Kurrawang Plane Crash – a brother remembered

An English woman whose brother was killed in one of the States worst ever air crashes made an emotional pilgrimage to Kalgoorlie in June of 2004.

Jessie Kent and her husband Peter.

Jessie Kent was only 18, when her brother, Captain Charles Hood, was among seven people killed near Kurrawang about 15 kms west of Kalgoorlie on 15 October 1951. Mr Hood was the pilot of the Airlines WA de Havilland Dove air craft which was carrying five passengers when it crashed just seven minutes before its scheduled arrival at the Kalgoorlie Airport.

Air Hostess Dorothy Reilly was also among those who died in the crash. For years Mrs Kent (age 71) had a wish to visit the site of the plane crash, and in 2004 she traveled to Kalgoorlie with her husband Peter. “Back home no one had even heard of Kalgoorlie” said Mrs Kent ‘Its a long time ago but we finally made it”. Mrs Kent said “After the crash my mother was absolutely devastated. Charlie had made it through the war where he flew bomber mission over Germany. ‘It took a terrible toll on my parents”. Charlie moved to Western Australia in 1947.

Airlines WA de Havilland Dove

After radio contact was lost with the aircraft on that fateful day in 1951 four other planes were later dispatched to conduct an aerial search but were unsuccessful. Members of the Goldfields Motorcycle Club and other volunteers then joined in a land search which resulted in the discovery of the wreckage by James Donoghue and his brother in law Ken Koops.

Reports at the time indicated that a crack in the main spar of the port wing might have contributed to the crash after examination of the wreckage by aviation experts.

Dorothy Reilly

Mrs Kent said that it was only after the death of her mother in 1981 that a large collection of memorabilia, including Captain Hood’s log books and various photographs and letters were discovered among her effects. Captain Hoods ashes were scattered over the planes route.

The passengers who were killed were:
Harry Crandon HICKS
Maurice McCARTHY
Frederick Cecil BUTLER
Gweneth Ann CURNOW
John E QUELCH

Part of the wreckage

Plaque at the site of the Kurrawang air crash

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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