Lae – Finschhafen – Jacquinot Bay – Rabaul

On November 15, 1945 at 09:20 AM, Lae – Finschhafen – Jacquinot Bay – Rabaul experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF, with the event recorded near Jacquinot Bay East New Britain.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

28 people were known to be on board, 28 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 25, passenger fatalities: 25, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft departed Jacquinot Bay Airstrip at 0900LT bound for Rabaul with Australian and Indian soldiers on board. About 20 minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of an unnamed mountain located in the region of the Wide Bay. The wreckage was found at 150 feet from the summit and all 28 occupants were killed. Crew (33rd Squadron): F/Lt Ron Alexander Hanrahan, pilot, F/Lt Grahame Patrick Lobwein, copilot, F/Sgt Douglas Albert Bruderlin, radio operator. Passengers: Sister Verdun Bernice Sheah, Cpl Hugh Cushing, Cpl Stanley William Bridge, LAC Maurice James Mills, LAC Norman Harold Blake, Seaman David Thomas Bristow, Seaman Edgar Murry Hancock, Lt John Lisle Honey, Lt Leonard Henry Beard, Lt Col Thomas Dennis Hannon, W/O Clive Frederick Martin, Maj Lionel Charles Saunders, Lt William Reaburn Grieve, Pvt Ronald Arthur Spencer Sepoy Lakhu Ram, Sepoy Shiv Singh, Cpl Dina Nath, Sepoy Jan Abdullah, Sepoy Chain Singh, Sgt Humir Singh, Sgt Chint Singh, 2nd Lt Abdul Ratif Sepoy Jogandel Singh, Cpl Shai Singh, Sepoy Chelu Rham.

Aircraft reference details include registration A65-54, MSN 13339, year of manufacture 1944.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -5.5706°, 151.4907°.