Maroochy air crash

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Maroochy air crash
Occurrence summary
Date 30 December 1950
Summary Beach air crash
Site Maroochydore, Australia
Passengers 0
Crew 2
Injuries (non-fatal) 14 (on beach)
Fatalities 3 (on beach)
Survivors 2 (flight crew)
Aircraft type Wirraway
Operator RAAF
Registration 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.

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 fracture of the right leg [6]
  • Merle Vinnicombe, age 13, compound fractures of both ankles [6]
  • Flight Lieutenant H.W. Thwaites, age 27, compound fracture of the right leg [6]
  • Sergeant-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 [9]
  • Roy Simon, age 2, shock [10]

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

  1. ↑ "Site marks plane crash". Sunshine Coast Daily News - Patrick Williams. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-30. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Shirley remembers losing brother". Sunshine Coast Daily News - Mark Bode. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 
  3. ↑ "Tragic day in sun never forgotten". The Courier Mail - Peter Hall. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 
  4. ↑ "3 killed, 10 hurt when plane crashed on beach". The Advertiser. 1 January 1951. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 
  5. ↑ "Survivors recall Wirraway crash". Sunshine Coast Daily News - Mark Bode. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Wirraway crash at Maroochydore". Cairns Post. 21 February 1951. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Chaos and horror in Queensland tragedy". The Sunday Herald. 31 December 1950. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 
  8. ↑ "Two enquires into aircraft crash on beach". The Mercury. 2 January 1951. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 
  9. ↑ "Chaos and horror in Queensland tragedy". The Sunday Herald. 31 December 1950. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 
  10. ↑ "Plane crashes into crowded Maroochydore beach". Cairns Post. 1 January 1951. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 

External links

Coordinates: 26°39.533′S 153°06.195′E / 26.658883°S 153.103250°E / -26.658883; 153.103250

  • ← 1949
  • Aviation accidents and incidents in 1950 (1950)
  • 1951 →
  • Incidents resulting in at least 50 deaths shown in italics  
  •   Deadliest incident shown in Bold SmallCaps
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