RAAF Consolidated B-24 Liberator A72-88 S/n 44-41460 Model B-24L-5-CO Served with 7 OTU. Served with 24 Sqn. Crashed 3
miles west of Fenton 3 February 1945. Returning to Fenton
airstrip, N.T. late in the evening from an attack on Japanese shipping the Liberator, captained by Flt/Lt Cambridge, appeared to be unable to locate the
airstrip lighted by flares along the side of the strip. "Weather conditions were hazy and visibility about one mile. On the downwind leg of the circuit the captain was unable to see the flarepath. On turning into the wind the flarepath was not visible above 700 feet. The aircraft was then
well to the left of the strip and in communication with the flying control officer in the tower who advised the captain that he was west of the strip. The aircraft acknowledged the message and indicated that another circuit would be made. The undercarriage was then retracted on orders from the captain. Without warning the aircraft swung violently to port. Flt/Lt Cambridge endeavoured to correct this. He noticed then that the fuel pressure of numbers 1, 2 and 3 motors had dropped to zero and the fuel pressure in number 4 motor was fluctuating. Power was increased on number 4 motor in an endeavour to maintain height. It was impossible to keep the aircraft straight and it was losing height rapidly. It was then about 200 feet. The captain switched to intercommunication and warned the crew that a crash landing was imminent. The wheels were still fully retracted and 20 degrees flaps were down.
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Headlights were switched on. The aircraft crashed through trees and landed on an even keel. The trees helped to retard speed and the final impact was not very severe. Fire broke out in the nose and under the flight deck, presumably caused by the auxiliary power units smashing on impact. Sgt Francis had his foot jam(m)ed in the waist (gunner's area). He was freed eventually by Flg/Off Coward and Plt/Off Rhodes. The aircraft was
well ablaze now. Plt/Off Rhodes carried out Sgt
Jennings, dangerously injured, to safety. Flt/Lt Scanlon, also dangerously injured, had managed to throw himself out of the aircraft and was carried to safety by Flt/Lt Cambridge and W/Off Crawford. Flg/Off Coward was slightly injured. Flt/Lt Parkinson and Flg/Off Pitt were missing from the muster. These officers were stationed under the flight deck and it was evident that they were killed. Subsequently their remains were recovered. The balance of the crew were not injured except for minor lacerations, bruises and abrasions. The crash took place at about 2355 hours. Half to three quarters of an hour later a Tiger Moth from 21Sqn helped guide ground parties to the scene of the smash, some two
miles from the strip through roadless, timbered boggy country." The very next day saw the Squadron bury the two crew members at the
Adelaide River
Cemetery. They died together and are side by side in the
Cemetery.
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Location of the
crash site is S13 38 01.3 E131 18 09.0 if anyone does visit the site please be aware when crossing Fenton
Airstrip. stop and
check to see if any aircraft are approaching, My friend that owns a
Jabiru 120 picked me up at our Mt Bundy strip and went for a flight to Fenton and landed there a couple of weeks ago, the strip does get used.
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