ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 265775
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Friday 2 April 1943 |
| Time: | 08:25 |
| Type: |  Bristol Beaufighter Mk 21 |
| Owner/operator: | Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) |
| Registration: | A19-124 |
| MSN: | (ex.T5337) |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Other fatalities: | 102 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | 480 miles southeast of Bermuda at position 28.05N, 57.30W. -
 Atlantic Ocean
|
| Phase: | Standing |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Liverpol (UK) |
| Sydney (Aust.) |
Beaufighter Mk.VIc A19-123 (ex.T5337) RAAF Lost at Sea 02/04/43
Beaufighter JL839, JL838, JL837, T5337 intended as A19-121, A19-122, A19-123, A19-124, respectively, lost at sea en route (along with 10 Ansons) on SS Melbourne Star, 2 April 1943
M.V. Melbourne Star
She was on a voyage from Liverpool and the Clyde to Cristobal, Panama and Australia with 8,285 tons of Government stores and general cargo, including torpedoes and ammunition.
At 08:23 hrs on 2 April 1943 the unescorted Melbourne Star (Master James Bennett Hall) was hit by three of four torpedoes from U-129 about 480 miles southeast of Bermuda at position 28.05N, 57.30W. The ship blew up and sank in less than 2 minutes. Only eleven survivors managed to rescue themselves on two Carley floats and were questioned by the Germans, who offered no assistance.
The master, 70 crew members, eleven gunners and 31 passengers were lost.
Four crewmen (Greaser William Best, Greaser William Burns, Ordinary Seaman Ronald Nunn and Able Seaman Leonard White) in the second raft drifted for 38 days until they were rescued by a Catalina aircraft (VP-63 USN/P-6, pilot 1stLt Rex Knorr) about 250 miles from its base on Bermuda.
Sources:
http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a19.htm
https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/2841.html
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-Jul-2021 12:40 | Nepa | Added [Operator] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation