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-47A #41-38746
Found 24 Nov 2010

by

C-47A #41-38746

On 05 June 1945, this aircraft departed Dum Dum, India at 1243 Z on a shuttle flight to Jorhat, India.

The only radio contact from the aircraft was a position report transmitted at 1415 Z.  The crew reported its position at that time as S of Lalmanirhat and at 5,000 ft. altitude.

The aircraft never arrived in Jorhat.  Dead: 7.

  • Pilot: Capt. Earl E. Cunningham
  • Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. John J. Besone
  • Radio Operator: Cpl. Morris Adoff
  • Flight Engineer: SSgt. Murdoch M. McLaughlin
  • Asst. Flight Engineer: Pfc. Charles Perkel
  • Passenger: Capt. Lloyd F. Melichar
  • Passenger: Pfc. John Barto

View the Crashed Aircraft Site Report (PDF)


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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