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 #42-23734 a.k.a. CNAC #77
Found 20 Oct 2003

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C-47A #42-23734

This CNAC aircraft departed Kunming, China at 0709 GMT on 06 Jan 1945 for Tengchung, China.

The aircraft was over Tengchung, but was unable to land because of bad weather.  Pilot decided to return to his homebase in Dinjan, India.  Pilot radioed Kunming at 0822 GMT, but received no reply from Kunming.  No further radio contact was made with this aircraft.  Dead: 4.

  • Pilot: Russell W. Coldren
  • Co-Pilot: K.W. Chen
  • Radio Operator: V.N. Chow
  • Radio Operator Trainee: G. Tai

View the Crashed Aircraft Site Report (PDF)

View the ID Reference (PDF)

View the R.W. Coldren Memorial (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