Pilot History
2nd Lt. Jimmie L. Riche was a pilot in the 433 Troop Carrier Squadron, stationed at Mokmer Drome. He was lost on his first mission.

Aircraft History
Built by Noorduyn. Constructor Number 167. Assigned to the group for short shuttle flights between Mokmer to Owi.

Mission History
Took off from Mokmer Drome on a a cargo mission. Crashed in the Japen Strait about 6 miles SE of Owi at 2pm. The UC64 was seen, by pilots of two other planes, to go into a spin and crash into the sea.

Memorials
The entire crew was declared dead the day of the crash and are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

Relatives
Jim Riche (son) adds:
"My Father arrived at Nadzab, New Guinea in August 1944 were he was assigned to the 68th squadron of the 433 TCS. Later in 1944, the squadron moved to Biak. He normally flew as a copilot on C-47s and was transistioning to C-46s just before he was killed. Some of places he flew were: Saidor, Port Moresby, Wau, Lae, Finschhafen, Noemfoor, Wakde, Owi, Borokoe, Luzon, Morotai, Mindoro, and Lingayen.

For the last several years I have been trying to learn about the area and uncover any other details. Like, what kind of cargo would a single engine UC-64 be carrying to Owi. Some of the above information comes from my Father's papers and letters my Mother received from the War Department. Other information comes from Veterans of the 68th who I meet at several of their reunions in the 1990s. I would be most interested if you uncover any additional information.

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Last Updated
February 4, 2018