Crash of a B-25 Mitchell into the sea about 5 miles north of Darwin Airfield, in the Northern Territory on 5 April 1943

CRASH OF A B-25 MITCHELL
IN SEA ABOUT 5 MILES NORTH OF DARWIN AIRFIELD, NT
ON 5 APRIL 1943

Three B-25 Mitchells (N5-130, N5-1 & N5-140) of 18 Squadron Netherlands East Indies Air Force NEIAF, took off from Darwin Airfield at 1915Z hours to carryout an armed reconnaissance of the north coast of Timor from Dilli along the coast to Baucau to locate Japanese shipping and in particular stationery ships at a possible rendezvous location. Each B-25 Mitchell carried 4 x 300 lb demolition bombs, fused instantaneous.

B-25 Mitchell N5-140 failed to join formation with the other two aircraft. After the other two B-25 Mitchells completed their mission, Lt. Winckel radioed Darwin to advise that the third B-25 had not arrived to take part in the operation. Based on information from Army authorities, B-25 Mitchell N5-140 was later found to have crashed into the sea about 5 miles north of Darwin Airfield about 800 metres offshore of Nightcliff after a possible engine failure. The crew of five were all killed.

CREW OF B-25 N5-140
Captain - Sgt. Major S.M. Tijmons
2nd Pilot - Sgt. Major van Bremen
Bombardier - Sgt George Bryanton Weller (406968 RAAF)
W/T Operator - Sgt. van Wylick
Top Turret Gunner - F/Sgt. Ronald James Hill (407768 RAAF)

Photo:- via Gosewinus F. van Oorschot