Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress crash, Aug 9, 1942, Malapla I...
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress accident on August 9, 1942 near Malapla Island Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea with no fatalities. Cause: A radio compass...
- Date: August 9, 1942
- Aircraft: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
- Location: Malapla Island Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: A radio compass failure left the crew lost and running low on fuel.
The B 17E 41-2452 of the 19th Bomb Group returned from a raid on Rabaul with its radio compass failed. The crew was lost, ran low on fuel and ditched on a coral reef off Malapla Island. All 10 crew survived and were picked up by an Australian small ship.