Crash of a B-17 Flying Fortress somewhere west of Paluma, Queensland during the Battle of the Coral Sea

CRASH OF A B-17 FLYING FORTRESS
SOMEWHERE WEST OF PALUMA, QLD
DURING THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA

visits since 13 June 2004

During the Battle of the Coral Sea between 4 - 8 May 1942, the US radar station at Paluma manned by the 565th Signal Battalion tracked a target aircraft early one afternoon coming in from the ocean and crossing the coast about 30 miles north of Paluma. Later that night a few trucks stopped at their camp at Paluma. They were carrying the crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress that had crashed somewhere to the west of Paluma. They fed the crew and left for Townsville accompanied by the 565th's doctor. The B-17 had been involved in operations to do with the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Is it possible that this was the same crash as a B-17 Flying Fortress that crashed at a location 3 miles SE of Blue Range Cattle Station (19° 9' 42" South, 145° 25' 6" East) in Queensland, or 6 miles SE of Christmas Creek 19° 5' 53" South, 145° 21' 5" East, and 5 miles north of Clarke River Telegraph Station some time before March 1944?

REFERENCE BOOKS

"Paluma The First Eighty Years 1870s-1950s
by Linda Venn

Can anyone confirm the date of this crash
and tail No. of this aircraft?

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