21 November 1943 - Crash of a Beaufighter at Coomalie Creek, NT

RAAF Mark VIC Beaufighter, A19-82 (RAF Ser. No. EL260), of 31 Squadron RAAF, crashed on take off at Coomalie Creek airfield in the Northern Territory on 21 November 1943. Crew members were Reg "Killer" Kilpatrick and navigator Harold George Patrick Horton.

Beaufighter A19-82 had been delivered to the RAAF in December 1942. It was converted to components after this accident.

Subject:    Crash of Beaufighter at Coomallie Creek 25/2/43
Date:             Wed, 19 Jan 2000 07:37:43 +1100
From:           cchorton <horton@LendLeaseHHCR.big.net.au>

Have just received a copy of your article on the above crash from an acquaintance of mine. The navigator involved was my father Harold George Patrick Horton. The crash occurred on landing returning from a mission providing fighter cover for a convoy. The aircraft type was a Beaufighter A19-66. I am not quite sure of his rank at the time but he left the RAAF in late 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant.

He was involved in a further crash with his mate Reg "Killer" Kilpatrick on the 21/11/43 this one at take off. The aircraft type was a Beaufighter A19-82. His log book which I have the original of shows 31 Squadron and the mission was a "strike" which they never made. I know that he suffered some injury as a result of this accident including a broken nose and other injuries.

I hope the above is of assistance. If I can be of any further assistance my home email is rhorton@big.net.au

"Coomalie Charlie's Commandos - 31 Squadron RAAF"
"Beaufighters at Darwin 1942-43"
by Kenneth Neal McDonald, DFC

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