The Crash of RAAF Catalina (A24-52)
The Memorial looking out towards Magnetic Island
Rear section of the Catalina after being hauled ashore. (Note: the protective fence for the pool and the hill at Kissing Point behind)
For those familiar with the Strand at Townsville NQ, a small memorial sits on the outer side of the pool at the northern end overlooking Cleveland Bay. It is a lonely and sad memorial to a tragic event that showed that, in WWII, our airmen were not only subject to the perils of enemy action but also the prevailing weather conditions at the time.
It was late afternoon, on the 7th September 1943, when RAAF PBY-5 Catalina (A24-52) was attempting to land in rough conditions on Cleveland Bay. It was a long flight from Merauke in Papua (Indonesia) and no doubt the 10 crew and 9 passengers on board were looking forward to finally arriving in Townsville.
The forward section (or what’s left of it) of the Catalina.
As the plane touched down on the water, it travelled a short distance before hitting a large wave. The nose of the aircraft buried itself in the water followed by a massive explosion. The impact had caused at least one of the depth charges the Catalina was carrying on the underside of its wings, to become dislodged and detonate. About 20 feet of the forward fuselage and one engine had been ripped away. The Catalina sank almost immediately.
Only three of the crew and three passengers survived. Those who died were buried at the Townsville War Cemetery.
The plaque on the Memorial
Townsville War Cemetery
The headstone of Flight Lieutenant CJ Miles, the pilot of the iff-fated Catalina.
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