Luganville - Luganville

On April 6, 1944 at 12:27 PM, Luganville - Luganville experienced a crash involving Lockheed PV-1 Ventura, operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF, with the event recorded near Luganville All Vanuatu.

The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

7 people were known to be on board, 7 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 7, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The crew was engaged in a bombing exercise over the Palikulo Bay, off Luganville. The twin engine aircraft left Luganville Airport in the morning, and while performing a turn, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that overturned and dove into the sea few yards off shore. All seven occupants were killed. Crew (9th Squadron): F/L Gordon McLachlan, F/L Bernard O'Fagan, F/O Maxwell Harwood, F/O Lionel Wood, P/O Augustine Thurston, Lt R. Fresb, A. Stinson, air gunner.

Aircraft reference details include registration NZ4538, MSN 5740.