C-46D-20-CU Commando Serial Number  44-78490

USAAF
5th AF
374th TCG
6th TCS

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AGRS 1948
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Richard Leahy 1978

 

 

Pilot  Zagata
Co-Pilot  Scott
Passenger  ?
Passenger  ?
Passenger  ?
Passenger  ?
Crashed  October 10, 1945

AIrcraft History
Constructors Number 22313.

Mission History
Radio call sign, W8490. It was lost on October 10, 1945 on a routine cargo flight, with a crew of five, headed for the Saidor area. Most likely due to poor weather, the aircraft was last head from at Saidor, and searches failed to locate the wreckage. It had crashed at 11,000' on the north face of Sarwaged Mountain range, 12 nautical miles north of Boana in kunai grass.

Wreckage
The crash site was dicovered by US Army AGRS in 1948. Remains were remains recovered by AGRS Sgt. Robert T. Swith on October 25, 1948. The site was rediscovered in 1978 by Richard Leahy and Noel Spalding.

Richard Leahy adds:
"Badly broken passengers moved from the rear fuse (still in one piece although open) and covered a distance of about 20 to 30 meters and  positioned themselves right up under the starbord wing section. I actually have photographs of these remains in situte. This was the only shelter available anywhere."

References
Thanks to Richard Leahy for information and photographs.

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