CRASH OF A SHORT
EMPIRE FLYING BOAT
IN DARWIN HARBOUR, NT
ON 22 MARCH 1942
| visits since 5 February2002 |
QANTAS Short Empire flying boat, G-AEUF "Corinthian", crashed while alighting on Darwin Harbour on 22 March 1942 during a night flight from Karumba, in Queensland. It was on a flight from Brisbane to Darwin carrying members of the 102nd Coastal Artillery Battalion. The flying boat hit debris while landing and sunk. A Mr. Ambrose spent 5 months in hospital after this crash.
Two unnamed U.S. Service personnel of the 102nd Coastal Artillery Battalion were killed in this crash.
On 13 March 1942, the 102nd Coastal Artillery Battalion commenced a major air movement from Brisbane to Darwin and by 8 April 1942, 31 officers, and 560 enlisted men and 49 only .50" calibre machine guns, four units of fire and required field kitchen and necessary equipment had been flown to Darwin. This was the first large scale American airborne operation of the war and the first time an anti-aircraft unit had flown into combat. The planes were piloted by American, Australian and Dutch pilot using every available transport aircraft.
On 8 September 2004, Channel 9 in Darwin (NTD9) ran a news story regarding some Darwin High School students who have been diving in 30 metres of water on what they believe is the wreck of the "Corinthian".
The students' instructor Sasha Muller, said the 20 metre wreck of the fuselage was covered in phenomenal coral growth and is the same shape as the Corinthian. They alerted the harbour master of the wreck on the 8 September 2004. They expect to carry out a full survey of the wreck over the next few weeks. They are hoping to locate the wings and engines.
There are two files in the National Archives of Australia on "Corinthian". Does anyone have access to a copy of the first file?
| Title Loss of flying boat CORINTHIAN at Darwin |
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| Series
number MP151/1 |
Control
symbol 415/201/1808 |
Contents
date range 1942 - 1942 |
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| Access status Open |
Location Melbourne |
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| Title Movement of Empire Flying Boat, G-AEUF "Corinthian" |
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| Series number MP238/1 |
Control symbol 8/115/205 |
Contents date range 1942 - 1945 |
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| Access status Open |
Location Melbourne |
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I'd like to thank Silvano Jung for his assistance with this home page. I'd also like to thank Jonathon Uptin of NTD9 in Darwin for his assistance with this home page.
Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?
Does anyone know the names of the 2 persons killed?
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© Peter Dunn 2004 |
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This page first produced 5 February 2002
This page last updated 08 September 2004
AUSTRALIA
@ WAR
