COPY: INSPECTOR’S. REF.
1859 - 21/6/43.
MACKAY
The Commissioner.
For your information.
The Police were the first to be advised and they took immediate action to have the Ambulance and Fire Brigades, Doctors, American Army Officers on the scene. The Police took all action necessary to assist in guarding the wreckage and dealing with the bodies, while they further assisted American Military Intelligence Officers in investigating the condition, and course of the machine, prior to the crash - the Allied Service men were appreciative of this assistance.
The Police assisted the American Provost Corps in guarding the wreckage until the afternoon of the 19th instant when, after a consultation with Lieutenant Hoffman who is in charge of the Provost Corps, they were withdrawn.
I interviewed Major Diller, who is in command of the Mackay area for the U.S. Army, and he informed me that he considered he may not be in order in supplying the names of those killed but if these names were required, an application could be made to American Headquarters.
There is no suggestion of sabotage or other subversive action.
I am submitting a copy of this report to the Coroner, Mr. H.L. Kingston.
J.J. OSBORNE
Inspector
21/6/43
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S/SGT. REF. 1656
MACKAY. Mackay District
Mackay Station,
16th June, 1943
Relative to:- Aeroplane Crash - Flying Fortress V.H.C.B.A.” at 6.3 a.m. on the 14th.June, 1943 at Baker’s Creek, via Mackay, in which forty (40) U.S. Service personnel were killed.
Sir/
We have to report that at 6.5 a.m. on the morning of Monday the 14th June, 1943, a telephone message was received at the Mackay Police Station by Sgt. 2/c D. Larkin, from Miss Joan Harris, of Harris’ Store, Baker’s Creek, via Mackay, to the effect that an aeroplane had just crashed in Harris’ Paddock nearby, and appeared to be on fire, as smoke was issuing from the direction in which the crash had occurred. Sgt. Larkin immediately advised Inspector Osborne, the Mackay Ambulance Brigade, Fire Brigade, and the American Red Cross authorities concerning the incident, and at 6.25 a.m. Inspector Osborne, Sgt. Larkin, Constable Matheson, and Dr. E. Chenoweth - Government Medial Officer) proceeded in the Police Patrol Car to the scene of the crash, arriving simultaneously with two ambulances from the Mackay Ambulance Brigade, a Fire Engine, and U.S. Army Ambulance cars; other vehicles, including crash gangs and transport trucks under the direction of the U.S. authorities, continued to arrive.
To come to the location of the wreck, which was situated five miles almost due south of the Mackay Airport, and about half a mile across country east of the Broadsound Road, it was necessary to pass through the property of Mr. Gordon Harris, of Baker’s Creek, into Bailey’s Paddock; the terrain is almost flat, composed of a black, heavy soil, and except for a slight muddy depression covered in places with a mangrove growth, is naturally clothed with grass, gums, ti-trees, and swamp oak. From observation of the location of the machine, a “Flying Fortress” four-engine Bomber type monoplane, had been flying immediately prior to the crash in an east by north direction; it first touched the trees - as evidenced by broken twigs and torn leaves on the tree-tops - at a distance of about 400 yards east from Broadsound Road, in Harris’ paddock. It brushed the tree-tops for some 300 yards, then suddenly, 80 yards from Bailey’s fence, tilted to its left side, shore through the trees at an angle of about 45 degrees - the broken trunks clearly indicating the fact and direction of the plane’s cant - and crashed to the ground, which it first contacted in Harris’ paddock ten yards from Bailey’s fence. A large portion of the right wing, cut off by a tree-trunk or branch, was lying about 40 yards to the right (facing east) of the swathe cut by the plane before it hit the ground, and some 50 yards inside Harris’ paddock from Bailey’s fence; another wing portion was similarly situated on the left side of the swathe. From the point of the plane’s contact with the ground to the termination of its disintegrated travel was a distance of approximately 200 yards, and the whole area was strewn with wreckage. One of the four three-bladed air-screws was embedded in the ground about ten feet from the fence, inside Bailey’s paddock; two more were lying close together eighty yards further on, and the remaining one distance forward another thirty yards. At the fence the path cleared through the trees by the crashing plane was some ten yards wide, but opened out fan-wise to a greatest width of between fifty and sixty yards. Evidences of fire appeared first about forty yards from the first point of ground contact; from there on the whole ground surface, torn tree-trunks, and trees lining the area were scorched and blackened by the blaze which ensued upon the ignition of the petrol load, which was sprayed from the fuel tanks when the main body of the plane drove along the ground. The fore portion of the plane, including the pilot’s and navigator’s compartments, was a twisted mass of wreckage, and, with one of the tyres, was burning fiercely upon our arrival; it had driven into the mangroves clothing the depression referred to above. About twenty feet of the tail portion had evidently snapped off the main body when the machine went to pieces, and speared forward on its own account; it was lying on the eastern bank of the depression, about fifteen feet to the right (facing east) of the fore-portion wreckage, and was the least damaged part of the plane; the blaze had not touched it, although an oil tank had been burst and lay alongside in a pool of its own oil. One of the engines had been thrown amongst the trees to the left, ten yards clear of the burnt area; the other three lay variously amongst the wreckage in the depression. Personal belongings of the plane’s occupants were scattered over the whole area, and much of these, in common with the major portion of the plane’s equipment, had been destroyed by fire. One of the fuel tanks had been thrown forward of the tail portion, and burst into flames some ten yards further on, where it burnt itself out; the right wheel was also thrown forward, and was located about twenty yards past the burning petrol tank, amongst the unburned trees and grass.
On the arrival of the Police Patrol Car at the scene, it was found that two occupants of the plane had survived the actual crash, and these were immediately attended to by Major Seigel, medical doctor attached to the Red Cross at Mackay. Arnold Radcliffe Bragg, a farm labourer of Baker’s Creek, stated when interviewed that he had watched the plane flying east after a left bank, and had noticed it disappear amongst the trees and subsequently burst into flames. He ran over immediately, and searched amongst the patches of blazing debris for possible survivors; the bodies on the western side of the depression were obviously past aid , but, on crossing the muddy depression through the crushed mangroves to where the tail portion was lying, he found two men still living, one with an evidently badly fractured skull and the other showing no indication of injury beyond a slight trickle of blood from the mouth. Bragg placed the former, who was breathing stertorously and with difficulty and remained unconscious, in a comfortable position; he then turned the other man, who was lying on his stomach, on to his back. As he did so, the latter opened his eyes; Bragg told him to lie still, and went to again assist the more seriously injured man. As he was doing so, he glanced up and saw that the other had risen to his feet and was staggering about, groaning. Bragg assisted him to a recumbent position, and had Mrs. Harris hold him thus until the Mackay ambulances and U.S. Army Ambulances arrived; Major Seigel attended to both of the injured men before they were removed, and they were conveyed without delay to the Mackay District Hospital. However, the more seriously injured man died en route, his injuries being of such a nature that Major Seigel, before he ordered his removal, did not consider that he had any chance of survival. The other man, with the exception of bruises and extreme shock, had sustained no apparent injury, and it is considered that he will recover. His fall was evidently cushioned by the bodies of the other men in the rear portion of the plane, all of whom were killed, and he was the only man left alive of the fortyone members of the crew and Army personnel on the machine when it left Mackay.
Ten bodies were found scattered on the western side of the depression; five more, charred and blackened, were taken from the fore-portion wreckage; the remaining twentysix, which included the two men still living at the arrival of the Police, were located amongst the crushed mangroves in the depression, on the small clear stretch of ground east of the depression, and amongst the trees where the forest again commenced on that side. Those dead were, generally speaking, mutilated and in many cases shattered and dismembered, limbs entrails, bones, and strips of flesh being strewn over the area affected. A number had been hurled through the air as the tail portion broke free, two bodies being found about fifty yards ahead of the furthest plane wreckage. The following men; - Colin Moody, Clifford Coombes, Arch Long, George Bradford, Arnold Radcliffe Bragg, and William Gorman - all farm labourers residing at Baker’s Creek, all arrived on the scene shortly after the crash, and, organised by Bragg, acted as voluntary bearers under the supervision of the Police and U.S. Authorities, locating the dead bodies and removing them to positions where they could be identified and conveyed to the Mackay District Hospital morgue. Un-authorised persons were prevented by the civilian Police and U.S. Military Police from approaching the wreck, a continuous guard of which has been maintained.
The U.S. Army authorities - Major Diller, Major Seigel, Captain Hood, and Lieutenant Neighbours - took charge of matters on their arrival, with the co-operation of the Mackay Police; a collection of the personal effects of the plane’s occupants was made by the U.S. military police, the bodies were identified against the official list of personnel, and these were conveyed to the Mackay District Hospital morgue in the U.S. Army ambulances, being subsequently flown to Townsville for burial.
No persons other than U.S. Army and Air Force personnel were killed, injured, or otherwise involved, in this occurrence.
The plane was a "Flying Fortress" V.H.C.B.A. (this being the registered identification of the particular machine); It was a "B.17.C" type, now obsolete, and the last of this model in the Southwest Pacific Area; it had been used for some considerable time as a transport plane, being classed as unfit for combat duty, and had been structurally converted for the purpose. It carried no armament of any description, and was fitted with four petrol tanks in the wings, these being filled prior to its take-off on this occasion with 1,077 American gallons of 100-octane aviation spirit. The safety margin of its carrying capacity was 17,000 lbs., and it took off on the 14th instant with a calculated load or 16,180 lbs. The crew consisted of six, and the machine carried also thirtyfive U.S. Army personnel, these last on the return trip to their battle stations at the termination of their ten days' furlough in Mackay at the American Red Cross. The projected flight was purely routine, in no way extraordinary in any respect; similar flights are being carried out daily on identical missions.
Lieutenant Neighbours, of the 317th Transport Service Group, U.S. Army, informed us that he is the officer in charge or the U.S. aviation organisation at the Mackay Airport and also chief mechanic. On the 19th April, 1943, this "Flying Fortress" was grounded at Mackay for the purpose of having new petrol tanks fitted; at the completion of this work, on the 12th June, 1943, it was tested in the usual manner by Lieutenant Neighbours and the now deceased pilot for a period of 2½ hours on the 13th instant, and, being passed as fit for service, was scheduled to take off from the Mackay Airport at 5.30 a.m. on the 14th instant on the trip referred to above. However, on this date Lieutenant Neighbours found that the weather report indicated a fog with a maximum ceiling of 250 feet extending within a radius of one mile from the airport. He thereupon did not permit the plane to take off from the strip until day-break. At 5.58 a.m. the weather report showed no alteration in atmospheric conditions, but, owing to the access of light he permitted the plane to leave, which it did along the east-to-west runaway. Lieutenant Neighbours, tracing the course of the plane by its lights, watched it rise to an estimated height of 200-250 feet; after travelling about four miles approximately due west it performed a left bank changing its line of flight towards the south. Straightening up, it then performed another left bank, levelled out, and Lieutenant Neighbours saw the machine, now distant some five miles in a direct line from the airport, disappear amongst some trees. A second later a great burst of flame shot into the air. He immediately presumed that the plane had crashed and caught fire, and, jumping into his "Jeep", drove out along the Broadsound Road towards the location of the blaze, arriving there at about 6.10 a.m. At the gate of Mr. Gordon Harris’ paddock he sent the "Jeep" back to the airport, and ran across the paddocks to the wreck, situated about half a mile from the main road. He there saw Bragg, Gorman, Gordon Harris and Mrs. Harris; the three men were searching amongst the burning debris and Mrs. Harris was supporting the head of the injured man who survived. Lieutenant Neighbours searched amongst the wreckage, but could find no survivors other than those pointed out to him by Bragg; when the Mackay Ambulance and Major Seigel came on the scene the latter gave an injection to the less seriously injured man, and had the two survivors removed to the Mackay District Hospital. Lieutenant Neighbours assisted in the recovery and identification of the bodies, and the subsequent work of the U.S. Army authorities in connection with the examination and salvage of the wreck.
Lieutenant Neighbours further stated that, although he could follow the flight or the plane by watching its lights, the visibility was not good owing to the fog which, in his opinion was lying close to the ground at the location of the crash. He considers that the accident was due to the pilot’s banking the plane at an insufficient altitude, the latter being possibly prevented by the fog from observing the nearness of the ground; the altimeter, at such a low level, would not be accurate enough to afford him this information, and he may have thought that the country over which he was flying was not clothed with trees, having just flown at the same altitude over cleared farm land. However. meeting the forest, the plane brushed the tops of the trees for about three hundred yards, until the right wing struck a high branch, and a portion of that wing - about twelve feet long - was torn cleanly off (this is the wing portion referred to previously as lying forty yards to the right of the plane’s path of travel, and in Harris’ paddock.) The machine then tilted to the left and plunged to the ground, shearing off the trees along the angle of its cant. Lieutenant Neighbours informed us that, as a matter of his factual observation, the personnel on the plane at the time of its departure were quite sober; the pilot had flown the same trip, in the same and other machines, on many occasions during the past three months, and in his opinion was a most competent pilot. He does not consider that the accident can be attributed to any mechanical fault in the plane, in the absence of any evidence to that affect, but that it was most probably due to the pilot's judgement of his altitude being upset by the difficulty in observing the ground set up by the fog.
Regarding the course of the plane from the Mackay Airport to where it crashed, the following Information was obtained from eyewitnesses resident in the locality:-
Richard Paul Treloar, of Nebo Road Mackay, who is employed as a slaughterman at Robinson’s Slaughter Yards, Dundula, near Baker’s Creek, stated that he commenced work at the yards at 4.30 a.m. At about 6 a.m. he saw a plane, at an estimated height of 150-200 feet, flying west from the direction of the Mackay Airport; it was carrying the usual red and green lights on the wing-tips, and, while he was watching it, extra white lights shedding a brilliant radiance were switched on. The plane passed over the slaughter yards, lightning them up, then banked to the left; it banked to the left again, completing sting a U-turn. Treloar continued to watch the machine, and saw it disappear amongst some trees near Baker's Creek. Almost immediately he saw a huge burst of flame, and, assuming that it was the plane, he telephoned the Mackay Police Station from the yards; owing to the congestion of the line, his message was not received until 6.10 a.m. Trealor saw nothing abnormal about the plane during its flight; there was no sign of fire, nor anything to cause him to think that it was in difficulty.
George Bradford, farm labourer at Dundula, stated that at about 6 a.m. he was coming from his house when he saw the plane passing over a cane paddock nearby, flying level at what he thought to be 150 feet; the ground was brightly illuminated by the lights it was carrying. The machine banked to the left, continuing in an easterly direction. Bradford heard a crash, and saw the blaze of the subsequent fire. He Immediately rode to the scene on his bicycle; an American car and several other men had already arrived, and he assisted in the search for and removal of the dead bodies.
Gordon Harris, store-keeper at Baker’s Creek, stated that at about 6 a.m. he was milking a cow in his backyard, when he saw a four-engined plane making a left bank towards his paddock on the eastern side of Broadsound Road, flying in an easterly direction, and - in his opinion - just above tree-top level. It straightened out, and disappeared among the trees; an instant later he heard a crashing of branches, and saw the blaze, the flames leaping above the trees. He had his daughter, Joan Harris, telephone the Mackay Police Station (her message was the first notification of the accident, received at 6.5 a.m.), and told her to stand on the road and direct the police, ambulance and other officials to the location of the crash. In company with his wife, Mrs. Gertrude Elizabeth Harris, he ran across the paddocks to the wreck and assisted Bragg and Gorman in their efforts to rescue possible survivors. Mrs. Harris nursed the conscious survivor until medical aid arrived, and they continued to render all possible assistance. Harris stated that during the flight of the plane he could see nothing to indicate that anything was out of order; it was not on fire in the air, and did not appear to be in difficulties.
William Gorman, farm labourer, who lives in Harris' paddock at Bakers’ Creek, was sleeping in his hut there some 400 yards from the scene of the crash. He did not hear the plane passing over, but was awakened by the crash, and, on looking out, saw the blaze, He ran across, met Bragg, and assisted in the search for survivors and later in the removal of bodies from the wreck.
Cyril Victor Goodwin, cane-farmer, residing at Sandy Creek, stated that at about 6 a.m. he was driving his Utility motor car along Broadsound road towards Mackay; when at Baker’s Creek he saw a large plane bank to its left and then fly in an easterly direction. The machine was very brightly lit, and as far as he could see, appeared to be quite in order. It was not on fire, the light proceeding from the illumination attachments on the plane, and was flying at a very low altitude. It passed over Harris’ paddock, and disappeared amongst the trees. Goodwin saw a great sudden glow of fire, and, thinking that it must have crashed and caught alight, he drove to Farrelly’s Dairy, and telephoned the Voluntary Air Observer’s Corps concerning the matter.
All other people in the surrounding district were interviewed, but no other useful information could be gained.
As regards the matter of the early morning fog, referred to by Lieutenant Neighbours as being probably responsible for a miscalculation of altitude on the part of the pilot, Harris, Gorman, Goodwin, Moodie, and other local residents stated that it was quite thick over the whole locality of Baker’s Creek, and did not disperse until about 7 a.m. At Dundula, two miles distant from the crash, the mist was somewhat higher, and round there and in the locality of the Airport would have approximately the 250 feet ceiling indicated by the U.S. Air Force weather report supplied to Lieutenant Neighbours. The fact of the fog’s having adversely affected the pilot’s visibility would be shown by Treloar’s statement that the machine’s landing lights were switched on over Robinson’s Slaughter Yards, no doubt in order to pierce this fog.
A number of U.S. Army aviation experts arrived subsequent to the accident, and examined the wreckage and location of the crash. Information has been received from the American authorities that it is considered by them that there is no suspicion or possibility of sabotage, the whole occurrence being, in their opinion, entirely accidental.
The paddock in which the plane terminated its crash is the property of Edward Thomas Bailey, of Nelson Street, Mackay, who is a carter employed by J. Michelmore & Co. Pty. Ltd., of River Street, Mackay. At the present time it is not being used for any purpose.
Constables Gilbert, Banks, Carrol, Clark, and Arbuthnot were also present, and assisted in the necessary work following the crash.
A.R. Gilbert.
Constable 3466.
R. Matheson.
Constable 3691.
The Inspector of Police,
MACKAY:
Submitted.
There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances in connection with this crash.
C. HOWIE.
Senr. Sergt. 1347. 19/6/43