Aircraft History
Constructors Number 6022. Assigned to the USAAF on November 6, 1942. When this C-47 arrived at Hamilton Field it had 25 hours of time. Ferried from Hawaii to South Pacific starting on December 14, 1942. Assigned to the 5th AF on January 5, 1943. Assigned to the 374th Troop Carrier Group on January 12, 1943. Assigned to the 46th TCS pm January 24, 1943.

Mission History
Took off from Dobodura Airfield on a flight bound for Port Moresby carrying freight. It never arrived at its destination. Prior to the flight, an undocumented passenger, Col. John Brewer boarded the flight, likely hitching a ride on the flight. Wood was on detached service from the 46th TCS, 317th TCG.

While flying over the Owen Stanley Mountains, it was last seen going under a cloud bank. In fact, this C-47 crashed in the vicinity of Myola Lakes area.

Wreckage
The 14 ACR mentions that "the plane has been identified by pictures taken by the 21 TCS," which would indicate that the wreckage was located, in a report dated May 16, 1943. However, a memo from Headquarters. Army Air Forces dated June 26, 1946 indicates the occupants were declared dead as of May 13, 1944.

Brian Bennett adds:
"This aircraft has been found and partial remains and dog tag of Brewer found by a tourist and reported to the American Embassy. There was an initial IE sortie. I actually ended up at this site to do the aircraft identification but due to a serious helicopter problem at the time we had to abort but not before I identified the crash site as a C-47 and had photographed a nose number 76 in yellow block letters."

Memorials
The crew is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. Brewer is memorialized (?) in a private cemetery in the United States.

References
Allied Air Transport Operations Volume One page 51 (list Gower as a SSgt), 71 (lists loss over Oro Bay on a combat mission), 118, 381, 400
ABMC lists the pilot Gower as a 2/Lt and Wood's ASN as O-726057
Thanks to Brian Bennett for additional information

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

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