22 August 1944 - Crash of a Norseman into the sea just south of Boigu Island, about 180 miles NNW of Higgins airfield, QLD

CRASH OF A NORSEMAN
INTO THE SEA SOUTH OF BOIGU ISLAND
ABOUT 180 MILES NNW OF HIGGINS AIRFIELD, QLD
ON 22 AUGUST 1944

On 22 August 1944, RAAF Norseman A71-1 of 5 Communication Unit, Townsville, made a force landing into the sea about 8 miles south of Boigu Island about 180 miles NNW of Higgins Field during a flight from Higgins Airfield to Merauke. There were two crew members on the Norseman and four members of 1 Repair and Salvage Unit RAAF, Higgins Airfield, on board the Norseman. F/Sgt Victor Robinson (33134) advised in the Court of Inquiry that they left Higgins Airfield at about 10am and the pilot flew at 1,000 feet at a speed of 120 mph. At 10:59am the engine cut out suddenly about 10 mile south of Boigu Island and the aircraft began to lose height rapidly.

The pilot force landed in the sea about 8 miles south of Boigu Island and the aircraft turned upside down, F/Sgt Robinson struggled to the escape hatch and LAC Hart assisted him to get clear. They both then assisted LAC Tomasetti and LAC Searle to get clear. Robinson stated that the pilot Frank Rossiter and Fitter John Dunn had managed to get out through the front door. When Robinson had kicked himself free of his boots and some of his clothing, the pilot who had appeared to swim away from the aircraft a short way, called out once for help, and then sank below the waves. Robinson never saw him again. They were all wearing Mae Wests though the pilot's Mae West did not appear to be inflated.

They managed to retrieve a rubber dinghy from the aircraft but were unable to inflate it as the gas cylinder could not be found, so they let it drift away. The remains of the aircraft floated until about 2pm but then started to settle very quickly. They then attempted to swim to shore. They became separated by the waves and the currents. The last Robinson saw of the others, they all appeared to be making good progress, including LAC Searle, who had told them he was a non swimmer.

Robinson reached Boigu Island at about 2:30am the following day. He made contact with LAC Tomasetti at about 3:30am and LAC Hart at daylight on 23 August. They ran into some native fishermen who took them to a VDC Detachment on Boigu Island. Although there was no fire, they all suffered skin burns due to petrol in the water.

The other three members of 1 Repair and Salvage Unit spent 15 hours in the sea before they were rescued:-

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