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| USAAF 5th AF 374th TCG 22nd TCS   Rodger Kelly c1985   Phil Bradley 2005 |
Pilot SSgt Elmer L. Crowley (KIA, BR) Wagner, SD Co-Pilot F/O Robert Vernon Newlin, T-185525 317th TCG, 46th TCS (KIA, BR) Annapolis, IL Engineer MSgt Benjamin J. Palma, 6555927 (KIA, BR) IL Crew Sgt Charles A. Kelley, 17024004 (KIA, BR) Chicago, IL Crew Cpl John J. Peaff, Jr., 12011691 (KIA, BR) NJ Crew Pfc Leon M. Trach, 12017118 (KIA, BR) Constantia, NY Passenger Pte Lawrence Oliver Clive Caldwell, VX90608 34 Tng. Bn (KIA, BR) Yarrawonga, VIC Passenger Pte Alma Mark Webb, QX31224 AIF NGF Adv. Reinf. Depot (KIA, BR) Redcliffe, QLD Crashed March 11, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 6045. On November 16, 1942 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as C-47-DL Skytrain serial number 41-38662. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History On January 8, 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 347th Troop Carrier Group (347th TCG), 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron (22nd TCS). No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On March 11, 1943 took off on a mission to air drop supplies to Australian Army soldiers in the Mubo area. Aboard were two Australian passengers. Dropping supplies over Skindiwai, one wing clipped a tree and crashed killing everyone aboard at roughly Lat 7.19S Long 146.5 E. Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of the crew and passengers were recovered by the Australian Army troops in the area. Phil Bradley adds: "I talked with an Australian commando veteran, Bruce Lestrange, who saw the crash. He says there were 15 killed in the crash including Aussies helping to throw out the supplies. The wing clipped a tree went in." Daniel Leahy adds: "I've just done a quick search on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll, two listed as 'Accidental' in 'New Guinea'. I can't find any other Australian deaths listed on AWM which meets this 'criteria' for days around March 11, suggesting that if other Australians were on board, they most likely survived. I've gone through them, trying to get their actual death details from service records, and both were confirmed as being killed in an air accident at/near Skindewai: Caldwell and Webb." Memorials The crew and passengers were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Crowley earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster and Purple Heart, postumously. He is buried at Black Hills National Cemetery at section B site 110. Newlin is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Porterville, IL. Palma earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, postumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot J, Row 1, Grave 25. Kelley earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, postumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot H Row 3 Grave 101. Peaff is buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in West Long Branch, NJ. Trach has an unknown burial, likely in private cemetery in his hometown in the United States. Caldwell is buried at Lae War Cemetery at H. C. 12. Webb is buried at Lae War Cemetery at H. C. 15. Wreckage This C-47 remains in situ. The crash site includes the tail section, fuselage door, engine with propeller, tail section, wing wreckage and other pieces. References Note, some sources list the date of this crash as March 10, 1943 [sic, March 11, 1943] NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert V. Newlin NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Charles A. Kelley NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John J. Peaff NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Leon M. Trach USAF Serial Number Search Results - C-47-DL Skytrain 41-38662 "38662 (MSN 6045) to USAAF Nov 16, 1942 - 5th AF, Australia Jan 08, 1943. Accident Mar 10, 1943. Hit trees on supply mission, Skindiwai, PNG. 8 killed." NAA: Australian Army 2/7 Infantry record: March 11, 1943 Syracuse Herald-Journal "Obituary Pfc Leon S. Trach" April 7, 1943 FindAGrave - Elmer L Crowley (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Robert Vernon Newlin (grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Benjamin J. Palma FindAGrave - MSgt Benjamin Joseph Palma (grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles A. Kelley FindAGrave - Sgt Charles A Kelley (Manila American Cemetery) FindAGrave - Corp John J. Peaff, Jr (grave photos) FindAGrave - PFC Leon S. Trach (obituary, grave photo) CWGC - Lawrence Oliver Clive Caldwell CWGC - Alma Mark Webb Allied Air Transport Operations South West Pacific Area in WWII, Volume Two (2006) pages 51 (Newlin), 58 (March 11, 1943 C-47 crash), 71 (March 11, 1943 C-47 41-18642 [sic, C-47 41-38662]), 82 (Palma awards), 83 (Crowley awards), 355 (Newlin), 357 (Newlin assigned 46th TCS October 1942), 371 (Newlin killed March 11, 1943), 400 (C-47 41-18642 [sic, 41-38662] crash Skindewai), 425 (loss of 41-38662), 547 (index C-47 41-38662), 550 (index Crowley), 558 (index Newlin), 559 (index Palma, Peaff) Thanks to Rodger Kelly and Phil Bradley and Daniel Leahy for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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 C-47  Photo Archive  7.19S 146.5 E |
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