australian aircraft wreck

Hi All,

Though I don’t remember any specific episode where the ‘Bush Tucker Man’ came across a wreck, there are a number of contenders in the outback Kimberley region. I used to fly around there in my early days as a pilot back in the late 80’s and there were still wrecks to crawl over to pass the time while waiting for passengers to return from their business.

(i) B-24 Liberator A72-160 crashed at on take off at Truscott in 1945 killing 11 on board. Much of this wreck is still in place today.

(ii) As for a DC3, there is some rusting wreckage of a Dutch Dakota north of Broome at Beagle Bay that was shot down by the Japanese in 1942. It is the centrepiece in the ‘Dutch Diamond Mystery’, which is now a book.

(iii) At Kalumburu there were a number of bomber wrecks in the scrub that are still visited by tour groups from time to time. I believe that some of these have been recovered in recent years.

All in all, there were quite a few wrecks to see in the remote areas of Australia and I know some are still there today. Many are rightly marked as tributes to the many crews who served and others serve as memorials to those who perished.

Cheers

OZ

thankyou for the detailed info on the aircraft locations
regards vic

Hi All,

Though I don’t remember any specific episode where the ‘Bush Tucker Man’ came across a wreck, there are a number of contenders in the outback Kimberley region. I used to fly around there in my early days as a pilot back in the late 80’s and there were still wrecks to crawl over to pass the time while waiting for passengers to return from their business.

(i) B-24 Liberator A72-160 crashed at on take off at Truscott in 1945 killing 11 on board. Much of this wreck is still in place today.

(ii) As for a DC3, there is some rusting wreckage of a Dutch Dakota north of Broome at Beagle Bay that was shot down by the Japanese in 1942. It is the centrepiece in the ‘Dutch Diamond Mystery’, which is now a book.

(iii) At Kalumburu there were a number of bomber wrecks in the scrub that are still visited by tour groups from time to time. I believe that some of these have been recovered in recent years.

All in all, there were quite a few wrecks to see in the remote areas of Australia and I know some are still there today. Many are rightly marked as tributes to the many crews who served and others serve as memorials to those who perished.

Cheers

OZ

I can confirm that Les was a Major in the Australian Army.

i thought i was correct when i said he was a major ,i now remember my father saying as much when series was screening thanks:cool: 😎

Not sure whether this is the wreck which you are referring to:
http://kimberleycruising.com.au/Excursions/DC3wreck.htm

i think thats the one many thanks
regards alan:cool: 😎

Curly,

Can you clarify which is which ? In your post you said the guy was Mick Cowling who only ever became a corporal….

But in the link you posted the guy was indeed Les Hiddins who served in ‘nam and retired at the rank of major…..

So who is Mick Cowling ? (Que confused smiley…….. ):confused:

.

I can confirm that Les was a Major in the Australian Army.

Curly,

Can you clarify which is which ? In your post you said the guy was Mick Cowling who only ever became a corporal….

The bush tucker man was a guy called Mick Cowling but he never made it above Corporal in the Aussie army more about him here….

But in the link you posted the guy was indeed Les Hiddins who served in ‘nam and retired at the rank of major…..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Tucker_Man

curlyboy

So who is Mick Cowling ? (Que confused smiley…….. ):confused:

.

My memory of the show is not so good as I was only young then but I swear the wreck he went to was a B-24. I remember him saying that some people thought the oxygen cylinders were bombs.
Paul

I believe that the aircraft is C-53 41-20066 c/n 4836 call-sign VHCDW. (Thanks Al)

I don’t know where VH-UGY came from as this was a Travelair 2000.

Not sure whether this is the wreck which you are referring to:
http://kimberleycruising.com.au/Excursions/DC3wreck.htm

No no – the TV show was presented by a guy called Les Hiddins. Was a good show, but I don´t remember any wreck.

The bush tucker man was a guy called Mick Cowling but he never made it above Corporal in the Aussie army more about him here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Tucker_Man

I used to watch that programme a lot and i remember on about a plane crash in the nothern territories and that could have been a dak, i think it was the one where everyone died because they crashed in in-hospitable country but had a feast of food around them if they only knew it was there.

There could have been a bit with a RAAF dak doing some flying as well?

curlyboy

sorry about the rank rating 😎 😎

The bush tucker man was a guy called Mick Cowling but he never made it above Corporal in the Aussie army more about him here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Tucker_Man

I used to watch that programme a lot and i remember on about a plane crash in the nothern territories and that could have been a dak, i think it was the one where everyone died because they crashed in in-hospitable country but had a feast of food around them if they only knew it was there.

There could have been a bit with a RAAF dak doing some flying as well?

curlyboy