KEITH "BLUEY TRUSCOTT KILLED
IN THE CRASH OF A KITTYHAWK
IN EXMOUTH GULF, WA
ON 28 MARCH 1943

Kittyhawk

Squadron Leader Keith "Bluey" Truscott of 76 Squadron RAAF was killed on the 28 March 1943 when his Kittyhawk A29-150, hit the sea while passing below a Catalina while on escort duty. Truscott and Flying Officer Ian Louden were escorting a Catalina flying boat which was returning from a long range mission. Through sheer boredom, the two Kittyhawk pilots had decided to practice combat attacks on the Catalina. The Catalina had started an unnoticed slow descent towards the glassy waters of Exmouth Gulf.

"Bluey" Truscott in his Kittyhawk in New Guinea in 1942

"Bluey" Truscott made his final "attack" on the Catalina and rolled and passed under the Catalina. The glassy waters possibly caused him to misjudge the Catalina's closeness to the water and at 1735 hours on 28 March 1943, his Kittyhawk slammed into the sea. He was killed in the crash.

Photo:- via Tony Porter

Bardie Wawn DFC, Blue Truscott DFC & Bar, Peter Turnbull DFC

"Bluey" Truscott, 76 Squadron RAAF in his P-40E Kittyhawk A29-142 in New Guinea in 1942

"Bluey" Truscott crash lands his Kittyhawk
in Townsville in 1942

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Daniel Leahy and Clive Wawn (son of Bardie Wawn) for their assistance with this home page.

REFERENCE BOOK

"Truscott - The Diary of Australia's Secret Wartime Kimberley Airbase 1943-1946"
by John and Carol Beasy

Kittyhawk A29-150, AviationHeritage.org

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 27 March 2000

This page last updated 03 February 2020