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USAAF 5th AF 375th TCG 57th TCS Bruce Fenstermaker 1987 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Thomas H. Fletcher, O-810641 (MIA / KIA, BR) Marion, IN Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Robert W. McDowell, O-721828 (MIA / KIA, BR) Wooster, OH Navigator 2nd Lt Carl F. Copeland, O-811318 (MIA / KIA, BR) MA Radio Sgt Charlie A. Donnelly, 11117634 (MIA / KIA, BR) Newton, MA Engineer TSgt James E. Wilson, 35677218 (MIA / KIA, BR) Middletown, OH Crashed January 9, 1945 at 10:30am MACR 11648 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 18942. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as C-47A-65-DL Skytrain serial number 42-100479. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 375th Troop Carrier Group (375th TCG), 57th Troop Carrier Squadron (57th TCS). No nose art or nickname. When lost, engines R-1330-92-41 serial number (left) CP-3578938 (right) R-41-1600. Mission History On January 9, 1945 took off from Boroke Airfield on Biak piloted by 2nd Lt. Thomas H. Fletcher on a flight bound for Peleliu Airfield. Search When this aircraft failed to arrive, other American aircraft were informed to search for this missing plane but failed to find any trace. Plus, Air-Sea Rescue plus C-47s from the 375th Troop Carrier Group searched for this aircraft. Wreckage On March 11, 1945, this C-47 was found in a swamp on the north side of Biak. The crash site was inaccessible aside from pack mules. Recovery of Remains On March 11, 1945 the remains of all the crew were recovered from the crash site. On March 12, 1945 they were buried at Bosnek #1 Cemetery (USAAF) on Biak. Later, the remains were transported to the Philippines and United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the crash. As the flight was deemed to be non-combat, none of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. McDowell is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot F row 8 grave 66. Copeland earned the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. He was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, posthumously. Copeland is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot A row 3 grave 171. Donnelly is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot F row 3 grave 52. Fletcher is buried at Grant Memorial Park n Marion, IN. Wreckage This aircraft crashed on the north side of Biak. Bruce Fenstermaker visited the crash in 1987: "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 Superior 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." References USAF Serial Number Search Results - C-47A-70-DL Skytrain 42-100479 "100479 (375th TCG) lost Jan 9, 1945, SW Pacific. MACR 11648" Missing Air Crew Report 11648 (MACR 11648) created March 27, 1945 January 1945 USAAF Overseas Accident Report does not list C-47A 42-100479 FindAGrave - Lieut Thomas H Fletcher (grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert W. McDowell FindAGrave - 2Lt Robert Wright McDowell (grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Carl F. Copeland FindAGrave - 1Lt Carl F Copeland (grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles A. Donnelly FindAGrave - Sgt Charles A Donnelly (grave photo) FindAGrave - TSGT James E Wilson (grave photo) Thanks to Bruce Fenstermaker, Ted Darcy and Phil Fazzini for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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