A72-61

On July 1, 1945 at 12:00 AM, A72-61 experienced a crash involving Consolidated B-24 Liberator, operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF, with the event recorded near Balikpapan East Kalimantan.

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

11 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 7 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 36.4%.

Crew on board: 11, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. While flying off Balikpapan, the heavy bomber was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire from a Navy ship. The aircraft went out of control and dove into the sea. Seven crew members were able to bail out and survived while four others were killed. Crew (21st Squadron): G/C McLean, † F/Lt Roy, † W/O Bardwell, † Sgt Martin, † F/Sgt A. J. Stuart 6.

Aircraft reference details include registration A72-61.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -1.2719°, 116.8062°.