 (JL314), collided mid air with A58-121 (see above)
abt Oct 43 Belly landed somewhere in NT RAAF Beaufighter A19-18
abt Oct 43 Darwin RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-148 (EF544)
16 Oct 43 Millingimbi area RAAF Lockheed Hudson A16-178
18 Oct 43 Batchelor NEI-AF B-25 Mitchell N5-145, "The Flying Dutchman"
18 Oct 43 Darwin Airfield RAAF Beaufighter A19-84, 3 killed F/Sgt R.V. Ellis, Sgt. W.B. Carton, LAC A.J. Pitts
25 Oct 43 Fenton airfield USAAF B-24 Liberator #42-40504, "Gus's Bus"
1 Nov 43 200 yards off Darwin main jetty RAAF Spitfire A58-302
11 Nov 43 Fenton airfield USAAF B-24D Liberator #42-41242, 10 killed
21 Nov 43 10 miles inland from Junction Bay (between Millingimbi & Coomalie Creek) RAAF Beaufighter A19-145
21 Nov 43 Coomalie Creek RAAF Beaufighter A19-82
21 Nov 43 Fenton Airfield USAAF B-24D Liberator #42-40683 "The Colossal Fossil" of 528th Bomb Squadron. No injuries.
23 Nov 43 Livingstone RAAF Spitfire Mk F.VC A58-21 (BS300), 2 killed on the ground
abt Dec 43 Hughes airfield RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-109
abt Dec 43 Darwin RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-149 (EF545)
abt Dec 43 Strauss RAAF F.VC Spitfire A58-205 (JL378)
6 Dec 43 Cape Don area RAAF Walrus X9520
6 Dec 43 Into sea 8 miles SE of Peron Island in Anson Bay RAAF Beaufighter A19-86
6 Dec 43 Millingimbi RAAF Hudson A16-219

 

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OTHER INTERNET SITES

Pacific Wreck Database
By Justin R. Taylan

22nd Bombardment Group Aircraft Losses
during B-26 and B-25 era
Go to "Table of Contents" and select "Aircraft Losses"

 

MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASHES
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WORLD WAR 2
Australian Capital Territory New South Wales
Northern Territory

Queensland
South Australia Tasmania
Victoria Western Australia
Norfolk Island Unknown

 

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This page first produced 25 July 1999

This page last updated 16 March 2023