Emirau - Rabaul

On June 9, 1945 at 12:00 AM, Emirau - Rabaul experienced a crash involving Lockheed PV-1 Ventura, operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF, with the event recorded near Lelet New Ireland.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 6, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The crew left Emirau Airport on a bombing mission to Rabaul. Following a uneventful mission and while returning to its base, the twin engine aircraft crashed in the Lelet Plateau. The wreckage was found in November 1945 only. All six crew members have been killed. Crew (8th Squadron): F/O Norman Benton, F/Sgt James Cunneen, F/Sgt Robert Buchanan, W/O Chris Jeffares, F/Sgt James Mallett, Sgt Norman Merfield.

Aircraft reference details include registration NZ4613, MSN 6268.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -3.3704°, 152.0220°.