Crash of a C-39 north east of Alice Springs on 25 May 1942

CRASH OF A DOUGLAS C-39
NORTH EAST OF ALICE SPRINGS
ON 25 MAY 1942

visits since 22 May 2000

On 25 May 1942 (another source says the 23 May 1942), VH-CCA 2062 Douglas C-39-DO (DC-2-243), #38-505, of the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron of the 374th Transport Carrier Group crashed after takeoff north east of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory while on a combat mission. The aircraft was overloaded and was a complete loss.

All the crew were killed as follows:-

2nd Lt. Russell L. Callison
2nd Lt. William A. O'Neill
Pvt. Martin J. Law
Pvt. Rolfe M. Smith

A total of seven US personnel and two RAAF were killed in this crash . Another record show that a 2nd Lt. Aubrey Lawless Tobias (0-409780) from Brazos County, Texas was also killed in this crash. He was a passenger on this aircraft. He was a USAAF liaison officer to RAAF HQ at Batchelor at the time. Tobias's body was later reburied at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney, New South Wales (date unknown), before his body was returned to the States.

Terry Minchew has a copy of the special orders paper dated 14 April 1942 placing his uncle, 2nd Lt. Aubrey Lawless Tobias of 38th Infantry, at Base Section Number One, Birdum, Northern Territory, Australia on 10 January 1942.

Bob Livingstone provided the following history on this aircraft as follows:-

VHCCA 2062 Douglas C-39-DO (DC-2-243)

15/05/39    38-505 USAAC US$73,320.08;975hp R-1820-21

05/08/41    to PI

19/12/41    dep Nichols Field PI crewed Hoffman/Salvatore

22/12/41    arr Darwin

11/01/42    reported DES E/A Nichols Field

02/42        ATC AAF

21TS        "Anne"

06/03/42   Broome-Pearce

07/03/42   Pearce-Port Pirie

03/04/42   VHCCA

25/05/42   CR Alice Springs on t/o; overloaded (2762lb);

remains of wreck still buried there;

2/Lt. William A. O'Neill & 2/Lt.Russell L. Callison;

7 US personnel & 2 RAAF all killed

2nd Lt Russell Callison had been involved in an earlier crash of a Kittyhawk at Amberley on 30 January 1942.

American Battle Monuments Commission
Russell L. Callison
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # 0-403883
21st Transport Squadron, 22nd Air Base Group
Entered the Service from: Illinois
Died: 25-May-42
Buried at: Plot B Row 0 Grave 274
Honolulu Memorial
Honolulu, Hawaii
Awards:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Terry Minchew, Gordon Birkett and Bob Livingstone for their assistance with this web page.

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