COLLISION OF TWO AVRO ANSONS
11 MILES NORTH WEST OF CASINO, NSW
ON 4 MARCH 1941

At 0945 hours on Tuesday 4 March 1941, Avro Anson W1535 collided with Avro Anson W1533 at approximately 4,500 feet near Central Dyraaba Soldiers' Settlement about 11 miles north west of Casino, NSW. Both aircraft were attached to No. 3 Service Flying Training School (3 S.F.T.S.) from Amberley airfield and were involved in a navigation cross country exercise.

Five Ansons had taken off from Amberley airfield at five minute intervals from 0700 hours to 0725 hours. Their route was Amberley - Nanango - Inglewood - 8 miles East of Ballina - 3 miles East of Swan Bay - Amberley. The aircraft flew individually to Inglewood. Some minutes after leaving Inglewood, Anson W1720 containing LAC Jack and LAC Shannon, was flying on course at about 4,600 feet when W1545, containing LAC Howson and LAC McKay, flew up alongside and formated on its right. A little later W1533, containing LAC Smith and LAC Beattie, flew up and formated on the left of W1720. The three aircraft were then flying in a rough V formation. Shortly afterwards, W1535 containing LAC O'Brien and LAC Girdler, flew up and took up position on the right of the other three aircraft. After a few minutes LAC Smith in W1533 flew from the left hand position under the other aircraft and took up position on the extreme right of the formation and a little behind W1535.

The four aircraft were then flying in echelon to the right and from one to two wingspans apart. After flying like this for about ten minutes, LAC Smith in W1535 increased his speed to make up a little distance. As he did so his aircraft seemed to slip to the left towards W1533 and in attempting to avert a collision, the port wingtip of W1533 struck the tailplane of W1535 on the underneath starboard side. The elevator of W1535 was crushed and the tailplane bent up against the rudder, and elevator control of W1535 was lost and the aircraft immediately went into an inverted spin.

LAC O'Brien and LAC Girdler decided to try and jump together on O'Brien's parachute as Girdler did not have a parachute. O'Brien forced the window and was backing out of the aircraft, clinging to Girdler, when he was torn away from him by the force of the wind. O'Brien's parachute opened at about 400 feet and he landed safely 15 yards from their wrecked Avro Anson. Girdler was left in the aircraft and crashed with it.

All occupants of of all aircraft concerned, except LAC Girdler, were equipped with parachutes.

Avro Anson W1533 and its crew of pilot, LAC Percy Raymond Smith and crew LAC Beatty, was able to land safely at Casino airfield despite the port wingtip being broken off and further minor damage to the port wing.

The Probable Cause for the accident was listed as "Possible lack of vigilance" by LAC Percy Raymond Smith in Avro Anson W1533.

LAC John Jospeh O'Brien was presented with a membership plaque for the Roo Club by parachute makers Light Aircraft Pty. Ltd. O'Brien became the seventh member of the Roo Club.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Cpl Bryce Girdler and Graham Clayton for their assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 19 February 2013

This page last updated 27 January 2020