CRASH OF A VENTURA
INTO THE SEA OF BRENNER ISLAND,
NEAR GOVE, NT
ON 27 JANUARY 1945

visits since 16 December 2000

On 27 January 1945, RAAF Ventura, A59-56, ex Bu. 34754, c/n 5644, of 13 Squadron RAAF, crashed into the sea and was destroyed off Brenner Island, near Gove in the Northern Territory. The aircraft had been taking part in a gunnery exercise. A glassy sea caused the pilot to misjudge his height. A Catalina from No. 42 Squadron RAAF, located three survivors as follows:-

F/O P.W. Clarkson (pilot)
W/O G.R. Murdoch
W/O G.F. Cathro

They were then taken back to Melville Bay by a Crash Launch.

Those killed were:-

Flt. Lt. E.L. Calder
W/O E.C. Peacock
F/Sgt L.H. Ames

The pilot F/O P.W. Clarkson eventually died from his injuries the following day - 28 January 1945.

Refer RAAF Accident Report No: 514 of 1944/45

This aircraft was originally received by the RAAF at 2AD on 21 September 1943. It was then received into 13 Squadron RAAF and given the Code SF-T on 1 October 1943. It was finally "Written off Strength" on 18 February 1945.

REFERENCE BOOKS

"Lockheed Ventura in Australia : Deliveries - Uses - Fates"
Information compiled by Bert Cookson, Geoff Goodall and others
and edited for Newsletter by John Hopton.

Heaps of WW2 books available at Amazon.com

This page first produced 29 July 1999

This page last updated 30 January 2003