USAAF
5th AF
375 TCG
57th TCS

Bruce Fenstermaker 1987

Crew 2nd Lt Robert W. Mc Dowell, O-721828 OH (KIA)
Crew Sgt Charles A. Donnelly, 11117634 MA (KIA)
Crashed  January 9, 1945
MACR  11648

Mission History
Lost on a flight from Biak to Peleliu. The remains of the three crew members were recovered in 1945 and two of which are buried at the Manila Cemetery.

Wreckage
Crashed on Biak. Bruce Fenstermaker visited the site in 1987.

Bruce Fenstermaker adds:
"From what I remember is - the 375th converted to C-46 aircraft late in 1944 but this aircraft, albeit war weary was not retired at Biak but was being still used. I believe this aircraft took off with two other aircraft from the group/squadron but rather than turning the direction of the other aircraft after take off, did not and for unknown reason crashed near the north west of Biak. A note on geography is that Biak is actually divided into two parts - Biak island to the S/W and Superori is the local reference to the N/W portion separated by a narrow isthmus. The crash site is located in the lower Biak area itself but to the N/W near the coast area - inland. I had gotten the MACR on this aircraft at about the same time as many others - about 1986 for future surveys of Biak itself. In 1987 I took a small  boat up around the N/E coast area of Biak stopping periodically to survey known /unknown/ unreported crash sites along the Biak coast. This crash site was an added Datum point to cross check the accuracy of the MACR report and location itself. The info was correct and it added to my experience of surveying and investigating sites. I also wanted to see if recoverability of remains was related to dynamic forces and destruction of the aircraft since the remains of the crew was recovered."

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