|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 403rd TCG 63rd TCS  USAAF c1944 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Dean W. Gordon, O-769423 (MIA / KIA, BR) River Falls, WI Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Harvey E. Meitner, O-770715 (MIA / KIA, BR) Waterloo, WI Co-Pilot F/O Leslie H. Latham, T-7620 (MIA / KIA, BR) Stockton, CA Navigator 2nd Lt. Edward L. Seebon, O-2078704 (MIA / KIA, BR) Fostoria, OH Crew Chief SSgt Robert E. Beasley, 37137706 (MIA / KIA, BR) St. Louis, MS Radio Sgt Casimir J. Kaplan, 32460015 (MIA / KIA, BR) Bayonne, NJ Mail Clerk Cpl Don C. Tang, 39862104 (MIA / KIA, BR) Phoenix, AZ Passenger TSgt Paul J. Tyler (MIA / KIA, BR) Salem, OR Crashed July 17, 1945 MACRÂ 14767 Aircraft History Built by Curtiss-Wright. Constructors Number 33163. Delivered to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as C-46D-10-CU Commando serial number 44-77767. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 403rd Troop Carrier Group (403rd TCG), 63rd Troop Carrier Squadron (63rd TCS). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines R2800-75 serial numbers FF-084624 and FF-087135. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On July 17, 1945 took off from Palawan Airfield (APO 705) piloted by 1st Lt. Dean W. Gordon on a transportation and mail run transporting cargo bound for Nichols Field (APO 75). At take off, weather conditions were diminishing to 1,000' ceiling a APO 75 with heavy rain along the route. Wind was 20 knots requiring solid instrument flying above 1,000'. An hour and 20 minutes after takeoff, this aircraft sent a message giving their estimated time of arrival that was received by Nichols Field. When this aircraft failed to arrive it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, this C-46 crashed onto the peak of a mountain on northwest Mindoro Island. Search At 6:00pm Air Sea Rescue Service (ASRS) began searching for this aircraft, searching the entire path of the mission. On July 19, 1945 seven aircraft were used to search. On July 20, 1945 three aircraft were used. On June 21, 1945 this aircraft was discovered on the "northeast side of a peak on the northwestern tip of Mindoro Island, where it had crashed". Wreckage Afterwards, this crash site was located and remains recovered. Recovery of Remains After the recovery of remains, the remains were transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Since the flight was a non-combat flight, none of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Gordon, Meitner and Latham are buried in a group burial at Fort McPherson Cemetery at plot R, 0, 3. Seebon is buried at Saint Wendelin Catholic Cemetery in Fostoria, OH. Beasley is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot L row 17 grave 60. Kaplan is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ. Tang is buried at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, AZ. Tyler is buried at Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, OR at block 10, section 14, lot 5. Relatives John "Mighty" Meitner (son of Harvey E. Meitner) mitey@midplains.net "I am now decided to make an effort to get a Purple Heart awarded for my father 1 Lt. Harvey E. Meitner. Don't know if this will ever help you with anything, but..... Now I must report to you that the Army (in June of 1949) did recover the remains of the six men in that plane, transport them to the US, and they are buried in two communal graves at Ft. McPherson." References Note, U. S. Army records and MACR 14767 spell crew member "Casimir J. Kaplan" yet his grave spells his first name "Casimer". NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Dean W. Gordon NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harvey E. Meitner NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Casimir J. Kaplan USAF Serial Number Search Results - C-46D-10-CU Commando 44-77767 Missing Air Crew Report 14767 (MACR 14767) created July 20, 1945 FindAGrave - 1LT Dean W Gordon (photos, grave photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Harvey E Meitner (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Leslie H Latham (group burial photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Edward L Seebon (grave photos) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert E. Beasley FindAGrave - Robert E. Beasley (news, grave photo) FindAGrave - Casimer J. Kaplan first name spelled "Casimer" FindAGrave - Corp Don C. Tang (grave photo) FindAGrave - Paul J. Tyler Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
|
 C-46 MIA 7 Missing Resolved |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
