Remembering the Crash of a USAF B-17C Flying Fortress at Bakers Creek near Mackay on 14 June 1943

During the Second World War, the United States Army Air Corps established rest and recreation facilities in Mackay. From the end of January 1943 until early 1944, thousands of United States servicemen were ferried almost daily from New Guinea to Mackay by air transport to spend around 10 days R&R. They were usually carried by two B-17 Flying Fortresses converted for transport duties and an LB-30 (civil transport version of the B-24 Liberator bomber), stationed in Mackay with the 46th Troop Carrier Squadron, whose parent Unit was stationed in Townsville, Queensland.

On Monday 14 June 1943, just before dawn, at about 6 a.m., Boeing B-17C, Serial/Tail Number 40-2072, known as "Miss Every Morning Fixin", took off from Mackay headed for Port Moresby. There were six crew and 35 passengers aboard. A few minutes after take-off, it crashed, at Bakers Creek, 8km South of Mackay, killing all but one of those on board.

The cause of the crash remains a mystery. The aircraft took off into fog and, soon after, made a turn at low altitude. The crash remains Australia's worst air disaster.

The sole survivor was Foye Kenneth Roberts who died at Wichita Falls, Texas on 4 February 2004.

Local residents gathered at the Bakers Creek Memorial site to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the crash in 2013, and to mark the occasion, a booklet titled 'Biosketches of the Fallen', has been published.

The memorial was constructed in Bakers Creek in 1981 consisting of two brick columns aligned northwards on which are mounted flag poles and two brass plaques facing eastwards. Between the columns is a large aircraft propeller of a type fitted to Douglas C-47/DC-3/Dakota airplanes that was supplied by the Royal Australian Air Force. The plaques describe the crash and list the men known to have perished as well as the sole survivor. Fixed above the propeller is a bronze model of a Flying Fortress aircraft that was added on 13 June 2003.

Another memorial located behind the Australian embassy in Washington D.C. commemorates the accident. Because embassies are considered foreign soil, the Bakers Creek Memorial Association petitioned American lawmakers to relocate the memorial. After several years of negotiation, a dedication ceremony took place 11 June 2009 at the memorial's new home just north-west of the Selfridge Gate in Fort Myer, Virginia.

More information can be found at Peter Dunn's Australia At War website (www.ozatwar.com).

P. Aviation (South Australia) Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-8YS Pops into Longreach Airport - Plus More!

On Sunday 1 June, and believed to be making its first visit into the region was P. Aviation (South Australia) Pilatus PC-24 jet VH-8YS.  It arrived into Longreach Airport from Albury and Bankstown and later departed to Darwin.

File photo

While Gulf Coast Aviation Cessna 206 VH-KQM landed at Emerald Airport from Vanrook Station near Normanton via and Hughenden and then departed to Charters Towers Aerodrome and then Mareeba.

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFC "Ambulance 634"

had a busy day of flying, calling into Mackay Airport from Townsville before then departing to Brisbane.  It then flew up to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and Cairns before returning to Townsville.

Of interest, over the previous couple of weeks since reporting, VH-OFC "Ambulance 634" has been all over CQ including making visits to Roma, Blackall, Longreach, Bundaberg and Rockhampton Airports.

Sistership VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" looks to have visited Emerald, Bundaberg and Rockhampton Airports over the last couple of weeks but now appears to be in the hangar at Brisbane.

And VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" hasn't paid CQ a visit and looks to have been used on some overseas medical retrieval flights.

Meanwhile, on Saturday 31 May, Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-FMZ flew down from Mareeba and Cairns to Hamilton Island Airport and then across to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport before returning North.

Victoria-based Pilatus PC-12/47E NGX VH-JMU flew up from Echuca and Latrobe Valley (yesterday) to Maitland, Emerald and then the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  It then flew down to Mackay Airport.

UPDATE!  On Friday 6 June, VH-JMU finally left Mackay Airport and returned to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour before flying down to the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

And Brisbane-based Piper PA-31-350 VH-RPV flew up from Archerfield to Rockhampton Airport and then the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour before the continuing up to Cairns.

Photo taken by Garry Wilkinson  ©

Machjet (Machjet International) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 Bizjet N605JL Spotted at Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 30 May, Machjet (Machjet International) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 bizjet N605JL was spotted parked at Mackay Airport.

It looked to have arrived the previous day from the Sunshine Coast via Brisbane as "Machflight 01" and then later on Friday, it returned to those places.

While Howton Aircraft (Newcastle) Beech 58 Baron VH-SNP passed through Emerald Airport while flying up from Cessnock and Armidale up to Cairns.

UPDATE!  On Monday 2 June, VH-SNP arrived into Longreach Airport from Townsville and Hughenden before then continuing South the next day.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-207 "Stallion 73" Completes Airwork at Emerald Airport Twice!

On Wednesday 28 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-207 as "Stallion 73" was spotted completing airwork at Emerald Airport.  It had flown up from RAAF Base Amberley and then continued up to Townsville.

Later, A41-207 "Stallion 73" flew back down from Townsville to complete more airwork at Emerald Airport, as well as Roma Airport, before then returning to Amberley.

Nice!

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©

ConocoPhillips Gulfstream G600 (GVII-G600) Bizjet N793CP Pops into Gladstone Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 26 May, the sleek ConocoPhillips Gulfstream G600 (GVII-G600) bizjet N793CP was noted visiting Gladstone Airport.

N793CP photographed at Brisbane over the weekend.

It arrived early from Brisbane and then returned to the capital late in the day.

While Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY was noted flying up from Melbourne (Essendon) to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour before then returning there via Ararat.

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

A Pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules Aircraft - A97-441 & A97-448 - Complete Airwork at CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Monday 26 May, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft were spotted and noted completing airwork at some Central Queensland Airports.

C-130Js A97-441 as "Trojan 52" and A97-448 as "Trojan 51" both flew down from Townsville to complete a missed approach each at Hamilton Island, Emerald and Charleville Airports before then continuing to land at RAAF Base Amberley. Later, they continued on to complete more airwork at Tamworth and then RAAF Base Richmond.

It appears that both Hercs - both of the RAAF's No. 37 Squadron medium tactical airlift squadron based at RAAF Base Richmond, in New South Wales - departed there last week and have complete a flight all over Australia to South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory before flying across to Townsville yesterday.

Photos taken by 'AC'  ©

Alliance Airlines / Airnorth (ex JetBlue Airways - USA) Embraer ERJ-190AR N236JB Arrives into Rockhampton Airport

On Sunday 25 May, Alliance Airlines / Airnorth (ex JetBlue Airways - USA) Embraer ERJ-190AR N236JB arrived into Rockhampton Airport at the end of a delivery flight as 'SXI2521' / "Southern Cross 2521".

It arrived from Brisbane having started its delivery flight at San Jose (Costa Rica) and flying via SanDiego, Hawaii and the Marshall Islands.

As shown, N236JB was delivered in full Airnorth livery and looks to be going to be placed on the Australian Aircraft register as VH-A2I - as shown on the front of the aircraft.

N236JB was promptly parked inside the Alliance Airlines hangar at Rockhampton Airport.

Photos taken by Don Williams and Evan Dougherty  ©

McDermott Aviation Group Transall C-160D Transport Aircraft VH-RPR at Old Station Airshow - Plus More!

On Saturday 24 May, and before we prepare our official Blog post on the Old Station Airshow, it was awesome to see McDermott Aviation Group Transall C-160D transport aircraft VH-RPR arrive into The Old Station Farm at Raglan from Scone in New South Wales.

The massive aircraft made a spectacular low pass over Old Station before coming back around and parking for the weekend.

UPDATE!  On Monday 26 May, VH-RPR departed the Old Station and returned to Scone - where the other two Transall C-160D aircraft - VH-TIT and VH-RFW - are all presented stored.

Stand-by for more from the Old Station Airshow!

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 24 May, Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-100 VH-QQI completed a sports charter into Rockhampton Airport from and back to Cairns as SKP841/2.

Brisbane-based Crockett Aviation Group Beech B200 King Air VH-FAQ as "Navair 173" landed at Bundaberg Airport from Archerfield and Brisbane.  It then departed back to Archerfield.

While the Queensland Government Airwing (State of Queensland) Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-SGQ, which had flown up to Emerald Airport from Brisbane yesterday, flew across to Alpha Aerodrome and later departed there back to Brisbane.

And Homada Pty Ltd Cessna 560XL Citation XLS bizjet VH-XCU flew up from Melbourne (Moorabbin) to Hamilton Island Airport before flying down to Melbourne (Essendon) and back to Moorabbin.

Photos taken by Jo AwBlake  ©

New Zealand-based American-registered Cessna T206H N63PH Pops into a Couple of CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Friday 23 May, New Zealand-based American-registered Cessna T206H N63PH was noted calling into a couple of Central Queensland Airports.  It looked to fly up from the Gold Coast to land at Gladstone Airport and then Hamilton Island Airport.  It looks to have arrived into the Gold Coast from New Zealand earlier in the week.

https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/

UPDATE!  On Monday 26 May, N63PH departed Hamilton Island Airport for Normanton.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 11 June, after completing a flight up to Darwin, N63PH returned to the region, landing at Longreach Airport from Mount Isa.  It then flew down to Roma Airport.  On Thursday 12 June, N63PH departed Roma Airport for the Gold Coast before eventually returning 'across the ditch'.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 23 May,  Townsville Airlines Beech 1900D VH-RUE arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and Townsville and then departed back to Cairns.

Torres Strait Air Britten-Norman BN-2B-20 Islander VH-BNC landed at Biloela / Thangool Airport from Charters Towers Aerodrome and then departed to the Sunshine Coast and Watts Bridge.  It had flown down from Horn Island yesterday. 

Machjet International Hawker Beechcraft (Beech) B200 King Airs VH-8UY as "Machflight 242" and VH-PUY as "Machflight 11" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Horn Island and are staying the night. 

UPDATE!  On Sunday 25 May, it appears that VH-PUY "Machflight 11" departed Rockhampton Airport to Horn Island and VH-8UY "Machflight 242" departed to Cairns. 

And finally, some notable General Aviation (GA) aircraft that landed at the Old Station Farm today for the fly-in and Airshow this weekend included:  Nanchang CJ-6A VH-XXB, Brisbane-based North American P51-D-30NT Mustang VH-FST, and the Paul Bennet Airshows contingent arrived led by Amateur-built Wolf Pitts Pro VH-PVB.

Volkswagen Air Service (Germany) Dassault Falcon 7X Bizjet D-AGBF Departs Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 22 May, Volkswagen Air Service (Germany) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet D-AGBF as BTX6F made a before dawn departure from Hamilton Island Airport for Darwin and then overseas.  As posted below, it had arrived into Hamo on Tuesday 20 May from overseas via Townsville.

And Mitchell Water Cessna 525 Citation M2 bizjet VH-WMY flew up from Melbourne (Essendon) to Ararat and then the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.  It then flew down to Chinchilla Aerodrome and back to Essendon. 

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 22 May, Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Beech B300 Super King Air 350i aircraft VH-8PD arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns, Townsville and Mackay Airport before it then departed to Brisbane.  It then flew up to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and back to Brisbane.

These Queensland Government Super King Air are definitely becoming familiar sights in Central Queensland with VH-8PF flying North via Rockhampton Airport yesterday.

Comet-registered Cessna 208B Grand Caravan VH-RTC hopped from Hedlow Airfield to Rockhampton Airport and then flew the FIFO to North Curtis Island along with Peace Aviation Beech A36 Bonanza VH-MMB which flew to North Curtis Island and back to Rockhampton Airport.  VH-RTC then returned to Hedlow. 

FKG Air (Redjet Aviation) Hawker Beechcraft B200GT VH-FKB visited Rolleston Aerodrome from Toowoomba.

And Brisbane-based Caboolture-based North American T-28B Trojan VH-RPX flew up from there to the Old Station Farm for the fly-in and Airshow this weekend.  Several other light General Aviation (GA) aircraft also landed there.

Plus Rockhampton Helicopters Robinson R44 Raven II VH-TBT also flew down to the Old Station Farm where it will operate joyflights over the weekend.

Finally, also on Thursday 22 May, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dassault Falcon 7X bizjet A56-003 as "Envoy 99" landed at Bundaberg Airport from Canberra and Tamworth and a bit later departed to Hamilton Island Airport.  It then flew up to Cairns and back down to Townsville. 

UPDATE!  On Friday 23 May, RAAF Falcon 7X A56-003 again as "Envoy 99" flew down from Townsville to complete a missed approach at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and then to land at Gladstone Airport. A bit later it departed to the Gold Coast and Roma Airport and then back to Canberra. 

Photo taken by Gerard Collins  ©