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| USAAF 5th AF 433rd TCG 67th TCS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Edwin F. Scott, O-745953 (MIA / KIA) TX Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Andrew J. Dobrisky, O-678196 (MIA / KIA) Middlesex County, MA Engineer Cpl Stephen J. Knopeck, 12099647 (MIA / KIA) Lackawanna, NY Radio SSgt James J. O'Shea, 33283262 (MIA / KIA) Pittsburgh, PA MIA July 23, 1944 MACR 12271 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Construction Number 11806. On May 28, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as C-47A-DK Skytrain serial number 42-92049. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Wartime History On Aug 23, 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF) in Brisbane. Assigned to 433rd Troop Carrier Group (433rd TCG), 67th Troop Carrier Squadron (67th TCS). Squadron Number (Buzz Number / Field Number) 307. No known nickname, nose art or markings. When lost, engines R-1830-92 serial numbers 107924 and 108837. Mission History On July 23, 1944 at 6:34am took off from Cyclops Drome near Hollandia piloted by 2nd Lt. Edwin F. Scott on a flight bound for Biak. This C-47 was last heard from by the control tower by radio during take off. The weather was thunderstorms northwest of Hollandia with severe turbulence in clouds. When this plane failed to arrive it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). That same morning, other C-47s from the squadron that took off from Cyclops Drome at the same time reported a bad thunderstorm directly to the northwest that extended across the mountains and far inland and approximately five miles out to sea. Other planes from the squadron including C-47 Number 303 and C-47 Number 302 flying to Biak then onward to Noemfoor reported severe weather, turbulence and required required flying on instruments and beyond the weather was clear. Likely, the missing C-47 flew into this same storm and experienced similar or worse conditions. Search On July 24, 1944 in the morning this C-47 was reported as missing and air sea rescue was notified and all squadrons of the 317th Troop Carrier Group (317th TCG) were notified to search during their daily operations. On July 25, 1944 PBY Catalina "Gardenia 3" searched Geelvink Bay from a flight to Bentoni Bay with nil sightings. On July 26, 1944 PBY Catalina "Gardenia 3" searched the Hollandia to Biak area with nil results. On subsequent days this search was repeated with nil results. During the searches, an erroneous report on July 26, 1944 by Captain Beck from the fighter sector at Biak claimed the missing plane departed Kamiri Airfield on Noemfoor at 2:10pm but this was incorrect and was in fact C-47 Number 37. Another report claimed incorrectly the crew returned to duty, but this was also incorrect. The search for this plane were hindered because no officer from a higher echelon was appointed to direct the search. The Army explored the possibility other passengers were aboard as unmanifested passengers, but concluded no passengers were aboard. A report was received that Lt(jg) Charles A. Evans, 0-188781 from the U.S. Navy Reserve (USNR) was reported as missing on July 23, 1944 aboard this C-47 and a request was made for his status. Officially, he was declared dead February 4, 1946 and is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Possibly, Evans was an unmanifested passenger. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 14, 1946. As the flight was non-combat, none of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. The entire crew is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Scott earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. Dobrisky earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart. Knopeck earned no awards. O'Shea earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with Oak Leaf Clusters and Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. References Note, some sources spell Dobrisky incorrectly as Debrisky [sic] NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edwin F. Scott NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Andrew J. Dobrisky NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Stephen J. Knopeck NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James J. O'Shea USAF Serial Number Search Results - C-47A-DK Skytrain 42-92049 Missing Air Crew Report 12271 (MACR 12271) created retroactively circa 1945-1946 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edwin F Scott American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Andrew J. Dobrisky American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Stephen J. Knopeck American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James J. O'Shea FindAGrave - 2Lt Edwin F Scott (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Andrew J Dobrisky (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - CPL Stephen Joseph Knopeck (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt James J O'Shea (tablets of the missing photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 28, 2025 |
 C-47  MIA 4 Missing |
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