Forced landing of a Catalina in Camden Haven River, near Laurieton, New South Wales on 14 August 1944

FORCED LANDING OF A CATALINA
IN CAMDEN HAVEN RIVER, NEAR LAURIETON, NSW
ON 14 AUGUST 1944

On 14 August 1944, Bob Hope and his entourage of entertainers were onboard a US Navy PBY-5A Catalina flying boat, "Spare Gear", Bu No. 08032 of ComUtRonsSo (probably Utility Squadron 13 or VJ-13), returning to Sydney from Guam (via Brisbane) where they had been entertaining the troops. Other passengers included, Barney Dean (Bob Hope's writer), Tony Romano (guitarist), Jerry Colonna (comedian), Frances Langford (singer) and Patty Thomas (dancer).

Whilst Bob Hope was actually piloting the Catalina, (see YouTube link in References below) the aircraft experienced a failure of the port engine due to a broken fuel line and the pilot ordered his well known passenger to vacate the seat in the cockpit. The pilot ordered them to jettison their luggage to lighten the aircraft while he searched for a suitable landing spot. Among the baggage thrown out of the open hatches of the Catalina were the entertainer's wardrobes , 2 cases of cigarettes and 3 cases of whisky.

The Catalina skimmed down on the Camden Haven River near the small town of Laurieton which is located just over 25 kms SSW of Port Macquarie. It had landed in the river adjacent to the sharp bend in the road where the picnic area is located.

The pilot James Ferguson standing beside Jerry Colonna
(with moustache) with Bob Hope in the background

Photo: - via Gregory Ferguson

James Frank Ferguson

Photo: - via Gregory Ferguson

James Frank Ferguson in uniform

It was reported that prompt action by the Volunteer Air Observer Corps was of great assistance to the crew of the Catalina before they made their forced landing at Laurieton. Bob Hope later stopped at Taree on his trip south where he called in at the VAOC Control Room and thanked the personnel for their assistance. The aircraft was first reported in difficulties by the Chief Observer of the VAOC at Laurieton, Mrs. I. M. Griersen. The aircraft's pilot was later placed in touch with the American authorities in Sydney through the VAOC communication channels.

Mechanics repairing the faulty engine on the PBY. There is a number "7"
on the side of the aircraft and what appears to be the words "Spare Gear".

17 year old Ronald Glover was one of the first to row out to the Catalina and meet Bob Hope and the other stars. Ron was in Laurieton at the time recuperating from a bad illness.

Allan "Bunny" Wallace, a local fisherman, bought the passengers ashore in his small row boat. Apparently the pilot said to Allan "Say, buddy, is this Sydney?". Allan was not familiar with Hollywood stars, so showed little emotion when introduced to Bob Hope and the rest of the troupe.

The entertainers headed straight for the Post Office to send messages to relatives, friends, and their organisers that everything was alright. When Bob Hope announced "I'm Bob Hope, I want to send a telegram", the Postmaster Fred Plunkett, looked up and said "Young man, it's Monday, I'm much to busy for your jokes." Fred made up for his misdemeanour later on, by loaning Bob Hope the equivalent of $11 to pay for his hotel bills.

The passengers and crew were taken to a local hotel and Ronald Glover followed them and approached Bob Hope for an interview. This was granted and Ron rang the story through to the local paper.

Ron was invited onto the Catalina by the crew when the effort was made to drag it off the sand bank. Ron had already been a participant in the Air Training Corp and he was asked to hold the Catalina’s throttles during the tow. The film stars were not on board at the time.

The aircraft became stuck on a sand bar and was pulled free by a draft horse belonging to Mrs Joyce Secombe's two uncles. Some of the local fishermen reportedly dragged the estuary with their nets to see if they could locate any of the crates of whisky which were thrown from the Catalina before it force landed. None were found.

Ernie Setterfield has a different recollection of how the aircraft was removed from the sand bar. Ernie was there at the time and he remembers that the local people assisted by two log trucks helped to pull the aircraft off the sand bar. They had attached four ropes to the wings of the aircraft. Ernie's father had some input into transporting Bob Hope and Jerry Colonna to the dance that night as it was pouring rain. He also was involved in carting the aviation fuel from Taree in 44 gallon drums when the repairs had been completed on the aircraft.

Sixteen year old Heather Smith from Kendall was taken to Laurieton in a horse and sulky by her father Mac Smith. Heather met Bob Hope and was able to inspect the inside of the Catalina. She was able to walk right out to the Catalina as it was low tide.

The entertainers were persuaded by the locals at Laurieton to join them for an impromptu "party" at the School of Arts building. Just over 400 people attended this impromptu party! Bob Hope and Jerry Colonna danced to the Hokey Pokey with some of the local girls until about 4am. Apparently the town's Patriotic Fund reaped a surprise increase in funds. Bob Hope confirmed to reporters that he had learnt four new dances that night but could only remember one which he thought was called "Hop Scotch". Mrs. Illingworth, the Laurieton Police Sergeant's wife however said that the correct name for the dance was the "Hokey Pokey". Bob Hope signed more than 300 autograph books at the party.

The next day, the entertainers travelled southwards in a fleet of nine Army staff cars to Newcastle where they had lunch in the American Red Cross Centre before flying on to Sydney from a local airfield.

Some of the residents of Laurieton presented Bob Hope with a painting of Laurieton when he returned to Australia for a concert in 1955. In 1968 Bob Hope was still sending Christmas cards to Laurieton. He also managed to repay the money that he had borrowed from Fred Plunkett.

On 31 May 1968, Bob Hope sent a letter to Wauchope resident, Bob Marchment, confirming that Allan "Bunny" Wallace had indeed taken him ashore in his row boat in August 1944.

On 2 June 2011, I was contacted by Gregory Ferguson, son of the pilot James Frank Ferguson:-

NOTE:- After WWII Catalina "Spare Gear" spent time on US and French Aircraft Registers. Catalina "Spare Gear" was the third Catalina acquired by TRAPAS (Societe Francaise de Transports Aeriens du Pacifique Sud) at New Caledonia. It was purchased in 1948 from Hawaii where it had been NC49692 with Northern Pacific Aero Trading and Transportation Co, Honolulu. TRAPAS Captain Pommier made the delivery flight to New Caledonia, departing 13 July 1948 as a non-stop epic of 24 hrs 30 mins. It then served with TRAPAS two months later as F-BDRN and was called "Tahiti". TRAPAS sold F-BDRN in August 1951 to Civil Air Transport (CAT) at Taipei, Taiwan. F-BDRN left Noumea on 11 September 1951 on the ferry flight to SE Asia, where it became B-819 with CAT on various clandestine operations with Air America. It flew for the PERMESTA rebels against Sukarno on Sulawesi, Indonesia, as part of the Revolutionary Air Force (AUREV). On 13 May 1958 the Catalina was destroyed by AURI B-25 Mitchells and P-51 Mustangs at Manada-Mapanget Airport.

S. John Ross, the "Silhouette Man" at the various Shows, such as the Brisbane Exhibition (Ekka), around Australia was assigned to guard celebrities such as Bob Hope during WW2. It is unclear whether he may have been on this aircraft during this incident. Possibly not.

I'd like to thank Gregory Ferguson, son of James Frank Ferguson, for his assistance with this web page. James Ferguson was the pilot of the PBY.

I'd like to thank Peter Fenton and Mitch McKay for their assistance with this home page.

I'd also like to thank Wendy Glover, wife of Ronald Glover, for her assistance with this web page.

I'd also like to than Douglas Campbell, Mitch McKay and Ernest Setterfield for their assistance with this web page.

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