CRASH OF AN AVRO ANSON
AT INDIAN HEAD, FRASER ISLAND, QLD
ON 7 NOVEMBER 1943

At approximately 1914 hours E.A.S.T. hours on 7 November 1943, Avron Anson DG-900 of "A" Flight of 71 Squadron RAAF based at Lowood Airfield, force landed on the beach near Indian Head on Fraser Island in Queensland.

Photo:- via Bruce McCallum

Avro Anson DG-900 on beach on Fraser Island

The Avro Anson was attempting to return to Lowood from an outer Anti-submarine Patrol over the sea. The aircraft struck a sudden and severe deterioration in weather conditions extending over a large area and running in approximately a NW - SE direction. The pilot attempted to go around the weather without success. The Air speed indicator and gyro instruments were functioning erratically, and visibility was extremely poor. As they had nearly exhausted their fuel, a forced landing was made on the beach.

The crew were as follows:-

F/Sgt Anthony Robert Stafford (413911) - Pilot
P/O Colin McCallum (425956) - Navigator "B"
Sgt. Ian McDonald Templeton (418710) - W.A.G.

71 Squadron RAAF Operations Record Book had the following entries for this incident:-

7/11/43
Anson aircraft DG.900 with F/S STAFFORD, A (Pilot) P/O McCALLUM (Nav "B") and SGT TEMPLETON, I. (W.A.G.) made forced landing on FRASER ISLAND.
Outer ant-submarine patrols were carried out as per Appendix "A".

9/11/43
Flying Officer F.W. DENNES, (Engineer Officer) and Flying Officer J.S. GRICE (Radar) departed LOWOOD to inspect crashed aircraft on FRASER ISLAND.

12/11/43
Crew of DG.900 returned to Unit.

Eastern Area Headquarters RAAF Operations Record Book had the following entry for this incident:-

LOW. 44/7 Outer anti-submarine patrol for Force "XZ" from 60 n. miles along route to dusk by 4 Ansons, the first airborne at 2300Z/6. The force was located at 0048Z/7 by the first detail which gave cover till 0150Z/7. The second detail did not contact till 0315Z/7 thus there was a break in patrol of one hour 25 mins. The third detail gave cover till approximately 0645Z/7 when the force was in the vicinity of destination but later crash-landed in an unknown position. The fourth detail was cancelled due to adverse weather. The force was thus without cover from 0150Z - 0315Z and from 0645Z to dusk. Further details re the crashed aeroplane are not known.  Patrol incomplete, negative enemy.

No 4 Volunteer Air Observer Corps RAAF (Townsville) had the following entry in their Operations Record Book as follows:-

ROCKHAMPTON 7/11
2155 hours. 21 O.B. rang regarding Anson which took off from Bundaberg (sic Lowood) last heard of over sea and at this time overdue. 2320 hours. Police Rockhampton received message from Mt. Larcom that distress signals from aircraft had been seen in direction of Cape Moreton. Contacted Bundaberg and was advised that Anson had crash landed on Fraser Island. Advised 21 OB.

Photo:- via Bruce McCallum

P/O Colin McCallum (425956)

Via Bruce McCallum

Telegram to Mrs. McCallum

Via Bruce McCallum

Good news for Mrs. McCallum

Via Bruce McCallum

P/O Colin McCallum's Log Book entry

F/Sgt Anthony Robert Stafford (413911) and his crew were involved in another accident in Avro Anson AX-619 on 14 November 1943.

NOTE:- A variety of different Time Zones have been used by the various RAAF units reporting on this incident. For example E.A.S.T. time and Z Time. I have used the times reported in their official reports.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Bruce McCallum for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 4 March 2022

This page last updated 05 March 2022