Fenton - Fenton

The crew was on his way to attack Japanese positions. While overflying the Sawoe Sea at low height, the heavy bomber was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. 9 crew members were killed while two others were injured. Crew (24th Squadron): F/Lt Eric V. Ford, pilot, W/O C. G Vickers, copilot, F/Lt L. D. Crowther, navigator, Sgt W. W. Sayer, flight engineer, F/Lt W. Laing, bombadier, F/O R. T. Jordon, wireless operator and air gunner, W/O A. N. Collins, wireless operator and air gunner, F/Sgt K. J. White, air gunner, F/Sgt L. Raine, air gunner, F/Sgt J. M. Waddell, air gunner, F/Sgt L. Faichnie, air gunner.

Flight / Schedule

Fenton - Fenton

Registration

A72-77

Date

April 6, 1945 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Bombing

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Crash Location

Sawoe Sea All Indonesia

Region

Asia • Indonesia

Crash Cause

Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Narrative Report

On April 6, 1945 at 12:00 AM, Fenton - Fenton experienced a crash involving Consolidated B-24 Liberator, operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF, with the event recorded near Sawoe Sea All Indonesia.

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

11 people were known to be on board, 9 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 81.8%.

Crew on board: 11, crew fatalities: 9, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. The crew was on his way to attack Japanese positions. While overflying the Sawoe Sea at low height, the heavy bomber was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. 9 crew members were killed while two others were injured. Crew (24th Squadron): F/Lt Eric V. Ford, pilot, W/O C. G Vickers, copilot, F/Lt L. D. Crowther, navigator, Sgt W. W. Sayer, flight engineer, F/Lt W. Laing, bombadier, F/O R. T. Jordon, wireless operator and air gunner, W/O A. N. Collins, wireless operator and air gunner, F/Sgt K. J. White, air gunner, F/Sgt L. Raine, air gunner, F/Sgt J. M. Waddell, air gunner, F/Sgt L. Faichnie, air gunner.

Aircraft reference details include registration A72-77.

Fatalities

Total

9

Crew

9

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The crew was on his way to attack Japanese positions. While overflying the Sawoe Sea at low height, the heavy bomber was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. 9 crew members were killed while two others were injured. Crew (24th Squadron): F/Lt Eric V. Ford, pilot, W/O C. G Vickers, copilot, F/Lt L. D. Crowther, navigator, Sgt W. W. Sayer, flight engineer, F/Lt W. Laing, bombadier, F/O R. T. Jordon, wireless operator and air gunner, W/O A. N. Collins, wireless operator and air gunner, F/Sgt K. J. White, air gunner, F/Sgt L. Raine, air gunner, F/Sgt J. M. Waddell, air gunner, F/Sgt L. Faichnie, air gunner.

Cause: Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

11

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

2

Fatality Rate

81.8%

Known people on board: 11

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Fenton - Fenton

Flight Type

Bombing

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Region / Country

Asia • Indonesia

Aircraft Details

Registration

A72-77