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| USAAF 5th AF 317th TCG 40th TCS Former Assignments 375th TCG  Ian Williams 1990s    Daniel Leahy 2001   Alan Murray 2006 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Raymond E. Anglin, USAAF (KIA, BR) TX Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. James W. Kennedy, USAAF (KIA, BR) Allen County, OH Engineer Sgt Frank J. Ropinski, USAAF (KIA, BR) Jefferson County, WI Radio Sgt Harold L. Baumstein, USAAF (KIA, BR) Hartford, CT Crew Sgt Robert L. Adkins, USAAF (KIA, BR) Lima, OH Passenger Flt. Lt. Roy Edgar Abbott, RAAF 264204 (KIA, BR) Mittagong, NSW Passenger Flt. Lt. Albert Ernest Watkin, RAAF 405265 (KIA, BR) Bundaberg, QLD Passenger Sgt Ronald Keith Pitchford, RAAF 410850 (KIA, BR) Hawthorn, VIC Passenger Cpl William Brady, RAAF 35720 (KIA, BR) Kingsgrove, NSW Passenger Cpl Francis Paul Morris, RAAF 71310 (KIA, BR) Stanmore, NSW Passenger LAC John Given Maxwell, RAAF 21638 (KIA, BR) Greta, NSW Passenger LAC Stanley Kirk Sims, RAAF 28071 (KIA, BR) Crystal Brook, SA Passenger Lt. Hartley H. Lockie, AIF NX151680 12 Adv. Ord. Depot HQ (KIA, BR) Orange, NSW Passenger Lt. Ross Roswell AIF NX107453 (KIA, BR) Newcastle, NSW Passenger Sgt Victor Frederick Bishop, AIF NX82072 5 Movt. Control Grp (KIA, BR) Queenscliff, NSW Passenger Sgt William Joseph Parker, AIF NX133213 (KIA, BR) Strathfield, NSW Passenger LSgt Trevor William Davey, AIF VX69200 (KIA, BR) Elsternwick, VIC Passenger Gnr William Howard Dorman, AIF QX24775 (KIA, BR) Charters Towers, QLD Passenger Pte A. H. Mildre, AIF QX52001 1 Trg. Bn. (KIA, BR) Crashed November 16, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 9451. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as C-47A-30-DL Skytrain serial number 42-23589. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 375th Troop Carrier Group (375th TCG). Next, assigned to the 317th Troop Carrier Group (317th TCG), 40th Troop Carrier Squadron (40th TCS). Nicknamed "Betty El" with Australian call sign VH-CGK. Mission History On November 16, 1943 took off from Darwin piloted by 1st Lt. Raymond E. Anglin on a flight bound for Brisbane. This C-47 flew into a violent storm with lightning and crashed at Carnarvon Gorge killing everyone aboard on impact. Officially condemned on June 9, 1945. Wreckage This C-47 crashed onto the Rewan property at Carnarvon Gorge, Queensland. The wreckage was recovered by the Australian Army 25th Battalion / Assault Pioneer Platoon. Daniel Leahy adds: "The remains of a USAAF C-47B (VH-CGK) are located at Carnarvon Gorge, Queensland. It appears as if the white bar has been hastily added to the pre-43 star in circle logo. The back of the wing has been hacked by what looks to be an axe." Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of the crew were recovered by the Australian Army 25th Battalion / Assault Pioneer Platoon and transported to Springsure. Later, the Australians were buried at Rockhampton Cemetery. Mildre at Plot A. Row A. Grave 15. Lockie at plot A. row A. grave 16. Bishop plot A, row A, grave 12. Lockie plot A. row A, grave 16. Postwar, the American remains were transported to the United States and Philippines for permenant burial. Memorial Everyone aboard was officially declared dead the day of the crash. Anglin is buried at Ridge Park Cemetery in Hillsboro, TX in section 19. Kennedy earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot A Row 10 Grave 156. Ropinski is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section B site 976 Baumstein is buried at Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery in Wethersfield, CT at AF 53. Adkins is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Lima, OH. The Australian passengers are buried at buried at Rockhampton War Cemetery. Abbot at plot A, row A, grave 6. Watkin at plot A. plot A. grave 8. Watkin also has a memorial marker at Anakie Cemetery, Anakie, QLD on the memorial wall. Pitchford at plot A, row A, grave 6. Brady at plot A, row A, grave 7. Morris at plot A, row A, grave 5. Maxwell at plot A, row A, grave 10. Sims at plot A, row A, grave 11. Lockie at plot A, row A, grave 16. Rowsell at plot A, row A, grave 13. Bishop at plot A. row A, grave 12. Parker at plot A, row B, grave 1. Davey at plot A. row B, grave 2. Dorman at plot A. row A, grave 14. Mildre at plot A. row A, grave 15 After the recovery of remains, the Australian Army 25th Battalion / Assault Pioneer Platoon built a memorial at the crash site at Carnarvon National Park including the port wing with the US star marking, an engine and landing gear leg. The memorial was since refurbished by Roma Boy Scouts Group, and the Injune R.S.L. Red, white and blue display posts raise the wreckage above the ground for display. The other engine was moved to Springsure (approximately 70km away from the Carnarvon Gorge) as a monument to the location where the bodies from the crash were initially transported. References Some sources incorrectly list the crash date as November 9, 1943 [sic November 16, 1943] NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James W. Kennedy NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Frank J. Ropinski NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - H. L. Baunstein USAF Serial Number Search Results - C-47A-30-DL 42-23589 "23589 (MSN 9451) condemned Jun 9, 1945 due to accident" FindAGrave - 1LT Raymond E. Anglin (photos, grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James W. Kennedy FindAGrave - MSgt James W Kennedy (grave photo) FindAGrave - Frank J. Ropinski (grave photo) FindAGrave - SGT Harold L. Baumstein (grave photo) FindAGrave - Robert Levett Adkins (grave photos) CWCG - Roy Edgar Abbott FindAGrave - Roy Edgar Abbott (grave photos) CWGC - Albert Ernest Watkin FindAGrave - Lieut Albert Ernest Watkin (grave photo) FindAGrave - Albert Edward Watkin (memorial marker photo) CWGC - Ronald Keith Pitchford FindAGrave - Sgt Ronald Keith Pitchford (grave photos) CWGC - William Brady FindAGrave - Corp William Brady (grave photos) CWGC - Francis Paul Morris FindAGrave - Col Francis Paul Morris sic Cpl (grave photos) CWCG - John Given Maxwell FindAGrave - John Given Maxwell (grave photos) CWCG - Stanley Kirk Sims FindAGrave - LAC Stanley Kirk Sims (grave photos) CWGC - Hartley Horace Lockie FindAGrave - Lieut Hartley Horace Lockie (grave photos) CWGC - Ross Rowsell FindAGrave - Lieut Ross Rowsell (grave photos) CWGC - Victor Frederick Bishop FindAGrave - Sgt Victor Frederick Bishop (grave photos) CWGC - William Joseph Parker FindAGrave - Sgt William Joseph Parker (grave photos) CWGC - Trevor William Davey FindAGrave - Sgt Trevor William Davey (grave photos) CWGC - William Howard Dorman FindAGrave - William Howard Dorman (grave photos) CWGC - Andrew Henry Mildren FindAGrave - PVT Andrew Henry Mildren (grave photos) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? 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