Historical Note: The text within this post is an excerpt from the original Army Air Corps or USAAF accident report that was filed shortly after the aircraft disappeared.  These archival reports were typically the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) or Report of Major Accident.  The reports frequently stated the crash site was believed to be “unrecoverable” or “all but impossible to recover”, due to the very remote and rugged terrain where the aircraft crashed.  Employing the services of local tribal guides, I was able to reach and document this crash site.  Without exception, all the sites were very difficult to reach, often involving many days of trekking from the nearest road and multiple river crossings.

C-46A #41-24708
Found 01 Nov 2011

by

C-46A #41-24708

This aircraft departed Mohanbari, India at 0423 GMT on 31 Jan 1944 for Kunming, China on a routine cargo flight over the Hump.

The route was overcast with cloud tops above 24,000 ft.  Winds were out of the SW and estimated to be 70 mph at 18,000 ft.  About 50% of the flight would have been flown on instruments and was further complicated by high winds.

There is no record of radio contact from the aircraft.  The last known position, cause or nature of the aircraft loss is not known.  It is believed the crash may have been caused by bad weather, mechanical failure or a sudden catastrophic event.  The cause of the crash was probably so sudden and so severe that the pilot didn’t have time to radio a mayday call.  The pilot had made 35 roundtrips on this route.  The aircraft has not been found and the crew has been declared dead.  Dead: 4.

  • Pilot: Capt. Alvin Catalano
  • Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Robert F. Kearns
  • Radio Operator: Pfc. John W. Briggette
  • Flight Engineer: Cpl. John W. Sadler

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C-46A #41-24708 Photo Gallery

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Crash site on green slope in rear-center
Wreckage
Wreckage
Wreckage
Wreckage
Wreckage
Wreckage
Wreckage
Guide, Tapir and Clayton by wreckage
Tapir by wreckage
Wreckage
Wreckage
Wreckage
Wreckage
Wreckage
Co-Pilot<br /> 2nd Lt. Robert F. Kearns (R.)
Flight Engineer<br /> Cpl. John W. Sadler
Flight Engineer<br /> Cpl. John W. Sadler
Radio Operator<br /> Pfc. John V. Briggette
Guide, Tapir and Clayton
Mountain pass enroute to crash site
Mountain pass enroute to crash site
Porters and Clayton on mountain pass
Snowfield
Tapir by wreckage
Trekking
Crash site on green slope in rear-center
High camp
High camp
High camp
Fresh food at high camp
Trekking to crash site from high camp
Walong Mtn.
Walong Mtn.
Trekking back to village
Trekking back to village

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Important Notice:​ These MIA missions are mostly self-funded by Clayton Kuhles.  No funding support is received from the US government.  If you believe this is a worthwhile humanitarian project that needs to be pursued, then please visit the Funding page on this website to see how easy it is to support this project in a meaningful manner.  MIA Recoveries, Inc is a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Funding donations to MIA Recoveries, Inc are deductible under Section 170 of the Code.  EIN: 45-3174718