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| USAAF 5th AF 417th BG 673rd BS |
Pilot Captain Eldred E. Kellogg, O-803830 417th BG, 673rd BS (MIA / KIA) East Bethany, NY Co-Pilot Capt. James E. Dickey, O-804626 417th BG, 673rd BS (MIA / KIA) Burlington, NC Engineer SSgt William F. Caruthers, 37226279 417th BG, 673rd BS (MIA / KIA) Junction City, KS Radio SSgt Morris Cohen, 31159757 417th BG, 673rd BS (MIA / KIA) Roxbury, MA Passenger Captain Robert F. Meeker, O-804705 417th BG, 673rd BS (MIA / KIA) Tiffin, OH Passenger SSgt Luigi F. Bettina, 32742646 417th BG, 672nd BS (MIA / KIA) NY Passenger 1st Lt Richard F. Stanley, O-7625001 417th BG, 673rd BS (MIA / KIA) Corcoran, CA Passenger SSgt Fred O. Miller, 18062910 417th BG, 672nd BS (MIA / KIA) Wortham, TX Passenger 2nd Lt Harvey J. McHenry, O-77108 417th BG, 673rd BS (MIA / KIA) Benton, PA Passenger Sgt Frank A. Lo Vallo, 33603032 417th BG, 672nd BS (MIA / KIA) Scranton, PA Passenger 1st Lt Victor Paschild, O-759722 417th BG, 672nd BS (MIA / KIA) Hammond, OR Passenger Sgt Glenn E. Sinclair, 06245345 417th BG, 672nd BS (MIA / KIA) Denver, CO Passenger 2nd Lt Gregor M. Bronson, O-762454 3rd BG, 8th BS (MIA / KIA) WA Passenger Sgt James F. Tyree, 34711240 417th BG, 672nd BS (MIA / KIA) Lewisburg, TN Passenger 2nd Lt Robert A. Daube,O-779805 43rd BG, 65th BS (MIA / KIA) CA Passenger Sgt Albert L. Desrochers, 31353365 417th BG, 673rd BS (MIA / KIA) Newton, MA Passenger 2nd Lt Thomas D. Galey, 02060788 43rd BG, 403rd BS (MIA / KIA) GA Passenger Sgt Harry C. Gould, 36454904 417th BG, 673rd BS (MIA / KIA) Grand Rapids, MI Passenger 2nd Lt Kenneth W. Sober, O-78321 43rd BG, 65th BS (MIA / KIA) Ellis County, OK Passenger Sgt Michael Mikula, 12135212 417th BG, 673rd BS (MIA / KIA) Jersey City, NJ Passenger 2nd Lt Robert G. Powel, 02037437 USAAF, 93rd Replacement Battalion (MIA / KIA) Essex County, NJ Passenger Sgt Emerson A. Tanner, 34651430 417th BG, 673rd BS (MIA / KIA) Cheraw, SC Passenger SSgt William I. Shaw, 16186470 417th BG, 672nd BS (MIA / KIA) Detroit, MI Passenger Sgt Selby L. Yates, 16075385 417th BG, 673rd BS (MIA / KIA) Godfrey, IL Crashed March 27, 1945 MACR 14320 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 20477. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as C-47A-90-DL Skytrain serial number 43-16011. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 417th Bombardment Group "Sky Lancers" (417th BG), 673rd Bombardment Squadron (673rd BS) "Flying Cowboys". Nicknamed "Windy City". When lost, engines: R-1830-92 serial numbers CP-358202 and CP-358185. No armament was aboard this aircraft. On March 16, 1945 took off from Hill Airfield on Mindoro Island in the Philippines on a flight bound for Sydney. Aboard were personnel from several units traveling to Australia for rest and recuperation (R&R). Mission History On March 27, 1945 at 8:21pm took off from Garbutt Field at Townsville piloted by Captain Eldred E. Kellogg on an administrative flight northward over the Coral Sea bound for Finschafen Airfield on the north coast of New Guinea. Aboard were personnel from several units including the 417th BG, 43rd BG and 3rd BG that were returning to their units on Mindoro Island in the Philippines. When this aircraft failed to arrive, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search After being reported as lost, a search was begun on March 29, 1945 with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) searching out to sea between Townsville and Port Moresby with Sunderland flying boats. Also, the 310th Bomb Wing Air & Sea Rescue section and the Combat Replacement Training Center (CRTC) searched from Nadzab Airfield. In addition, all airfields north of Townsville were checked for the missing C-47, in case it diverted to another airfield. On April 2, 1945 two Sunderlands searched unsuccessfully. Although several rumors were received during these searches, none proved to be substantiated. No trace of the aircraft was ever found. Memorials The crew and passengers (with the exception of Bronson) were officially declared dead the day of the flight. Bronson was officially declared dead on July 27, 1945 likely this is an administrative error. Because this flight was over a non-combat area, none of the crew or passengers earned the Purple Heart posthumously. To this day, the entire crew remains officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). The entire crew is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Kellogg earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He also has a memorial marker at East Bethany Cemetery in East Bethany, NY. Dickey earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. Cohen earned the Air Medal. Meeker earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Stanley earned the Air Medal. Paschild earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Galey earned the Air Medal. Bronson has a memorial mark at Rosedale Cemetery in Gig Harbor, WA. Tyree has a memorial marker at Haynes Cemetery in Culleoka, TN. Gould has a memorial marker at Seaman Cemetery in Casnovia, MI. Relatives Barbara Graham Hammaker (niece of Captain Robert Meeker) "My uncle was a passenger on the plane, getting ready to come home after 100 hours of combat flight in the Pacific Arena of WWII. My 89 year old mom is the last survivor of her generation from my uncle, AAF Capt. Robert Meeker, who was lost on the C-47 transport "Windy City" on March 27, 1945. I pray that he might still be found that she could have the peace of that closure. Our family was told that the flight encountered a typhoon, and was presumed lost in the Coral Sea on its flight from Cooktown Airfield to 5 Mile (Ward) near Port Moresby. [April 10, 2014] I wanted you to know that Capt. Robert F. Meeker's only remaining sibling, Dorothy (my mom) passed after a brief illness in October 2013. We did send the mDNA evidence to the US Army and they have confirmed it is on file for identifying my uncle, should his remains from the C-47 Windy City wreck ever be found in New Guinea. I hope you will contact me should there ever be a breakthrough. I was contacted by the daughter of another passenger of that flight (relative of Bronson) and we hope every day that some day a lead will be found for that missing flight. Thank you again for all you do." Wreckage The wreckage of this aircraft has never been located. It is believed to be somewhere in the mountains behind Kamadarang village in the Saruwaged Range. Brian Bennett adds: "The radio code books belonging to radio operator 'Cohen' were found in a crash site in that area. However a later investigation had the locals taking a party to B-25D "Torrid Tessie The Terror" 41-29692 though I think that the C47 is still there though local knowledge may now be gone and the C-47 'lost again'." References Note, passenger Lovallo is listed as "Lovallo" [sic] in some sources. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James E. Dickey NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Morris Co hen [sic Cohen] NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert F. Meeker NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Luigi F. Bettina NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Fred O. Miller NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Frank A. Lo Vallo NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Glenn E. Sinclair NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James F. Tyree NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Albert L. Desrochers NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harry C. Gould NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Kenneth W. Sober NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Michael Mikula NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert G. Powel NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Emerson A. Tanner NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William I. Shaw NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Selby L. Yates USAF Serial Number Search Results - C-47A-90-DL Skytrain 43-16011 "16011 (MSN 20477, 417th TCG) lost Mar 27, 1945, New Guinea. MACR 14320" Missing Air Crew Report 14320 (MACR 14320) created April 3, 1945 (Page 2) 6. Aircraft type, model and series: C-47A-12 [sic, C-47A-90-DL] 7. Nickname of aircraft, if any: none [sic, "Windy City"] PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - C-47 Dakota 43-16011 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Eldred E. Kellogg American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James E. Dickey American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William F. Caruthers American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Morris Cohen American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert F. Meeker American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Luigi F. Bettina American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard F. Stanley American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Fred O. Miller American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harvey J. McHenry American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank A. Lo Vallo American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Victor Paschild American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Glenn E. Sinclair American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gregor M. Bronson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James F. Tyree American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert A. Daube American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Albert L. Desrochers American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas D. Galey American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harry C. Gould American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kenneth W. Sober American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Michael Mikula American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert G. Powel American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Emerson A. Tanner American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William I. Shaw American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Selby L. Yates FindAGrave - Capt Eldred Kellogg (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Capt Eldred E Kellogg (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - CAPT James E Dickey (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt William F Caruthers (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Morris Cohen (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Capt Robert F Meeker (photos, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Luigi F Bettina (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Richard F. Stanley (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Fred O Miller (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2Lt Harvey J Mchenry (tablets of the missing, photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Frank A Lo Vallo (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Victor Paschild (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Glenn E Sinclair (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Lt Gregor M Bronson (memorial marker) FindAGrave - 1Lt Gregor M Bronson (tablets of the missing photo) date of death listed as July 27, 1945 [sic] FindAGrave - James Freeland Tyree (memorial marker) FindAGrave - Sgt James F Tyree (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Robert A. Daube (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Albert L Desrochers (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Thomas Dandridge Galey (tablets of the missing photo, map) FindAGrave - Sgt Harry C Gould (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Harry C. Gould (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Kenneth W Sober (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Michael Mikula (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Robert G Powel (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Emerson A Tanner (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt William I Shaw (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Selby L Yates (tablets of the missing photo) DPMO Service Personnel Not Recovered Following WWII for the U.S. Army Air Force Last name beginning with L - Lovallo [sic, Lo Vallo] via Wayback Machine December 9, 2014 DPAA Service Personnel Not Recovered Following WWII for the U.S. Army Air Forces - Lovallo [sic, Lo Vallo] DPAA Service Personnel Not Recovered Following WWII from Pennsylvania - Lovalle [sic, Lo Vallo] Thanks to Barbara Graham Hammaker and Brian Bennett for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? 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 C-47  Map March 27, 1945  MIA 24 Missing |
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