Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

CRASH OF A VULTEE VENGEANCE
AT MASCOT AIRFIELD
SYDNEY, NSW
ON 28 FEBRUARY 1944





Vultee Vengeance, A27-409, of 3 Communication Unit RAAF, stalled and crashed on to Club Moth VH-UWB parked in front of a hangar at Mascot Airfield, in Sydney in New South Wales at approximately 2:55pm on 28 February 1944, killing the crew of the Vengeance as follows:-

F/Sgt. Donald Malcolm Whitwell (428841) - Pilot
P/O Robert Allan Batty (417784) - Navigator

Both are now buried at the Sydney War Cemetery.

Both aircraft were destroyed by fire. A27-409 was being used as a target drogue test aircraft. Club Moth VH-UWB was owned by the Royal Aero Club of NSW and was used for flying training.

F/Sgt Whitwell had been involved in an earlier taxying accident at Mascot aboard A27-405 on 28 January 1944.



REFERENCE BOOKS

"Units of the Royal Australian Air Force - A Concise History"
"Volume 4 - Maritime and Transport Units"
by RAAF Historical



"Aussie Moths: De Havilland DH60 Moths in Australia"
by Bruce A. Winley



VH-UWB de Havilland D.H.60G Gipsy Moth

Its finale
was spectacular and occurred at Mascot on 28 February 1944 when Vultee Vengeance A27-409 stalled
on approach and crashed on top of it whilst it was parked outside a hangar. Both aircraft were totaled
and the two crew of the Vengeance were both killed.



Rec 1AD ex USA 28/07/43.
Rec 3CU ex 1AD 25/02/44.
Accident 28/02/44 when aircraft whilst in circuit, overshoot approach, then climbed to 150 Feet, stalled and crashed.
Crew; Pilot, F/Sgt D M Whitwell Serv#428844 and Navigator (W) Robert Allan Batty Serv#417784 were both killed.
Refer earlier accident per A27-405 per pilot.
SOC 04/04/44.
Royal Aero Club NSW DH-60G VH-UNB damaged on ground.
Issued 2CRD ex 3CU 08/03/44.
Rec 2CRD ex 3CU 08/03/44.
SOC 04/04/44.
Both were buried at Rookwood War Cemetery 01/03/44. Pic when in USA"






"Rec 1AD ex USA 28/07/43.
Deemed not suitable for operations. Allocated for Target Towing 18/12/43.
Allocated 8CU ex 1AD for Drogue Towing 30/12/43.
Cancelled 04/01/44.
Issued 3CU ex 1AD 07/01/44.
Accident 1615 hrs 28/01/44 when after landing aircraft was being taxied at Mascot to parking apron when the aircraft collided with a tractor that was working between two runways.
Crew; Pilot F/Sgt D M Whitwell Serv#421841, and Navigator (W) P/O H Gear Serv#406478 were not injured.
Rec 5AD ex 3CU 02/03/44.
Allocated 3CU ex 5AD 29/03/44.
Accident 29/04/44 during slow time test flight between Bankstown and Forrest Hill when aircraft forced landed wheels up at Nanangroe Station near Bookham NSW after one hour's flight due to oil depletion.
Crew; F/Sgt W H Eldred Serv#1291061 (RAF) (Pilot from 2AP) not injured .
Issued 2CRD ex 5AD 15/05/44.
AMSE Approval for conversion to components 05/06/44.
SOC 12/06/44."