A16-233

On September 8, 1943 at 12:00 AM, A16-233 experienced a crash involving Lockheed L-414 Hudson, operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF, with the event recorded near Tanimbar Island Maluku.

The flight was categorized as survey / patrol / reconnaissance and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

5 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 60.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. The aircraft was completing a maritime patrol flight off Indonesia on behalf of the 2nd Squadron. En route, while attacking the Japanese ship christened 'Sugi Maru', the twin engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea some 20 miles north of the Tanimbar Island. Three crew were killed instantly while two others were rescued and taken PoW. Both were executed on October 31. Crew (2nd Squadron): F/Lt L. A. Martin, † F/O Marcus C. Wettenhall, † F/Sgt N. A. Graham, F/O M. H. Williams, † F/Sgt William Robinson Boanas.

Aircraft reference details include registration A16-233, MSN 414-6483, year of manufacture 1942.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -6.0139°, 132.4381°.