C-47 Found in Darwin Harbour

[Daniel Leahy]

Hi All,

I know the news release is about 6 months old and the crash apparently occurred in 1946, but here's something I just came across on the ABC website:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200701/1823795.htm?nt

60-year-old plane wreck found near Darwin
Tuesday, 9 January 2007. 14:00 (AEDT)

The wreckage of an Australian military transport plane has been found in Darwin Harbour.

The plane crashed off Fannie Bay more than 60 years ago.

The RAAF C-47 Dakota was on a test flight in September 1946 when one of its engines caught fire.

The plane spiralled into the sea, but fortunately the pilot and all five passengers on board survived.

Some debris from the crash was salvaged, but the wreckage of the plane was not discovered in Darwin Harbour until late last year.

Local tour operator Shaun Uden dived around the site in October and found the plane virtually intact, lying on the bottom of the sea, just off East Point.

He has now nominated the site for a heritage listing.

This is most likely the wreck of 36 Squadron C-47B A65-115 which crashed on September 5, 1946. According to a document found on the National Archives website, the aircraft ditched with starboard engine on fire, 500 yards offshore from Mendil Beach, Darwin at approximately 1708 Hours. The pilot was F/Lt Arnold Alfred Lange, 17413, who was injured. There were 4 passengers on board, 3 of which were also injured.

According to the WW2 Nominal Roll, F/Lt Lange served with the RAAF from July 22, 1940 until December 4, 1946. He had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

[Daniel Leahy]

More from the ABC website relating to the discovery of this wreck:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200701/1824068.htm?nt

Govt grants plane wreck temporary heritage protection
Tuesday, 9 January 2007. 18:28 (AEDT)

The Northern Territory Government has ordered that a World War II plane found more than 60 years after it crashed into Darwin's Fannie Bay be temporarily protected under heritage laws.

Local tour operator Shaun Uden says he first discovered the wreck when he started losing a lot of fish and tackle over the site.

"Then we went back about a week later, when the tides were right, and dived the site and [found] it was a wreck," he said.

"We put together some video footage realising it was a plane, then liaised with a guy who knows a lot about aviation history in Darwin.

"He told us it was a Dakota DC-47 which sunk 60 years ago."

Aviation historians say the plane crashed while on a test flight over Darwin in 1946.

All six people on board were rescued.

The plane is now being assessed for a permanent heritage listing, but will be protected for 90 days under an interim conservation order.

[muskiedave60]

I have recently discovered this site and found it a great source of info. My uncle went down on a B-24 transport between Auckland and New Caledonia 3/21/44 with 30 assorted crew and officers. The MACR is 9145 and I have his flight log and assorted other items that were returned to the family. Last known position is known to be 30 deg 30 min S 169 deg 30 min N and thought to be only 10 min away from Plaines Des Gaiacs. They took off from Whenuapai Aero and thought to be in decent weather the whole flight. It was confirmed to have passed over Tontouta before disappearing.
I have not been able to find anything out about any lost aircraft in the New Caledonia area. If anyone can be of help I would really appreciate it.
Dave Schmidt

Looking for lost uncle first Lt. Robert Schmidt B-24 #107 liberator