A Klausman – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

DerekB03/06/202306/06/2023

Aviation Heritage Vol. 54 No. 2 (June 2023) Contents Listing

The latest quarterly AHSA journal - Aviation Heritage - has recently been posted to members. The contents of all articles are listed below: Aviation...

1942 Boeing B-17F-5-BO Flying Fortress 41-24391 "Hoomalimali" operated by the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) crashed at Mareeba airfield, Queensland on 14 September 1942. The aircraft took off took off from Mareeba Airfield just before midnight, piloted by Captain Herschall R. Henson as one of nine B-17s on a flight bound for 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby to stage for a reconnaissance mission from the eastern tip of New Guinea to Rabaul then over the Solomon Sea and to attack shipping. During takeoff the aircraft caught fire and crashed about half a mile off the end of the runway. It burned for a short time then exploded, fully loaded with bombs and fuel, killing the entire crew. The noise of the explosion was heard as far away as Yungaburra and the shock wave affected homes in the town of Mareeba three and a half miles away. The crew of nine were as follows: Pilot Captain Herschall R. Henson, Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Francis W. Fritzmacher, Navigator 1st Lt. James Bastion, Bombardier TSgt John T. Doran, Engineer TSgt John A. Samara, Sgt Lawrence W. Donker, SSgt Louis N. Camp, Jr., Cpl Robert G. Case, and Pvt Jack C. Kaynor. Sources: aviation-safety.net website, Pacific Wrecks website

1945 Consolidated Liberator A72-313 operated by 99 Squadron RAAF crashed 5 miles from Amberley aerodrome on 14 September 1945. The pilot FLGOFF Pullin was being checked out in the B-24 by his Flight Commander, FLTLT Hendy, when it appeared on take off to have a runaway propeller. From the ground it appeared to everyone else that the problem was rectified satisfactorily and after completing a circuit of the airfield the pilot advised that he would be returning to land but kept losing height until the aircraft dived into the ground about 8 km from the airfield, bursting into flames and killing all on board. Those who died in the crash were FLTLT G.A. Hendy 401441 (pilot), FLGOFF R.F. Pullin (2nd pilot), FSGT V.J. Quinn (navigator), SGT Dureau (W/T operator), FLGOFF J.H. Mutton. Sources: ADF-Serials; aviation-safety.net website

1992 A leaked internal CAA document was reported on 14 September 1992 citing poor management, inadequate internal processes and external influences as rife, while major staff cuts and turnovers continued apace. Source: Sydney Morning Herald, 15 September 1992. via aph.gov.au website