- Maroochy air crash
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Maroochy air crash Occurrence summary Date December 30, 1950 Type Beach air crash Site Maroochydore, Australia Passengers 0 Crew 2 Injuries 14 (on beach) Fatalities 3 (on beach) Survivors 2 (flight crew) Aircraft type Wirraway Operator RAAF Tail number A20-212 Flight origin Redcliffe, Queensland Destination Noosa, Queensland The Maroochy air crash was an aircraft accident that occurred on 30 December 1950 at 11.10am at Maroochydore beach, Queensland, Australia. Three children were killed and 14 others were seriously injured as a result of the accident.[1]
RAAF Wirraway A20-212 had been circling between Maroochydore and Alexandra Headland during a routine shark patrol when it suddenly banked steeply and crashed onto the crowded beach in front of the Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club. The pilot and his observer survived the impact of the crash.
Contents
Casualties
- Graham Blair, age 6, killed [2]
- Liam O'Connor, age 11, killed [3]
- Pauline Probert, age 6, killed [4]
- Robyn Vandersee, age 5, found buried head first in sand, broken arm [5]
- Beryl Jane Borca, age 32, left foot amputated and compound facture of the right leg [6]
- Merle Vinnicombe, age 13, compound factures of both ankles [6]
- Flight Lieutenant H.W. Thwaites, age 27, compound facture of the right leg [6]
- Sargeant-Fitter Geoffrey Meyer Neill, age 38, head lacerations
- Robyn Gail Austin, age 5, back injuries [7]
- Linda Iris Hale, age 38, fractured right collarbone, dislocated right shoulder, fractured ribs and shock, at first believed dead [8]
- Nellie Jane Probert, age 29, compound fracture of the right wrist, serious shock, severe injuries (mother of deceased child)[7]
- Brian John Rowland, age 10, unknown injuries
- Stanley George Holt, age 24, lacerated left foot
- Shane Oldham, age 5, unknown injuries
- Jean Oldham, age 30, unknown injuries
- Eunice McEligott (sp), age 32, unknown injuries
- Enid Shanks, age 34, face, back and hand injuries [7]
- Roy Simon, age 2, shock [9]
Memorials
To date an information board which includes photos and stories from the day of the crash has been placed directly in front of the crash site. In mid 2011 a 2.4-metre 'Maroochy Air Crash Memorial' is planned to be displayed at the site by Aircrash Memorial Committee chairman Dennis Coffey to mark the 60th anniversary of the tragedy in memory of those killed and injured.[2]
References
- ^ "Site marks plane crash". Sunshine Coast Daily News - Patrick Williams. 2010-12-29. http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/12/29/maroochydore-beach-site-marks-plane-crash/. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
- ^ a b "Shirley remembers losing brother". Sunshine Coast Daily News - Mark Bode. 2010-12-31. http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/12/31/shirley-remembers-day-she-lost-young-brother/. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
- ^ "Tragic day in sun never forgotten". The Courier Mail - Peter Hall. 2010-12-31. http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/tragic-day-in-sun-never-forgotten/story-fn6ck51p-1225978889198. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
- ^ "3 killed, 10 hurt when plane crashed on beach". The Advertiser. 1951-01-01. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/45696720. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
- ^ "Survivors recall Wirraway crash". Sunshine Coast Daily News - Mark Bode. 2010-12-31. http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/12/31/survivors-recall-the-day-a-wirraway-crashed/. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
- ^ a b c "Wirraway crash at Maroochydore". Cairns Post. 1951-02-21. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/42708519. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
- ^ a b c "Chaos and horror in queensdland tragedy". The Sunday Herald. 1950-12-31. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/28671506. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
- ^ "Two enquires into aircraft crash on beach". The Mercury. 1951-01-02. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/27021511. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
- ^ "Plane crashes into crowded Maroochydore beach". Cairns Post. 1951-01-01. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/42702085. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
External links
- Memorial details
- Sunshine Coast set to have memorial to RAAF aircraft Wirraway after plane crash 60 years ago
- Shirley remembers day she lost young brother (Graham Blair)
- Headstone for Pauline Probert, located in old Nambour Cemetery
- Photo of Liam O'Connor on a camping holiday at Maroochydore, December 1950
- Map of location of air crash
- Marked image of aircraft flight path to beach from The Sunday Mail on 31 December 1950
Coordinates: 26°39.533′S 153°06.195′E / 26.658883°S 153.10325°E
← 1949 · Aviation accidents and incidents in 1950 · 1951 → Jan 05 Sverdlovsk disaster
Jan 26 USMC C-54 disappearance
Feb 13 British Columbia B-36 crash
Mar 7 Northwest Orient Flight 307
Mar 12 Llandow air disasterJun 12 1950 Air France DC-4 accident
Jun 14 1950 Air France DC-4 accident
Jun 24 Northwest Orient Flight 2501
Jun 26 ANA Skymaster "Amana" crash
Aug 30 Mason-Dixon Line F-84 crashAug 31 TWA Flight 903
Oct 31 Heathrow Viking accident
Nov 03 Air India Flight 245
Nov 13 Tete de I'Obiou C-54 crash
Dec 30 Maroochy air crashIncidents resulting in at least 50 deaths shown in italics. Deadliest incident shown in bold smallcaps.Categories:- Aviation accidents and incidents in 1950
- 1950 in Australia
- History of Queensland
- Aviation accidents and incidents in Australia
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