Pilot 1st Lt Charles O. Cathcart, O-664971 (MIA / KIA)
Co-Pilot F/O Darwin R. Hamilton, T-185577 (MIA / KIA)
Engineer Sgt Theodore Slocki, 32168337 (NJ) (MIA / KIA)
Radio Sgt William H. Fetzer, 13048370 (MIA / KIA)
Passenger Cpl Jeremiah J. Ryan, 17038060 (35th FC Sqn) (KIA)
Passenger Pfc Austin J. Lothschutz, 36159172 (35th FC Sqn) (KIA)
Passenger Pvt Sam Rothstein, 32486190 (35th FC Squadron) (KIA)
Passenger Cpl Thomas B. Renkes (39th FS, HQ) (KIA)
Passenger Earl L. Kahler, 17024726 (39th FS, HQ) (Platte, WY) (KIA)
Shot Down August 15, 1943
MACR 14358
Crew History
Cathcart and Ryan are buried at Manila American Cemetary.
Aircraft History
Engines: R-1830-92 AAF Serial Numbers: Left, 42-11207 and Right, 42-11210. Nose number 13.
Mission History
Took off from Port Moresby fully loaded with supplies and personnel of the 35th Fighter Command Squadron and 39th Fighter Squadron. While in the traffic pattern for Tsili Tsili Airfield, its second flight was intercepted by Ki-43 Oscars led by Shigeo Nango of the 59th Sentai. This C-47 was shot down south-west of Tsili Tsili with the loss of all aboard. It was never found in searches following its disappearance. Also lost is C-47 "Liliane" 41-18682.
Wreckage
Crash rougly five to eight miles from Tsili Tsili, and was listed as MIA.
Daniel Leahy adds:
"I
have checked my RAAF Searcher Briefs and Casualty Cards (which usually include the details of post-war RAAF finds/recoveries) and am unable to see anything related to this loss"
The crash site was located (1950?) and crew remains were recovered.
Memorials
Six members of the crew were recovered and temporarily buried at USAF Masolium #1 at Manila American Cemetery. Later, these remains were sent to the United States for group burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery: Fetzer, Hamilton, Lothschutz, Rothstein, Kahler and Renkes. Buried at Manila American Cemetery are Ryan (F-4-7) and Cathcart (H-13-127). Slocki is buried at Arlington. Thanks to Ted Darcy for burial details.
Relatives
Larry Slocki (nephew of Slocki)
"Theodore Slocki was my uncle. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in 1950. The story I heard from my Dad (his younger brother) was that his remains were found that year, hence his funeral then at Arlington."
References
Thanks to Daniel Leahy and Edward Rogers for additional crew details.
35th Fighter Group "Historical Resume", page 5 via Carlos Dannacher
Japanese Army Air Force Aces 1937-45, page 60
Allied Air Transport Operations SWPA in WWII Volume 2, page 11, 51, 72, 79
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