Townsville Daily Bulletin

Friday 10 April 1953,

Page 1

THREE BOMBER MISHAPS; NO ONE INJURED

Three R.A.A.F. Lincoln bombers were damaged yesterday (9 April 1953) in an amazing series of accidents in which no one was injured. At Ipswich, one bomber had its wheels torn off in a belly landing, and at Cloncurry, two were extensively damaged in a ground crash.

Cloncurry.  Unofficial reports are one of the planes, involved in the Cloncurry crash is a total write-off. All three aircraft belong to the 82 Wing Amberley. One of the bombers at Cloncurry had been there since last Friday, when it had been forced to land with engine trouble on a return flight from Singapore. A new engine was fitted into the grounded aircraft yesterday. The Lincoln was taxiing out in preparation for take off for Amberley, when a blow out occurred at the end of the runway. A spectacular crash occurred when a Lincoln, carrying a spare wheel from Amberley. landed on top of the stranded aircraft shortly after eight o'clock last night. The landing plane pounced off, belly landed, and skidded smashing its undercarriage. When It finally came to rest, the six crew members walked out unaided. The Resident Medical Officer at Cloncurry later treated two of the crew for slight cuts and bruises. No official comment on this crash was given from No. 10 Squadron at Townsville last night.

At Amberley, Squadron Leader CR Waud said the RAAF’s communications with Cloncurry had been most difficult and Air Force Authorities knew only bare details of the accident. He said the next-of-kin of those Involved in the crash had been advised.

IPSWICH. The wheels were torn off the other Lincoln bomber at Amberley at 11.15 a.m. when the aircraft swung when landing in a cross wind. The wheels were torn off as it sped across a gutter on the strip. The aircraft than skidded for a further 50 yards on its belly, coming to rest on the loose surface of a new run way being built for jet aircraft. The Lincoln's four propellers were bent when they struck the ground. Crash and fire tenders and two service ambulance vans we're sent across the field to the damaged plane and a unit from the Ipswich Fire Brigade was on the scene within minutes.

Police from Ipswich arrived soon after the accident. The Lincoln was being brought in to land by a pilot, carrying out airmanship training.