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Narrative: Crashed on take off. Accident was believed to have been caused by pilot disorientation in the darkness.
The B-24 struck trees and crashed directly into a convoy of trucks occupied by over 130 soldiers of D Company, 2/33 Infantry Battalion, Australian Army. The soldiers were waiting to emplane in C-47 transport planes for travel to the forward area. The bomber's 500-pound bombs and 2,800 gallons of gasoline ignited killing 15 of the Aussie troops immediately and inflicting severe injuries upon a further 47 who died as a result. Ninety soldiers were injured but survived.