CRASH OF A BOOMERANG
AT GUILDFORD AIRFIELD, WA
ON 2 OCTOBER 1943

visits since 13 April 2001

Boomerang A46-22 of 85 Squadron RAAF crashed at Guildford airfield in Western Australia on 2 October 1943 killing its pilot Archie McDonald. There was a structural failure in the tailplane of the Boomerang. The aircraft hit the ground near the airfield and was totally destroyed by fire. Many 85 Squadron members witnessed this crash while they were at morning parade.

The hinges of the control surfaces of all Boomerangs were subsequently inspected and some cracks were found through the rivet holes.

Archie McDonald was buried on 4 October 1943.

In Memory of

ARCHIE HAROLD DUNCAN McDONALD

Flight Sergeant (420031)
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on Saturday, 2nd October 1943. Age 20.

Son of George Elliott McDonald and Helena Victoria McDonald, of Chipping Norton, New South Wales.

Cemetery: PERTH WAR CEMETERY AND ANNEX, Western Australia, Australia
Grave Reference/Panel Number: H.C.4.

NOTE:- Alan Mitchell's book, "The Flying Inventor" stated that this crash occurred on 1 October 1943.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Andrew Turner for his help with the information on this crash.

REFERENCE BOOKS

"The Flying Inventor"
By Alan Mitchell

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

Heaps of WW2 books available at Amazon.com

This page first produced 13 April 2001

This page last updated 24 September 2003