June 2021 Outlook Newsletter – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

1942 Two USAAF Bell P-400 Airacobra aircraft crashed in Queensland in separate incidents on 15 July 1942. On the morning of 15 July 1942, 2nd Lieutenant Tevis C. Ferguson (0431958) of the 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, USAAF, based at Petrie Airfield, crashed into Moreton Bay after misjuding his altitude. He had made several passes over the RAAF station at Sandgate. He was killed when his left wing clipped the water causing his aircraft to crash. Then at about 4:00pm a P-400 aircraft piloted by 1st Lt. Joseph P. Cole (0396106) also of the 80th Fighter Squadron of the 8th Fighter Group, USAAF, based at Petrie Airfield, crashed into Moreton Bay in front of the RAAF Station at Sandgate, less than half a mile from where Ferguson had crashed in the morning. Cole was on a practice alert mission at the time. Source: Australia @ War website

1976 Beechcraft 36 Bonanza VH-WLP operated by North Queensland Aerial Charter and Training Pty Ltd crashed 12km west of Gamboola Station, QLD on 15 July 1976. On the day of the accident the pilot commenced operations in VH-WLP at about 0630 hours and completed two flights from Mareeba to Kowanyama and return. He then refuelled the aircraft, probably to capacity, adding 184 litres of fuel. The aircraft departed from Mareeba bound for Dunbar at 1430 hours. No passengers or freight were carried and it was intended to uplift five passengers at Dunbar for return to Mareeba. Weather conditions over the route were fine. At 1513 hours the pilot established high frequency radio communications with Weipa Flight Service Unit and reported that his position at 1510 hours was abeam Gamboola, altitude below 5000 feet and estimated arrival time at Dunbar was 1539 hours. Radio communications in the area were adversely affected by ionospheric conditions. At 1520 hours the pilot advised 'returning to Gamboola, estimating Gamboola three zero, have a suspected broken exhaust pipe'. Following a request from Weipa he advised that 'operations normal this time' and 'suspect that I have a broken exhaust pipe by vibration and engine no other indications.' The next communication from the pilot was at 1525 hours when he broadcast 'mayday mayday mayday, whisky lima papa, five miles closing down engine failure partial engine failure.' At 1526 hours the last transmission received from the aircraft was 'whisky lima papa I'm ah all but there to Gamboola five miles short I'm going to have to put down.' The aircraft struck the ground in a steep right wing down, nose down attitude and was virtually destroyed by impact forces and fire. Wreckage of the aircraft was distributed over an area some 100 metres square. An extensive bush fire occurred in the area surrounding the wreckage. The terrain in which the accident occurred was relatively level and clear-, it was possible for a successful forced landing to be carried out in the area. A detailed examination of the wreckage was carried out but was severely restricted by the extent of destruction. Nevertheless it was established that, at impact, the flap actuators were in the retracted position and the landing gear was probably retracted. The left crankcase assembly of the engine had failed following progressive fatigue cracking adjacent to the No. 2 and No. 4 cylinder attachment stud holes and this resulted in a catastrophic break- up of the engine. There was 1 fatality. Source: ATSB