Narrative:
The C-53 transport plane of the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron was returning from Java, Indonesia and found that Darwin, Australia was closed in. It turned back to Bathurst Island, 60 miles north of Darwin, where it landed on an emergency airfield for light aircraft. While landing in a crosswind, the plane damaged its left wing tip and aileron, and before repairs could be carried out, a Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero destroyed the aircraft on the ground on 19 February 1942.
It was then stripped and the remains were pushed off a cliff onto the shore of Apsley Strait.
» The Douglas DC-1/DC-2/DC-3 - the first seventy years / J.M. Gradidge
| Status: | |
| Date: | Wednesday 4 February 1942 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-53-DO (DC-3) |
| Operator: | United States Army Air Force - USAAF |
| Registration: | 41-20051 |
| MSN: | 4821 |
| First flight: | 1941 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Bathurst Island, NT ( Australia)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | ? |
| Darwin RAAF Station, NT (DRW/YPDN), Australia |
The C-53 transport plane of the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron was returning from Java, Indonesia and found that Darwin, Australia was closed in. It turned back to Bathurst Island, 60 miles north of Darwin, where it landed on an emergency airfield for light aircraft. While landing in a crosswind, the plane damaged its left wing tip and aileron, and before repairs could be carried out, a Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero destroyed the aircraft on the ground on 19 February 1942.
It was then stripped and the remains were pushed off a cliff onto the shore of Apsley Strait.
Sources:
» Australia @ War (ozatwar.com)» The Douglas DC-1/DC-2/DC-3 - the first seventy years / J.M. Gradidge
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