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| Rabaul Airways Syndicate Former Assignments General Aircraft Co Ltd. Adastra Airways Ltd.  Genairco 1930  Sinclair collection 1933 |
Pilot William J. Duncan (injured slightly) Newcastle, NSW Passenger Mr. Graham Mirfield (severely injured) Passenger Mrs. Graham Mirfield (died) Crashed October 15, 1933 Aircraft History Built by General Aircraft Company Ltd. (Genairco) at Mascot Airfield as a Genairco DH.60X Moth (Genairco Biplane / Genairco Moth) with two open cockpits and fitted with a Cirrus-Hermes four-cylinder inline engine. Constructors Number 12. On May 6, 1930 registered in Australia to General Aircraft Co Ltd. with registration VH-UNY painted in large black block letters on each side of the fuselage. That same day issued Certificate of Registration (CofR) 375. On May 16, 1930 took off on a first flight at Mascot Airfield. On January 24, 1931 purchased by Adastra Airways Ltd. at Mascot Airfield. On April 28, 1933 took off on a flight and crashed. Afterwards, repaired. During July 1933, purchased by Rabaul Airways Syndicate Ltd. founded by William J. Duncan the first Civil Aviation Branch officer in the New Guinea region and manager of Rapopo Plantation who persuaded local businessmen to invest in a floatplane venture. At Cockatoo Dockyard Aircraft Division near Sydney Harbor this plane was converted into a floatplane with the landing gear removed and instead fitted with two wooden floats designed by Lawrence J. Wackett. On August 11, 1933 took off from Sydney Harbor piloted by William J. Duncan on a the first test flight in floatplane configuration. Afterwards, took off from Sydney Harbor on a ferry flight bound for Rabaul. The plane flew northward along the coast of Australia to New Guinea. While landing off Kerema, the floats were damaged but continued onward to Fairfax Harbor off Port Moresby where the floatplane was put on the slipway at Napa Napa for float repairs. Afterwards, took off from Fairfax Harbor to continue the ferry flight eastward to Samarai Island. On September 1, 1933 took off from Samarai Island on a flight bound for Salamaua. During the flight, at an altitude of 1,500' the propeller began to vibrate then both propeller blades broke off. Without power, alighted for an emergency landing on the Mambare River. During the landing, two spars in the left lower wing were damaged by surf. Afterwards, towed by vessel Wanderer roughly 120 miles to the northwest to Lae where the propeller was repaired. In late September 1933, took off from Lae piloted by William J. Duncan on a flight bound for Rabaul. Aboard was passenger Charles Gatenby who was hired by Rabaul Airways as their pilot-mechanic plus five drums of fuel each holding four gallons. After becoming airborne, Duncan dropped four of the fuel drums to reduce weight and improve performance. Due to a severe storm over western New Britain, landed off Umboi Island (Rooke) to shelter until the bad weather passed. On September 26, 1933 lands in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. Mission History On October 15, 1933 took off from Blanche Bay off Kabakaul Plantation on Lesson Point piloted by William J. Duncan with two passengers Mrs Graham Mirfield and Mrs. Graham Mirfield in the front cockpit on a scenic flight over the area. While flying low over Rainau Plantation, one of the floats struck a coconut palm tree and caused the plane to crash. On impact, Mrs. Graham Mirfield was killed and her husband seriously injured. Pilot Duncan sustained minor injuries. Wreckage After the crash, the wreckage was recovered and shipped to Sydney. The wreckage was used by Tugan Aircraft Ltd. to build Genairco Biplane TA-1 during November 1933 until completed in March 1934 as a replacement plane for Rabaul Airways Syndicate. On September 10, 1934 officially struck off the register. References Some sources list incorrectly list the date of the crash as October 16, 1933. NAA "Personnel File: Duncan William James, O12500 (NAA: A12372, R/12500/H) DH.60 Moth [PDF] pages 208, 215 NAA Civil aircraft accident and incident register for Australia and Papua New Guinea - 1928 to 1945, Section 1, Accidents 1931–1945 (NAA: A8324, 1) PDF page 11 (VH-UNY) "Duncan, W. J. / 15.10.33 / Kokopo District N.G. [sic New Britain] / Private Flying / Genairco Seaplane VH-UNY" NAA "Aircraft accident and incident registers for Australia and Papua New Guinea Part 2 (NAA: A8324, 2) PDF page 52, 54 (Page 52) "1st September [1933] Genairco Seaplane VH-UNY Near Mambare River Papua. Nature of flight Ferry (Sy. to Rb.) [Sydney to Rabaul] Owner Rabaul Airways Syndicate Pilot W.J. Duncan nil injury Airscrew burst while flying at 1,500’ Both blades parted at the boss and were not seen again. Two spars in port lower mainplane crashed due to surf damage aircraft after alighting. Airscrew was made by Cockatoo Dock specifically for seaplane." (Page 54) "16th [sic 15] October [1933] Genairco Seaplane VH-UNY Kokopo, N.G. [sic New Britain]" Geoff Goodall Aviation History Site - The Australian GENAIRCO series General Aircraft Company Ltd, Mascot Aerodrome, Sydney 1929-1933 VH-UNY (photos) The Argus "Seaplane Crashes: Woman Killed in Rabaul" October 17, 1933 p 8 Waikato Times "Crash of a plane" October 17, 1933 p 5 Hawera Star "Fatal 'Plane Smash" October 17, 1933 p9 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 16, 2025 |
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