Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
  C-47-DL Dakota Serial Number A65-3 Call Sign VH-CTC
RAAF
36 Squadron

Pilot  F/Lt John Donellan Balfe, 272371 (survived) Hobart, TAS
Co-Pilot  F/O Norman John Properjohn, 16549 (survived) Nangabrook, WA
Wireless  F/Sgt Thomas Henry Dennis, 425616 (survived) Beenleigh, QLD
Passenger  P/O Lloyd Ronald Thomas Ballard, 411728 (survived) Neutral Bay, NSW
Passenger  W/O Peter Gordon Brown, 400617 (survived) Melbourne, VIC
Passenger  F/Lt Ronald Scott Lovell, 270811 (survived) Roma, QLD
Passenger  Sgt Robert Lucas, 36186 (survived) Durham, England
Passenger  AC1 Marcel Edward Van De Velde, 123578 (survived) Mackay, QLD
Passenger  AC1 Edward Charles Noel Nason, 122934 (survived) Mile End, SA
Passenger  LAC Clement Thomas Anthony Haylen, 70786 (survived) Naremburn, NSW
Passenger  LAC Samuel Stephenson Collinson, 44803 (survived) Brisbane, QLD
Passenger  F/Sgt Frank Potten, 15088 (survived) Glebe, NSW
Passenger  Unidentified Australian Army (survived)
Passenger  Unidentified Australian Army (survived)
Ditched  December 14, 1943

Aircraft History
Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 9012. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as C-47-DL Skytrain serial number 42-32786. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
On March 20, 1943 assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as C-47 Dakota serial number A30-17 but never applied. Instead, designated C-47 Dakota serial number A65-3. Assigned to No. 36 Squadron. Call sign VH-CTC. No known nickname or nose art. Later registered as VH-DAC and later VH-CTC.

Mission History
On December 14, 1943 took off from Cooktown Airfield bound for Horn Island Airfield. During the flight, suffered and engine failure and ditched into the sea approximately 1.5 km south of Turtle Head Island. All three crew and eleven passengers survived and were rescued.

Daniel Leahy adds:
"Both officers were later awarded the AFC (Air Force Cross) and the F/Sgt awarded the George Medal, though whether for this incident or not I don't know."

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - C-47-DL Skytrain 42-32786
"32786 (MSN 9012) to USAAF Jan 31, 1943. To RAAF as A30-17 Feb 27, 1943, but NTU. Then re-registered as A65-3 Mar 4, 1943. Operated by 36 Sqdn as VH-DCA then VH-CTC May 11, 1943. Crashed Dec 14, 1943 off Turtle Head, QLD."
ADF Serials - Dakota A65-3
WW2 Nominal Roll - John Donellan Balfe
WW2 Nominal Roll - Norman John Properjohn
WW2 Nominal Roll - Thomas Henry Dennis
WW2 Nominal Roll - Lloyd Ronald Thomas Ballard
WW2 Nominal Roll - Peter Gordon Brown
WW2 Nominal Roll - Ronald Scott Lovell
WW2 Nominal Roll - Robert Lucas
WW2 Nominal Roll - Marcel Edward Van De Velde
WW2 Nominal Roll - Edward Charles Noel Nason
WW2 Nominal Roll - Clement Thomas Anthony Haylen
WW2 Nominal Roll - Samuel Stephenson Collinson
WW2 Nominal Roll - Frank Potten

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
December 14, 2022

Tech Info
C-47
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram