Crash of a P-40 Warhawk at Charleville Airfield, Charleville, Queensland, on 23 June 1942 in Australia during WW2

CRASH OF A P-40 WARHAWK
AT CHARLEVILLE AIRFIELD
CHARLEVILLE, QLD
ON 23 JUNE 1942
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

On 23 June 1942, a P-40 Warhawk piloted by Colonel Charles H. Kruse O-113113, crash landed at Charleville Airfield near the town of Charleville in western Queensland. Colonel Kruse was uninjured in this accident. Colonel Kruse was the Commanding Officer of the 45th Air Base Group at Charleville. Soon after taking off Col. Kruse heard a backfire in the engine. After checking his instruments he decided he had enough speed to make a turn. The cabin immediately filled with smoke and he could no longer see the instruments. He turned back towards the airfield to make an emergency landing. He then remembered that a number of men were working on the runway. He chose to head towards the trees rather than risk hitting the men on the ground.

A Queensland Police report from the local Inspector of Police to the Commissioner of Police dated 25 June 1942 is reproduced below:-

Queensland Police

Inspectors Office.

Charleville,                         June 25th 1942

CONFIDENTIAL

Sir,

I have the honour to report that yesterday the 24th, I interviewed Colonel KRUSE, Commanding Officer of the American Forces at Charleville, and informed him that a rumour was in circulation that an aeroplane flown by him had crashed on the Charleville Aerodrome and had been burnt. He informed me that the rumour was correct and that he had taken off from the Charleville Aerodrome in a plane, yesterday, the 23rd, Instant, and soon after he had risen in the air, he heard a back-fire; he immediately looked at some instrument in the plane and saw that he had enough pace up to make a turning. Immediately afterwards the cabin was filled with smoke and he could not see the instruments in the plane. He turned the plane round towards the aerodrome to land, when he remembered that a number of men were working on the runway; it was a choice of either hitting the men or the trees, and he chose the latter.

I would mention that I consider the Colonel to be an outstanding fine gentleman - apart from being an officer - and I congratulated him heartily upon his lucky escape from his damaged plane. I have not seen the plane.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient servant,

Inspector

The,
          Commissioner of Police,

                    BRISBANE.

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