Early 1942 - Force Landing of a Kittyhawk at Cairns Airfield

EARLY 1942
FORCE LANDING OF A KITTYHAWK
AT CAIRNS AIRFIELD

visits since 19 February 2003

In 1942, the runways at Cairns airfield were considered very short. In early 1942, a USAAF P-40 Kittyhawk landed in a cloud of dust when it stopped suddenly after colliding with a timber obstruction at the side of the runway. Thick smoke started to billow from the aircraft and a tall American ran through the smoke just before it burst into flames. He was not injured.

This was one of the first American Kitttyhawks to land at Cairns. At the time of this crash and fire, the fire fighting facilities at Cairns airfield were totally inadequate.

REFERENCE BOOKS:-

"I Didn't Know That"
"Cairns and Districts, Tully to Cape York, 1939-1946,
Service Personnel and Civilians"
By Vera Bradley (1943 AAMWS)

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This page first produced 17 August 1999

This page last updated 19 February 2003