22 February 1943 - Forced landing of a Beaufort on the east coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria

FORCED LANDING OF A BEAUFORT
ON EAST COAST OF THE GULF OF CARPENTARIA, QLD
ON 22 FEBRUARY 1943

At about 12:10 hrs on 22 February 1943, RAAF Beaufort A9-157 "Winnie the Pooh" made a forced landing due to bad weather on the east coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria near Janie Creek just south of Mapoon Mission Station. Though the aircraft had landed safely, it was sitting in saltwater belly deep at high tide for at least 36 hours.

12 Repair and Salvage Unit RAAF was despatched to recover the aircraft. On 30 March 1943 they reported that 150 mission personnel and five horses were used to tow the Beaufort 8 miles to Mapoon Mission Station, where it was dismantled and transported to Horn island in the Mission's two luggers before being shipped to Townsville on MV Wanaka on 16 April 1943.

The crew of A9-157 was as follows:-