CRASH OF AN A-24 BANSHEE
NEAR REID RIVER AIRFIELD
NEAR TOWNSVILLE, QLD
ON 3 JANUARY 1943

On 3 January 1943, an A-24 Banshee from the 405th Bomb Squadron, 38th Bomb Group crashed at Reid River Airfield near Townsville in north Queensland killing the following occupants:-

Major Melville Offers O-23267
1st Lieutenant William Anthony Pappano O-421301

Photo:- Bob Livingstone Collection

Wreckage of the A-24 Banshee near Reid River Airfield

Photo:- Find a Grave

Major Melville Offers

Photo:- Find a Grave

1st Lt. William Anthony Pappano of
408th Bomb Squadron, 22nd Bomb Group

Major Melville Offers, Commanding Officer of the 405th Bomb Squadron, 38th Bomb Group, was visiting his previous unit, the 408th Bomb Squadron of the 22nd Bomb Group and offered to take 1st Lt. William Anthony Pappano for a flight. The 408th Squadron Officer, Lieutenant Norman Hall had initially been offered a flight but turned it down.

As the A-24 Banshee attempted a maximum performance take off, the aircraft suddenly stalled, causing it to nose into the ground. Major Offers was killed on impact, and 1st. Lt. Pappano died in the arms of Lt. Norman Hall.

They were both buried initially in the Townsville US Cemetery at Belgian Gardens on 4 January 1943. They were later reburied at the US Cemetery at Ipswich on 30 July 1945.

I was contacted by Ralph L. Michaelis on 11 January 2003, who told me his following memories of this tragic crash:-

I have just been web browsing and came across your request for info on the death of William Pappano, 408th Sq 22nd Bomb Gp.

I was a member of that Squadron at the time but was not present at Reid River when Pappano was killed. As I remember how the details were explained to me, it goes something like this: Captain Melville Offers was a member of the Squadron for a limited period and then transferred to another Group. His new Group had a single-engined Curtis training plane (designation not remembered but I think it was the trainer for the pre-war P-36). (Note:- It was actually an A-24 Banshee) Offers flew this two-seater to Reid River to see his old squadron mates. While there Pappano expressed a desire to ride in the trainer and Offers took him. While doing acrobatics in the Reid River vicinity the plane crashed and both Offers and Pappano were killed. I remember this because Offers owed me 50 Pounds (Aust) and of course I could never collect. I don't remember the date, but I suppose you have those details. I hope this information in helpful.

Happy New Year

Ralph L. Michaelis

REFERENCES

Find a Grave - 1st Lt. William Anthony Pappano

Find a Grave - Major Melville Offers

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Michael Musumeci and Bob Livingstone for their assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 6 August 2023

This page last updated 06 August 2023