USAAF Air Accident Port Pirie, Australia

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Anthony J. Mireles
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USAAF Air Accident Port Pirie, Australia

Post by Anthony J. Mireles »

Looking for information concerning an USAAF Airplane Accident that occurred at
Port Pirie, Australia, on February 19, 1942.
The pilot, 2Lt. Richard E. Pingree (O-421661) Ogden, Utah, was killed in the crash.
I think the pilot belonged to the 19th Pursuit Group.

I found some AAF documentation on the USAAF Aircraft Accident Microfilm reels,
but there is no official Accident Report, just a fact sheet with the above information.

Any help appreciated.

TonyM.

GordyB2
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Re: USAAF Air Accident Port Pirie, Australia

Post by GordyB2 »

Hi Tony,

Pingree was a member of B Flight 33rd Pursuit Squadron (Provisional) and was killed when flight testing his aircraft following engine problems. He crashed doing a stalled turn back to Port Pirie and crashed. P-40E supposedly beling Box number Black #180, though there's a picture of a Black #190 getting repaired there but that was supposed to be Borden's P-40E per records.

He and some 37 other P-40Es were being sent to Maylands Aerodrome to be transferred to the USS Langley. 32 were loaded, three left at Port Pirie, one crashed landed at Maylands (Joe Martin) and several dotted all over from Laverton backwards to Amberley

These ten B Flight P-40es were followed by A and B Flights of the 13th PS(Provisional). One of these P-40Es was marked on its cowl "Fumanchu" and would later become a RAAF A29 serialled Aircraft. 2nd Lt Paul Magre flew her but got sick at Laverton.

Have full listing of pilots of both units.

Bill Bartsch has completed the book on the subject

Best
Gordy
Attachments
P-40E 41-5398 #95 Oz at War.JPG
P-40E 41-5398 #95 Oz at War.JPG (33.41 KiB) Viewed 6251 times

GordyB2
1st Lieutenant
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:55 am

Re: USAAF Air Accident Port Pirie, Australia

Post by GordyB2 »

I added that profile since that particular aircraft made it onto the USS Langley.

But I'll extrapolate further details for you,..........................

On 11th February 1942, the Squadron Commanders (Captain Floyd Pell and 1st Lieutenant Boyd “Buzz” Wagner) of 33rd PS (Prov.) and the 13th PS (Prov) received orders to fly fifty P-40's across the continent to Maylands Airport, Perth.
There, they were to be towed along main road to Fremantle on the night of 21st/22nd February 1942 and loaded on the USS LANGLEY, which would then sail for Java.

The vanguard flight of fifteen was diverted at Port Pirie. Due to mechanical failures, only twelve went north to provide convoy fighter cover and the intended airfield defence at Koepang Timor, this group was "A" Flight 33rd PS(prov), under command of Maj Pell which ceased to exist following the air raid and aerial combaton the 19th February 1942 at Darwin RAAF.

The 33rd and the 13th PS (Prov)’s on loading came under command of 1st Lieutenant Gerald Keenan, Capt Pell’s second in command. 1st Lt Buzz Wagner was also ordered to remain in Australia and was attached thereafter, in charge of the 49th Pursuit Group’s pilot training program.
The three stranded 33rd PS (Prov) P-40Es that were left at Port Pirie to follow on later, 2nd Lt. Bryce Wilhite in #25, 2nd Lt. Jess R Dore in #179, and 2nd Lt. R E Pringree #180, were advised to continue on to Maylands for loading onto the USS Langley. 2nd Lt. Borden accompanied the balance of the 33rd PS (Prov) when it staged through Port Pirie on the 15th February 1942 to Maylands.
2nd Lt Jess R Dore, as part of Pell’s Flight, had been stranded with a flat rear tyre at Alice Springs on the 14th February 1942. Having missed the air raid at Darwin, was ordered to return to Port Pirie
However, 2nd Lt. R E Pringree, who had completed his repairs to his P-40E #180 on the 19/02/42, took the aircraft up for a test flight but unfortunately died when this aircraft crashed near the base.

The fifth and final Provisional Squadron, the 13th PS (Prov) commenced its Trans-Australian ferry flight.
The experience level of these pilots was at a lower level then those that were a part of the first 4 provisional squadrons as the pool of experienced pilots was drying up fast

But that is another story

Best
Gordy
Attachments
P-40E #180.jpg
P-40E #180.jpg (32.41 KiB) Viewed 6238 times

Anthony J. Mireles
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Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:26 pm
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Re: USAAF Air Accident Port Pirie, Australia

Post by Anthony J. Mireles »

Thanks for the information Gordy.

TonyM.

GordyB2
1st Lieutenant
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:55 am

Re: USAAF Air Accident Port Pirie, Australia

Post by GordyB2 »

What's surpising also is that I think that I have a pic of #190 and "maybe" #180 if the camera was panned to the left after taking #190. #25 was White 25 so it would have stood out. Where else,....Port Pirie as the Hanger and the Fairey Battles behind give it away

Gordy

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