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| USAAF 5th AF 375th TCG 56th TCS   USAAF January 1944 |
Pilot 1st Lt Gale J. Chase, O-677984 (MIA / KIA) Great Falls, MT Co-Pilot 1st Lt Frank C. Gecan, O-800346 (MIA / KIA) Clairton, PA Radio; S/Sgt Benton D. Campbell, 19087650 (MIA / KIA) Oakland, CA Crew Chief S/Sgt Joseph C. Draper, 15332843 (MIA / KIA) Reelsville, IN Passenger Cpl Everett F. Rogers, 12140460 (MIA / KIA) Westchester, NY Passenger Cpl Joseph J. Ransdell, 35794488 (MIA / KIA) Lexington, KY Crashed December 23, 1943 MACR 2081 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 9362. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as C-47A-20-DL Skytrain serial number 42-23500. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 375th Troop Carrier Group (375th TCG), 56th Troop Carrier Squadron (56th TCS). Nicknamed "Windy City" or possibly "Windy City Kitty". When lost, engines: R-1830-92 serial numbers 42-108126 and 43-99331. Wartime History On December 23, 1943 at 2:51pm took off from North Borio Airstrip (Dobodura No. 15) piloted by 1st Lt Gale J. Chase on a flight bound for 5-Mile Drome (Ward Drome) near Port Moresby. When this C-47 failed to arrive and was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Search After being reported missing, aircraft flying on the same route were told to search for the missing plane and several aircraft search the Owen Stanley Range south of Kokoda without results. On January 12, 1944 the initial search was terminated. During early January 1944, search aircraft spotted and photographed from the air a swath cut into the jungle that was believed to be the crash site and annotated a map with "wreckage 8° 57' S 147° 35' E" the approximate position in the uppermost slopes of the Owen Stanley Range near the base of Mount Victoria. A search party from U.S. Army Graves Registration (AGRS) was organized to investigate this crash site after completing their investigation of another crash site on Mount Yule. The team was led by Burton E. Tator and included SSgt Thomas O. Miller. The party included Australian W/O Blencowe from the Australia New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) supported by native carriers. On March 1, 1944 the search team departed from Port Moresby on foot. In support of this effort, three separate aerial reconnaissance missions by C-47s photographed the wreckage which was reported to be relatively intact. Due to the difficult terrain the search party dispatched to survey the site failed to reach the location. On March 25, 1944, equipment and rations were air dropped by C-47s of the 275th TGC to the village of Menari, where the team proceeded to Mount Victoria and faced very difficult terrain and were on the wrong ridge and found the site was inaccessible from the foot of the mountain reaching a 1,000' gap that was impassible, but reached 9,000' elevation on the mountain by March 31. Unable to proceed, the team terminated the search and return to Port Moresby. Another recovery expedition was attempted some months later, but this also failed to reach the wreck, lying just above 10,000' altitude. The 5th Air Force decided to classify the human remains as non-recoverable, the case was closed, and the relatives were informed only that their kin were "Missing In Action". Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on the day of the mission. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Chase earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). He also has a memorial marker at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Great Falls, MT. Gecan earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal. Campbell earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal. Draper earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). He also has a memorial marker at Croys Creek Cemetery in Reelsville, IN in the east section. Rogers has a memorial marker on his parents grave at Union Cemetery in Bedford, NY aty plot 310. Randell also has a memorial marker at Lexington Cemetery in Lexington, KY. Wreckage Reportedly, this C-47 remains in situ near the base of Mount Victoria near the crash site of B-24D "Weezie" 42-41081 on Mount Thumb (Mt. Thumb). During 2003, Keith Hopper and Justin Taylan met with the Ambassador Robert Fitts of the US Embassy in Port Moresby to discuss the case of this C-47. Today, the case of "Windy City" remains the quintessential example of a file which needs re-opening. Relatives Robert Valentine Gecan (nephew of Gecan) "1st Lt Frank C. Gecan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross months before the crash. One of his brothers Valentine (Val) Gecan past away a few years ago was a marine in the Pacific theater at the same time. I have heard many great stories about my uncle Frank. I would like to understand better why a mission has not been formed to get these men." References Note, possibly this C-47 was nicknamed "Windy City Kitty". USAF Serial Number Search Results - C-47A-20-DL Dakota 42-23500 "23500 (MSN 9362, 375th TCG, 56th TCS, "Windy City") crashed into Owen Stanley Mountains, New Guinea Dec 23, 1943. MACR 2081. 6 killed." Missing Air Crew Report 2081 (MACR 2081) created January 14, 1944 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - C-47 Dakota 42-23500 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gale J. Chase American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank C. Gecan American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Benton D. Campbell American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph C. Draper American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Everett F. Rogers American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph J. Ransdell FindAGrave - 1Lt Gale J Chase (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Gale J Chase (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Frank C Gecan (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Benton D Campbell (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Joseph Carl Draper (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Joseph Carl Draper (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Corp Everett F Rogers (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Everett F Rogers (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Corp Joseph Jackson Ransdell (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - CPL Joseph Jackson Ransdell (memorial marker photo) Thanks to Robert Valentine Gecan, Brian Bennett and Keith Hopper for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? 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 C-47  Photo Archive  Map 8 57' S 147 35' E  MIA 6 Missing |
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