CRASH LANDING OF A BEAUFORT
AT CAIRNS AIRFIELD, NORTH QUEENSLAND
ON 21 DECEMBER 1942

On 21 December 1942, RAAF Beaufort A9-157 "Winnie the Pooh" of 100 Squadron RAAF, was on a travel flight from Townsville to Cairns when the aircraft overran the end of the runway at Cairns Airfield and sank into the mud and salt water. Damage to the aircraft included both main wheels and bent airscrew blades. There were no injuries to the crew who were as follows:-

F/Lt Clive "Bill" Sydney Hamblin (400) - pilot
F/O Ivan Morris (413003) - observer
Sgt Laurence James Webb (41136) - WAG
Sgt Frederick Charles Lauer (409151) - WAG

RAAF Beaufort A9-157 "Winnie the Pooh" was involved in a later forced landing on the east coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria on 22 February 1943.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Gordon Birkett 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 1 February 2026

This page last updated 01 February 2026