C-47 Aeroplane Wreck- A65-115, Darwin Harbour
| Location | |
|---|---|
| A65-115 is located in Darwin Harbour | |
| Gazettal Date | |
| 29 August 2007 Northern Territory Government Gazette No. G.35 | |
| Description | |
| A6-115 lies on a relatively flat sand sea bottom in 18 metres of water. The right wing appears to be missing, but is more likely to be buried under the sand. The left wing, propeller and engine are intact and in very good condition. The cockpit is missing due to the crash impact and the resulting fire. The intact tail of the plane clearly shows a particular design configuration which allowed experts to confirm it was the wreck of a C47, which then lead to the determination it is A65-115. A C-47B had a length from nose to tail of 20 metres and a wingspan of 29 metres. This plane is in good condition and is quite intact compared to other plane wrecks in the Northern Territory. | |
| Statement of Heritage Value | |
| A65-115 was a C-47B aircraft that was deliberately downed in waters close to Darwin after mechanical failure on the 5th of September 1946. All five aboard managed to escape before the plane sank. A part of the RAAF 36 squadron, this plane serviced the air link between Australia and allied occupied Japan. The air link provided transport, goods and mail services for the Australian military personnel attached to the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF). These planes were required to ‘island hop’ to Japan, therefore also providing services to other allied outposts. It was a round trip of 20,000 kilometres and was at the time the longest scheduled air route by twin engined aircraft in the world. This post-war period saw Australia take a new assertive and confident position in the Asia and Pacific region, which would lead to engagement in humanitarian efforts and further conflicts.
A65-115 has a relatively high degree of intactness. The wreck maintains a significant degree of the plane’s original structural integrity and has a rare ability to illustrate reasons for and aspects of the crash. The site may also retain a valuable artefact assemblage consisting of onboard equipment and the personal belongings of crew. |
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| Further Reading | |
| A65-115, A C-47 plane wreck in Darwin Harbour Brochure - The brochure on the wreck of A65-115 provides a concise introduction to the wreck's history, significance and management. | |
