USAAF
5th AF
317th TCG
39th TCS
July 1945
Pilot Col. Peter Peterson, O-22803 (KIA)
Passenger Pfc Eleanor Hanna (KIA May 14, 1945)
Passenger SSgt Laura Besley (KIA May 15, 1945)
Passenger T/Sgt Kenneth Decker (survived)
Passenger Cpl Margaret Hastings (survived)
Passenger 1st Lt. John McColom (survived)
Passenger Maj. Herman F. Antonini, O-351875 (KIA)
Passengers Plus 17 others (KIA)
Crashed May 13, 1945
MACR 14697
Aircraft History
Call Sign VH-CHG. Noes Number 13.
Mission History
This aircraft took off from Sentai Drome near Hollandia on
a sight seeing trip with 24 passengers (including 8 women), lead by Col.
Peter Peterson to view the valley known as 'Shangri-La', actually Balim,
a hidden valley between Hollandia and Merauke.
Unable to find the location initially, the plane circled, then went lower for a closer look. The C-47 was caught in a downdraft, and crashed, with only five surviving who were in the rear of the plane. Two of the survivors (Pfc Eleanor Hanna and SSgt Laura Besley) died the following two day from their wounds. The three remaining survivors set off on foot towards the hidden valley but collapsed.
Rescue Mission
Twenty-four aircraft from Hollandia searched for the lost plane. Spotted
from the air, two paratrooper Filipino Regiment medics jumped to tend to their wounds twice a day for more then a month.
Plans were made to rescue them from the valley, by dropping paratroopers in to prepare a landing strip. Another group went to the wreck and buried the 19 crew members, laying 19 crosses and 1 star of david at the site. It took several weeks to clear the landing strip.
On June 28, 1945 a C-46, towing a CG-4 Glider arrived, dropped the glider that was setup with its tow cable on two posts. C-46 swooped low and snagged the line, with the three survivors aboard and medics. It took a total of 47 days to rescue them.
Relatives
Darlene Ryan adds:
"I found Antonini listed as MIA list on May 13, 1945. I later found a record from the veterans' cemeteries that said he died on May 13, 1945, and was buried in 1959. His name was Maj. Herman F. Antonini, US Army Air Force, service number O-351875."
References
Readers Digest “A WAC in Shangri-La” by Corporal Margaret Hastings with Inez Robb, November, 1945
The Forgotten Fifth, by Michael Claringbould profiles this loss
C-47
4.08
138.47
Photo Archive
