Dornier Do-24 X-36 80 Mile Beach (1942/03/02)

80 mile Beach Anna Plains Station

Do 24 Serial Number X-36. Took off carrying forty passengers escaping from Batavia, bound for Broome. Russian pilot Petsu was commander, and had his Dutch wife aboard. A Dutch co-pilot Hubinks was second in command, also with his wife. The rest were other civilians. Running out of fuel, they landed at night on the coast fifty miles south of their destination. Fearing the Japanese were behind them, the crew burnt the plane.

Spotted the next morning Electra VH-ABW piloted by James Wood, he circled the beach and noted what they needed. Landing at nearby Anna Plains station and collected water and dropped it at the beach. Station-owner Leo Gugeri arrived in the afternoon and transported the elderly and woman back to Anna Plains.