PBY-5 CATALINA SANK
PERTH AREA, WA
ON 7 MARCH 1944

The War Diary for Patrol Squadron One Hundred and One had the following entry:-

WAR DIARY
For March 1944.

Douglas Campbell sent me this more detailed account of this incident involving PBY-5 Catalina Bu. No. 08134:-

On 7 March 1944 damage to this VP-101 PBY-5 occurred at Perth, Australia, during the process of taxiing from the ramp to a buoy, a distance of approximately 500 yards downwind. The pilot in charge of the plane, and crew of two qualified men, one in the tower, and one in the bow, left the ramp in a downwind position maintaining a course with 1000 to 1400 RPMs. Approximately 100 yards from the ramp the crewman in the tower first noticed water making way forward in the mechanic's compartment and left the tower to notify the pilot, who in turn gave orders to close all watertight doors. Having no verification of this source of water being shipped, the pilot decided to attempt beaching on the nearest point of land and proceeded to weather cock. Meanwhile the crewman from the tower went aft in an attempt to close #3 water tight door. Subsequent attempt to close #2 water tight door was likewise prevented. Shortly thereafter the pilot gave orders to abandon plane which was obviously beyond saving. All hands reached the beach without mishap. The Trouble Board stresses several pertinent factors in this accident. Initially, it is noted that only two men were on board and neither of these was in the waist to report readiness of subject aircraft. An inspection of the aircraft later showed tunnel hatch was not secure and was the direct result of the accident. The plane required a major overhaul due to its complete submersion in saltwater. The crew was unharmed: Pilot ENS W. L. Greager, USN; RM2c T. Walsh, USN; and AOM2c Paul E. Schilling, USN.

PBY-5 Catalina Bu. No. 08134 was involved in an earlier incident on 1 March 1944 when it collided with PBY-5 Catalina Bu. 08297 in the Perth area.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Douglas Campbell and Gordon Birkett for their assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 12 November 2023

This page last updated 13 November 2023