DITCHING OF A DOUGLAS C-50C (DC-3-392)
IN THE SEA BETWEEN TOWNSVILLE AND COOKTOWN
ON 12 NOVEMBER 1942

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On 12 November 1942, Douglas C-50C CD-3-392, VH-CDI, #41-7695, "The Apple Cart" of the 21 Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group ditched into the sea on a flight from Townsville to Cooktown. The crew took to a dinghy and were rescued approximately 18 hours later by a passing freighter. 1st Lt. Melvin C Lewis, S/Sgt Daniel J Murphy and two unidentified crew survived and were rescued by the freighter.

The aircraft had originally been ordered by Pennsylvania Central as NC25697 and was impressed on the production line by USAAF.  It was delivered to the USAAF as DC-3-391 on 22 July 1941.

The aircraft had been operated by RAAF for ADAT as VH-CDI and was eventually written off on 12 November 1942.

 

NOTE:- It is possible that this may be the same accident as a C-47 ditching into sea 30 miles from coast between Cooktown and Cairns in July 1942.

 

REFERENCE BOOKS

1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-6722 to 41-13296)
by Joe Baugher

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Gordon Birkett and Edward Rogers for their assistance with this web page.

 

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

 

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This page first produced 3 October 2013

This page last updated 02 February 2020