|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| Aeronavale Escadrille 9S Former Assignments USAAF Army D'Air   Aeronavale c1980   Nicholas Duprey 2002 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Celton (died) Crew CPO Crusson (died) Crew CPO Podlesnik (died) Crew CPO Decoudu (died) Crew CPO Lefurau (died) Crew CPO Wullaert (died) Crew CPO Gavard-Pivet (died) Crashed January 21, 1982 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 27374/DO320. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as C-54E-20-DO Skymaster serial number 44-9148. Wartime History During July 1945, this aircraft was presented to French General Charles De Gaulle as a gift from U.S. President Harry S. Truman. Assigned to the Army D'Air (French Air Force) with call sign F-RAMA. The plane had a large "48" (last two digits of the serial number) on the fuselage and stripes on the side of the nose. Postwar During 1956, used by De Gaulle for a visit to New Caledonia. During January 1960 transfered to the Aeronavale (French Naval Aviation) Escadrille 9S with call sign F-SCAC. The upper half of the fuselage was painted white with the lower half bare aluminum. The right side of the nose had a "Z" lightning bolt motif with a black nose cape and insignia below the cockpit window. Afterwards, call sign F-YCIA then F-YEGA designating the aircraft as a non-combat Naval plane. and based at La Tontouta Airport and repainted with a white upper fuselage and bare aluminum lower finish. The right side of the nose had a "Z" lightning bolt motif with a black nose cape and insignia below the cockpit window. Mission History On January 21, 1982 took off from La Tontouta Airport piloted by 1st Lt. Celton on a training mission to practice "touch and go" landings and take offs. At 9:04pm, this plane accidentally crashed into Mount Kokoreta at an elevation of 3,287' / 1,002m. The entire crew was killed on impact. Wreckage The crash site is visible from the main road to Nouméa near La Tontouta Airfield. Nicholas Duprey visited the site in 2002: "We left Noumea at 0830am, just before La Tontouta we turn right to the Bangou tribe. After the tribe there is an little chapel, at the foot of the mountain. Here we must walk to the wreck. We follow a track until a little field, after we leave the civilization, and we enter in a dry forest, not high, but thick, with long, sharp, herbs, and small trees covers by small red ants which fall on us, each time we hit theses trees with our sabers." References USAF Serial Number Search Results - C-54E-20-DO Skymaster 44-9148 SHAA - C-54E-20-DO Skymaster Serial Number 44-9148 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 14, 2024 |
 C-54  Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
