Pilot 1st Lt. Celton
Crew CPO Crusson
Crew CPO Podlesnik
Crew CPO Decoudu
Crew CPO Lefurau
Crew CPO Wullaert
Crew CPO Gavard-Pivet
Crashed January 21, 1982
Aircraft History
Built by Douglas. Constructors Number 27374 / DO320. Delivered to the U. S. Army Air Force as C-54E-20-DO Skymaster serial number 44-9148.
Wartime History
During July 1945, this aircraft was given
to French General Charles De Gaulle, by U. S. President
Harry S. Truman. Assigned to the French with a large '48' on the fuselage and stripes on the side of the nose and call sign F-RAMA.
Postwar
Used by De Gaulle when he visited New Caledonia
in 1956. Afterwards, it was based at La Tontouta Airport in 1966 transfered to 9S Aeronavale (French Naval Aviation), overpainting the Army D'Air markings.
Mission History
On January 21, 1982, this aircraft was on a "touch and go" training. It accidentally flew into Mount Kokoreta at an elevation of 1,002m at 9:04
pm.
Wreckage
Can be see from the main
road from 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
SHAA - C-54E-20-DO Skymaster Serial Number 44-9148
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Last Updated
June 3, 2020
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