15 fatalities

Reconnaissance aircraft missing in Dili region with all personnel lost (A72-159)

Dili, Timor LesteFlight

On May 17, 1945, a Consolidated B-24 Liberator (registration A72-159) operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF was involved in an aviation accident near Dili, Timor Leste in flight. 15 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A military reconnaissance aircraft failed to return to base after a mission near Dili. No wreckage or traces of the fifteen occupants were ever located.

What happened

The incident involved a military aircraft conducting a reconnaissance mission in the region of Dili. During the operation, the flight failed to return to its designated base as scheduled. Subsequent search efforts yielded no results; neither the wreckage nor any trace of the 15 occupants on board was ever found.

The personnel on board included the pilot, copilot, and additional crew members along with passengers. All individuals listed in the manifest were lost in this event. The source material does not specify the exact date of the incident or provide a registration number for the aircraft involved.