Description
Australia 1940 Sydney – Salamaua -Rabaul crash cover. (Eustis 895).
Cover cancelled Melbourne 11 MCH 530PM 1940. Backstamped Rabaul 11-P 18MR40 New Guinea.
On 15 March 1940 the W R Carpenter & Co DH86B Carinthia left Salamaua at 0650 on the regular weekly service to Rabaul which had originated in Sydney. Due to deteriorating weather conditions and being low on fuel Captain J G Jackson set course for Kavieng where an aerodrome was being built, The aircraft ran out of fuel at 1150 just a short distance from its goal.
Captain Jackson made a force landing on the sea 400 yards offshore. The 5 passengers and 3 crew were safely transferred to native canoes together with the mail and freight. The Carinthia sank in 110 feet of water. It was later raised but beyond repair. Two other covers are recorded cancelled at Adelaide and Cairns.
