B-17C Memorial 

Bakers Creek, Australia

This is the memorial in  Bakers Creek Australia dedicated to 40 Americans killed in a crash of a converted B-17.  The crash occurred at Bakers Creek on 14 June, 1943.  On that day a United States Army Air Force B-17C Flying Fortress, tail number 40-2072 identified by the Australian radio call sign VHCBA crashed with the loss of 40 American lives at Bakers Creek, six kilometers to the south of Mackay airport, about one kilometer North of the Bakers Creek Memorial.  It was Australia's worst aircraft accident with little notice of it outside of the local area.  The aircraft had six crew members and 35 GIs.  One person survived the crash.  The B-17 was a damaged bomber which had been converted into a cargo airship.  The Flying Fortress was operated by the 46th Transport Carrier Squadron, 317th Troop Carrier Group of the 5th Air Force, United States Army Air Force.  It crashed soon after take-off at about 0600 hours as it was returning to New Guinea with American servicemen who had been on leave in Mackay.  The memorial was established in 1992 and each year they have a parade and memorial to the Americans who died there.  Usually a USN ship is in the area and will participate in the ceremony.  The memorial uses a C-47 propeller which at the time had been used by versions of both the B-17 and C-47 aircraft.