20 October 1944 - Ventura hits radio beacon in Mackay

VENTURA HITS RADIO BEACON
IN MACKAY, QLD
ON 20 OCTOBER 1944

visits since 15 June 2003

RAAF Ventura, A59-14, ex #41-38065, (FD613), c/n 4721, clipped a radio beacon tower on top of Molloy's Hotel in Sydney Street, Mackay while making a low level run at 9.10 am on 20 October 1944. The aircraft was slightly damaged and the pilot, Flt. Lt. B.L. West was uninjured.

This aircraft was originally received by the RAAF at 2AD on 21 June 1943. It was received into 13 Squadron RAAF on 6 February 1944. It was the last Ventura II in service with the RAAF. It also spent some time with 34 Squadron and went to 2AD for storage. It went to D.A.P. on 19 May 1948 for disposal from 1AD at Laverton in Victoria. Disposal action was completed on 8 August 1949.

NOTE:- The resource "Lockheed Ventura in Australia : Deliveries - Uses - Fates" indicates that this incident took place on 23 October 1944.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Nev Allan from Mackay for his assistance with this home page. Nev has a copy of an official report on this incident which confirms that date as 20 October 1944.

REFERENCE BOOK

"Diary of WWII - North Queensland"
Complied by Peter Nielsen

"Lockheed Ventura in Australia : Deliveries - Uses - Fates"
Information compiled by Bert Cookson, Geoff Goodall and others
and edited for Newsletter by John Hopton.

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