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-53 #42-6479 a.k.a. RAF #MA929
Found 25 Dec 2017

by

C-53 #42-6479

This aircraft was assigned to the 31st Squadron RAF at Palam, India.  Information about the aircraft loss is limited and conflicting.  Aviation Safety Network reports the aircraft departed Dinjan, India for Fort Hertz, Burma at 1330 hrs. on 31 Jan 1943.  The aircraft failed to arrive at its destination and has not been located.  It was reportedly last seen by a Hudson pilot at 1400 hrs., flying at 7,000 ft. near Kamku, India and heading for Fort Hertz.  However, this may have been an erroneous sighting because the crash site was found approx. 60 mi. NNW of Kamku.  The C-47 reference book, The First Seventy Years by Jennifer Gradidge, reports the aircraft as missing in flight on 27 Jan 1943 while enroute from Tezpur, India to Dinjan, India.  Either flight route could plausibly explain the crash site location.  Dead: 6.

  • 1st Pilot: F/O Hugh John Munro Campbell RAAF
  • 2nd Pilot: F/Sgt. John Orson Nicholls RAFVR
  • W.Op./Air Gunner: W/O Kenneth Ross Phelps RAAF
  • W.Op./Air Gunner: W/O2 Joseph Jean Jacques Fernand Casaubon RCAF
  • Fitter IIE: AC1 Thomas Gladstone Williamson RAFVR
  • Passenger: F/Lt. Norman Lee Baugh RAF

View the Crashed Aircraft Site Report (PDF)

C-53 #42-6479 a.k.a. RAF #MA929 Photo Gallery

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Crash site in valley at base of Siirundi Mtn.
Crash site in valley
Wreckage
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Wreckage
Personal artifacts
Personal artifacts
Personal artifacts
Personal artifacts
Personal artifacts
Personal artifacts
Cargo artifacts
Cargo artifacts
Cargo artifacts
Cargo artifacts
1st Pilot Flying Officer<br /> Hugh John Munro Campbell
Gunner Warrant Officer 2 Joseph Jean Jacques Fernand Casaubon (L.)
Gunner Warrant Officer<br /> Kenneth Ross Phelps
Clayton at high camp
Tapir and guide at high camp
Guides, Clayton and Tapir by wreckage
Tapir by wreckage
Crew
Crew

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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