COLLISION OF TWO CATALINAS
OVER COLEAMBALLY, NSW
IN 1943/44

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Catalina #43-47960 in use as a storage room for farm chemicals

On an unknown date in about 1943/44, two USAAF PBY-5A Catalinas had a mid-air collision over Coleambally in New South Wales. One of the Catalinas crashed killing all the crew. The other Catalina #43-47960, also crashed but was less damaged. It was recovered and the front section of the aircraft from the bulkhead in front of the Flight Engineer to the intact gun turret, was initially used as a bedroom on the farm. It was later used by the local farmer as a storage room for his farm chemicals (see above photo). The aircraft number #1730 is stamped on the bulkhead between the flight deck and the turret. The rest of this aircraft had been cut up and buried.

The less damaged Catalina was one of thirty one PBY-5As assigned to the USAAF as a OA-10-CO Catalina.

REFERENCES

"OA-10-CO Catalina Serial Number 43-47960" - Pacific Wrecks

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Brian Thompson (Wagga Wagga) and Mark DeLuca (Wagga Wagga) for their assistance with this home page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 10 May 2001

This page last updated 28 September 2021