Historic Qantas plane crash site rediscovered in Brisbane bushland, 81 years after the tragic event

The site of a 1942 Qantas plane crash that killed nine people has been rediscovered in Brisbane bushland after being ‘lost’ for decades.

A De Havilland DH86 plane, the flagship of first Qantas fleet in 1934.

The site of a 1942 Qantas plane crash that killed all nine people on board, has been rediscovered in Brisbane bushland after being “lost” for 60 years.

The de Havilland (DH86) Express named “Sydney” went down less than 10 minutes after takeoff from Archerfield Airport on a flight to Darwin via Mount Isa on February 20, 1942.

Along with the two pilots, an Australian Royal Air Force officer, an American soldier and five civilians were killed in the crash on Brisbane’s southside when the tailfins fell off in bad weather.

It was one of about 14 fatal crashes involving Qantas aircraft between 1927 and 1951. Since the jet age began in 1959, Qantas has recorded no fatalities.

Due to the war, urban development and the passage of time, the crash site in what is now koala habitat was eventually forgotten.

Brisbane’s Fred Wimmer with his trusty spade and metal detector, at the site of his historic discovery.

Aviation Historical Society of Australia state secretary Peter Dunn said he along with many others had spent years trying to rediscover the site, but local Fred Wimmer beat them to it.

“The crash site was known about straight away because they recovered the nine bodies the same day and the wreckage went back to Archerfield,” Mr Dunn said.

“But a generation later, 20 years or so, the exact location of the crash site was no longer known and it hasn’t been known for about 60 years.”

Mr Wimmer said locating the site had been something he’d contemplated for some time, and after comparing historical records with contemporary maps, he pinpointed the spot.

Using a metal detector and shovel, Mr Wimmer was then able to locate various items that confirmed his research was accurate.

“I found the engine tag off a battery generator that had QEA for Qantas Empire Airlines’ stamped on it, a pilot’s button, a penny and a few other bits and pieces,” he said.

The key discovery however was a metal plate bearing the name of the flight’s co-pilot L.S. Marshall, a second cousin of aviation legend Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.

“That put a shiver up my spine when that came out of the ground,” Mr Wimmer said.

“It was then beyond doubt that I’d found the site.”

Items retrieved from the site of a 1942 Qantas plane crash including the name tag of co-pilot Lindsay Stuart Marshall. Picture: Fred Wimmer

No plane wreckage remained in the area, due to the fact military officials removed the debris immediately after the crash, took it back to Archerfield and burnt it.

Mr Wimmer said it was a source of some mystery why they did that, denying aviation authority investigators the chance to examine the wreckage.

“Why would you destroy the whole plane?” he asked.

“The aviation authority got out there and it was just scorched earth. I’m locating all the bits and pieces that are still in the ground.”

The Brisbane bushland site where a Qantas de Havilland Express crashed in 1942 killing all nine people on board. Picture: Fred Wimmer

He hoped his discoveries would be displayed in the Qantas Founders Museum at Longreach, and the name plate of First Officer Marshall returned to his family.

Qantas historian Tom Harwood said the 1942 crash was significant insofar as it was the last time a DH86 was operated by the airline.

“They were not good aircraft,” said Mr Harwood.

“On the delivery flight, the first DH86 Qantas ordered crashed on the final leg. They were structurally unsound and legend has it the British test pilots refused to fly them.”

Mr Wimmer and Mr Dunn were keen to see a memorial plaque erected at the crash site, about 20m from a walking track through Brisbane City Council koala bushland.

“Nine people tragically lost their lives there, so it does seem fitting a plaque is installed,” Mr Dunn said.

Originally published as Historic Qantas plane crash site rediscovered in Brisbane bushland, 81 years after the tragic event