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Crashsites reached to date: 17
MIA / KIA personnel: 163
Site Report: November 23, 2009
This aircraft left Chanyi, China for Misamari, India on 17 September 1944 at 1104 GMT. At 1407 GMT pilot gave a position report as follows: “Over Shingbwiyang, Burma at 1350 hrs., altitude 18,000 ft., destination Misamari - request clearance to destination“. At 1413 hrs. Jorhat cleared this ship over their station at 14,000 ft., to cross Tezpur, India at 6,000 ft. to Misamari. No further contact was had with this aircraft.
It is noted that the pilot gave his position report 17 minutes after passing Shingbwiyang, Burma. This could be due to poor radio contact, excessive radio traffic, or pilot being uncertain of his position. If the pilot was uncertain of his position, it is possible he may have let down with his position uncertain and collided with a mountain. The weather along Charlie route that day was continuous rain, thunderstorms, overcast, and icing between 16,000 ft. and 20,000 ft. Actually, there is no evidence upon which a reasonable
assumption can be made. Dead: 3.
Pilot: 2nd Lt. Robert W. Tinsley, xxxx6784
Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. Charles M. Adams, xxxx0355
Radio Operator: Pfc. Andrew L. Rajnic, xxxx4255
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Site Report: November 5, 2009
This C-47 aircraft of the 10th AF was assigned to the post-war American Graves Registration Service (AGRS). Very early in the morning on 17 May 1946, it departed Mingaladon Airport in Rangoon, Burma for Barrackpore / Calcutta, India. The aircraft had a crew of 3 from the 1304th Air Force Base Unit and 8 passengers, including a 6-man AGRS team. The aircraft was transporting 34-37 sets of known US remains and 5 sets of unknown US remains which were recently recovered by the AGRS team from POW cemeteries in Burma.
A heavy storm was developing over the Bay of Bengal that day, and the aircraft was running into the storm on its course. The pilot was known to dislike flying over water. He told personnel at Mingaladon that he could not fly over water on this flight because he did not have enough life jackets aboard, and he planned to follow the coast. The pilot further stated that if he encountered a storm over Akyab, he would fly north or northeasterly to avoid it.
The pilot radioed Barrackpore at 0610Z to report he had passed over Akyab at 0530Z, was flying on instruments, and expected to arrive at Barrackpore at 0800Z. At 0615Z he called for weather, which Barrackpore had to send twice due to heavy atmospheric interference. At 0705Z the pilot mistakenly responded
to a call from Barrackpore to another aircraft and said he had nothing for Barrackpore. This was the last contact with 8308. The plane was never heard from again. Dead: 11 plus 43 sets of US POW remains.
Pilot: 1st Lt. Horace J. Gabbart, xxxx9790
Check Pilot: 1st Lt. Melvin L. Power, xxxx33431
Radio Operator: Pfc. Eugene H. Ryan, xxxx34187
Passenger: Capt. Roy W. Corley, xxxx7766 (AGRS)
Passenger: Lt. Cmdr. James T. Campbell, xxxx5425 (USNR)
Passenger: 1st Lt. Henry Chan, xxxx7552
Passenger: 1st Lt. Henry E. Derbyshire, xxxx6766 (AGRS)
Passenger: 1st Lt. Donald C. Dutton, xxxx8713 (AGRS)
Passenger: SSgt. Glenn F. Cox, Jr., xxxx1684 (AGRS)
Passenger: Tech-5 Wallace J. Davis, xxxx1295 (AGRS)
Passenger: Tech-4 Warren R. Haines, xxxx3730 (AGRS)
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Site Report: October 26, 2008
This 14th Air Force aircraft from the 373rd Bomb Squadron, 308th Bomb Group, departed Yangkai, China, enroute Chabua India on a ferry mission. Last radio contact they were 30 minutes east of Chabua. This was the last time this aircraft or crew was heard from. Due to the mountainous terrain where the plane was lost, it is believed that if the plane were located, it would be all but impossible to recover the remains. The crew of this aircraft were declared dead as of 26 May 1945. Missing in Flight since 25 May 1944 between Yangkai, China and Chabua, India. Capt. Thomas H. Clare a passenger on this plane was from the 341st Bomb Group. Dead: 10.
Pilot: 1st Lt. Robert M. King, xxxx6536
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. John B. Byron, xxxx3651
Navigator: 1st Lt. Eugene L. Bernstein, xxxx4110
Radio Operator: TSgt. John J. Regan, xxxx1443
Engineer: TSgt. Robert R. Riley, xxxx5893
Gunner: SSgt. Garland J. Reed, xxxx0674
Gunner: SSgt. Earl L. Smith, xxxx2075
Passenger: Capt. Thomas H. Clare, xxxx0635
Passenger: SSgt. Raymond J. Bridge, xxxx3404
Passenger: Cpl. Merle L. Pickup, xxxx2953
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Read the article "Hump Pilot Remembered"
Site Report: October 16, 2008
This aircraft simply disappeared while enroute over the Hump. The plane nor crew were never located. Dead: 6.
Pilot: Capt. Bobby A. Cook
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Marvin Siegal
Navigator: 2nd Lt. John P. Falvo
Engineer: TSgt. H.C. Jones
Radio Operator: Pvt. Robert L. Looney
Passenger: MSgt. Thomas L. MacIntosh
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Site Report: October 10, 2008
This aircraft departed from Misamari, India at 0408Z, arrived at Chanyi, China at 0811Z same date. Ship departed Chanyi at 0940Z for Misamari. Aircraft not located, and crew administratively dead. Dead: 4.
Pilot: 2nd Lt. Huland K. Hunt, xxxx1951
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Lawrence H. Fox, xxxx2912
Radio Operator: Cpl. Alphonse B. Kupchun, xxxx8558
Crew Chief: Pfc. Kenneth L. Seidel, xxxx3558
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Site Report: October 3, 2008
This aircraft departed Yangkai, China, enroute to Jorhat, India. Plane was reported as missing in flight. As of Dec. 1943, there was still no word on the fate of this plane or its crew. Dead: 5.
Pilot: Capt. Tom Perry, xxxx8699
Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. John T. Tennison, xxxx1044
Navigator: 2nd Lt. John W. Funk, xxxx4550
Radio Operator: SSgt. Alvin J. Lenox, xxxx6475
Crew Chief: Cpl. Donald A. Johnson, xxxx4567
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Site Report: September 28, 2008
This aircraft departed Mohanbari, India. Its intended destination was Kunming, China. It was on a routine mission over the Hump. Aircraft called from the vicinity of Sookerating, India for a weather report at Yunnanyi. This was received at AACS at 1418 IST. Search for this aircraft will continue. Last report neither plane nor crew located, crew believed dead. Dead: 4.
Pilot:. 2nd Lt. Robert D. Coker, xxxx4976
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Howard G. Bushey, xxxx2322
Radio Operator: Cpl. Walter A. Hynes, xxxx0046
Passenger: Capt. Alexander A. St. Clair, xxxx0815
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Site Report: September 23, 2008
This aircraft took off from Karachi, India, with 33 passengers and a crew of two. The plane was homeward bound. TSgt. Marvin H. Jacobs (the lone survivor), was dozing or asleep as were many other of the passengers. Sgt. Jacobs remembers a sudden and violent shifting of luggage, the plane seemed to mush, nose up and tail down. When he regained consciousness, he was lying in a bamboo thicket. Dead: 34.
Click here to view list of the crew and passengers
Click here to read about the rescue of the lone survivor (7MB .PDF)
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View media articles and coverage
Site Report: September 20, 2008
This aircraft from the 308th Bomb Group was lost on a flight over the Hump. Aircraft #42-40069 "The Pregnant Swan" was lost with all aboard. Major Fensler was commanding officer of the 425th Squadron. Dead: 10.
Acting Pilot: Major Robert W. Fensler, xxxx7377
Pilot: 2nd Lt. Phillip G. Huffman, xxxx1437
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Gerald (Jerrold) E. Owens, xxxx0158
Navigator: 2nd Lt. Frederick W. Ossenfort, xxxx1623
Bombardier: 2nd Lt. Harvey M. Nix, xxxx8506
Radio Operator: TSgt. Norman A. Price
Assistant Radio Operator: SSgt. Louis F. Verhaegen, xxxx8470
Engineer: TSgt. ErIe H. Thayer, xxxx6430
Assistant Engineer: SSgt. Aubrey Stevensen, xxxx8940
Gunner: SSgt: Sandav E. Rivardo, xxxx5460
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Site Report: October 27, 2007
This aircraft was on a cargo mission from Chabua to Ondal, India on 24 March 1944. The plane crashed killing all of the crew. Dead: 4.
Pilot: 1st Lt. Richard S. Austin, xxxx0337
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Joe O. Hudgins, xxxx0431
Radio Operator: Cpl. Giles Q. Stevens, xxxx2130
Engineer: Cpl. Arnold B. Stavinoha, xxxx6673
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Site Report: October 22, 2007
The aircraft departed Jorhat, India at 1945z on 17 July 1945, enroute to Hsinching, China. It checked in over Pathalipen at 2025z. Altitude was 8,000 feet, on able course, and vanished. Concentrated search had been conducted to no avail. Search was abandoned as of the 17th of August, 1945. All aboard this aircraft have been declared dead. Dead: 4.
Pilot: 1st Lt. Allen R. Turner, xxxx6737
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Fredrick W. Langhorst, xxxx0387
Radio Operator: Cpl. Robert L. McAdoo, xxxx2676
Engineer: Pvt. Joseph I. Natvik, xxxx6393
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Site Report: October 1, 2007
The aircraft was enroute from Kunming, China to Misamari, India on 20 February 1944. Pilot was apparently lost in extremely bad weather. Contact was very poor. Last radio contact:
724: "We are at 8,000 feet can you see my lights? Can you see my lights! We are still in the rain."
TE: "Negative on the lights."
724: "TC. TC. There's that mountain again. (30 second interval) Oh, we may hit it yet!. (Noise like lightning a few seconds later or possible crash of the airplane)
Ground bearings were erroneous. Aircraft not located and crew declared dead. Dead: 4.
Pilot: 2nd Lt. Jack Hunter, xxxx2620
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Alfred S. Hemmer, xxxx2565
Radio Operator: Sgt. Inman A. Watson, Jr., xxxx5822
Engineer: SSgt. John L. Weinberg, xxxx7928
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Site Report: December 7, 2006
On 25 January 1944 this aircraft from the 14th Air Force, 308th Bomb Group, 425th Bomb Squadron departed Kunming, China for Chabua, India on a routine ferrying mission. It never arrived in Chabua. From a report dated 20 November 1944, this plane was still listed as “Missing in routine flight”. Dead: 8.
Pilot: 1st Lt. William A. Swanson, xxxx8935
Co-Pilot: F / O Sheldon L. Chambers, T-291
Navigator: 1st Lt. Irwin Zaetz, xxxx1661
Bombardier: 1st Lt. Robert E. Oxford, xxxx3308
Radio Operator: SSgt. Harry B. Queen, xxxx1096
Engineer: SSgt. Charles D. Ginn, xxxx4114
Gunner: Sgt. Alfred H. Gerrans, Jr., xxxx5848
Gunner: Sgt. James A. Hinson, xxxx8472
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View media articles and coverage
Site Report: December 14, 2005
This CNAC transport was enroute over "The Hump" from Dinjan, India to Kunming, China on 07 April 1943. It crashed about 500 feet from the top of a mountain, at an altitude of about 16,000 feet. The radio operator was killed in the crash, his neck was broken. The pilot and co-pilot survived the crash, but were injured. After weeks of agonizing travel down the mountain side, they finally located some friendly natives and received help to return to their home base. Dead: 1.
Pilot: C.J. Rosbert
Co-Pilot: Charles R. Hammell
Radio Operator: Y.T. Wong
C.J. Rosbert survived the war, and died in Texas in 2007.
Charles R. Hammell died in the crash of CNAC #94 near Dinjan, India on 09 May 1945, and was buried at Panitola Cemetery on 10 May 1945.
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Click here to read Joe Rosbert's account of this crash (5.5 MB PDF FILE)
Click here to read Fletcher Hanks' account of the 2003 MIA search and recovery expedition
Site Report: November 11, 2003
This airplane departed Yunnanyi, China for Misamari, India on 02 November 1943. The weather over the “Hump” was reported as favorable, however nothing further was heard from this aircraft. Dead: 3.
Pilot: 1st Lt. John A. Deaux, xxxx0533
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Roger Edger L. Corbiere, xxxx8101
Radio Operator: Cpl. Paul E. Pakari, xxxx6846
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More images of this crashsite can be viewed on the 2003 Expedition Highlights Video.
(a.k.a. CNAC #77)
Site Report: October 20, 2003
This CNAC transport left Kunming for Tengchung, China at 0709 GMT on 06 January 1945. The aircraft was over Tengchung but was unable to land due to bad weather. No 77 headed for Dinjan Airfield, and at 0822 GMT called Kunming but received no answer. No further contact was made. Dead: 4.
Pilot: Capt. Russell William Coldren
Co-Pilot: K.W. Chen
Radio Operator: V.N. Chow
Assistant Radio Operator: G. Tai
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Click here to read about the R.W. Coldren Memorial
Site Report: October 19, 2003
On 24 April 1943, a C-87 (41-23696) with a five man crew of the 1333rd AAF Base Unit, 3rd Transport squadron, 1st Transport Group departed Yangkai, China at approximately 1400 hours enroute to their home base at Chabua, India. There was no radio contact with the aircraft after take-off and when the aircraft did not arrive at Chabua, the aircraft and crew were reported missing. Specific aerial searches to locate this aircraft commenced immediately and lasted until approximately 26 May 1943, focusing on the possible flight path that this aircraft would have taken. In January 1946 the crew was presumed to have died. Aircraft not located, crew declared dead. Dead: 5.
Pilot: Capt. Jennings H. Mease, xxxx0874
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Samuel E. Lunday, Jr., xxxx7528
Navigator: 1st Lt. James M. Jeffrey, xxxx4013
Radio Operator: SSgt. Elwood E. Stevens, xxxx4292
Engineer: Pfc. Mervyn E. Sims, xxxx0815
View photos from this recovery mission
Archival reports essential for researching these MIA aircraft were generously provided by AAIR Aviation Archaeology Investigation & Research www.AviationArchaeology.com aair@aviationarchaeology.com
These MIA search expeditions and this website have been self-funded by Clayton Kuhles. We receive no funding from the US government or from any private organization. If you feel this is a worthwhile humanitarian project, then we encourage you to make a donation to support our efforts. Please visit the Funding page of this website to see how easy it is to support this project in a meaningful way. Thank you. |
