Pacific Wrecks Forum

My uncle was reported MIA on 27-Aug-45

I will give you all the information I have or can remember my grandmother telling me. If there is anyone out there that can help I will be very grateful.

He served in the 46th Squadron, 317th Troop Carrier Group. He called his plane " The Dutchess" after my grandmother.

He was flying lead formation with planes on both sides of him. Rather then break formation he flew into what I have been told was a thunbderhead..( please forgive me
if I'm not using the right terms). They were heading toward Luzon if my grandmother is right. He never came out of the clouds nor was any wreckage or an oil
spill found.. They sent search planes out but he was never found..

My grandmother had letters but I can't find where she put them before she passed so I'm still looking..

I know he's listed as MIA on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines..

Thank you again for any and all help.

Breea

Breea,

This plane was C-47A-70-DL Serial 42-100717, 46TCS, 317 TCG lost 27 Aug 1945, MACR 14964.
Crew:
MILLER, Joseph F, 1LT, 0-699699, NC
EYDEN, Kenneth D, 1LT, 0-721049, NE
PROFFITT, Samuel S, 1LT, 0-695695, VA
GRICE, J Gart, PFC, 34828083, GA
WALKER, Sumner, S/SGT, 11020627, MA
Passengers:
SALVATO, Albert D, S/SGT, 13167884, PA
FRITZ, Royal E, CPL, 35600822, OH

All Crew and Passengers were from the 46 TCS and are listed on the Tablets of the Missing, Manila.

David.

David,

Thank you so much..I wish they would have found something. My grandmother died
never knowing any details or if anything had ever been found. You have been of much
help. More then you'll ever know..I'll share this information with my aunt.

Brenda

David,

If I might ask you another question..Do you by any chabce happen to have the last known long/lat of the plane when it was reported missing?

Hi Brenda,

glad I could help.

I don't know the last position of the plane. However, I did take a quick look at MACR 14964 on footnote.com....

It gives the location as "About 2° 40 Out Of Laoag On Approx. Course Of 40°". Laoag is near the NW corner of Luzon.

It also appears that there were a further 12 passangers on board. They were all from the 15 Air Cargo Squadron, 21 Air Services Group. These were not listed in the Australian records I have.

You should be able to sign up for a free trial on footnote and see the full text of the MACR - go to http://www.footnote.com/documents/28597 ... orts_wwii/ and search for 14964.

The full list of people lost on 42-100717 on 27 August 1945 is:
46th TROOP CARRIER SQ, 317th TROOP CARRIER GP
Crew:
MILLER, Joseph F, 1LT, 0-699699, NC
EYDEN, Kenneth D, 1LT, 0-721049, NE
PROFFITT, Samuel S, 1LT, 0-695695, VA
GRICE, J Gart, PFC, 34828083, GA
WALKER, Sumner, S/SGT, 11020627, MA
Passengers:
SALVATO, Albert D, S/SGT, 13167884, PA
FRITZ, Royal E, CPL, 35600822, OH

15 AIR CARGO SQ, 21 AIR SV GP
Passengers:
FOWLER, Phillip T, PFC, 33212314, VA
TERRY, Jerry T, PVT, 33372893, MD
THOMAS, Robert, SGT, 35674777, KY
THOMPSON, Earl, PVT, 33600886, PA
WALKER, Seivern M, PVT, 34510672, SC
WATSON, John W, SGT, 33330380, PA
WYNN, Matthews B, PVT, 34244530, FL
BROWN, Peter C, CPL, 34112211, NC
GIBBS, Oscar C, PFC, 38242432, TX
GIBSON, Edmon, PFC, 33430003, PA
GREENWOOD, James L, PFC, 38455164, TX
MASON, Charlie L, PFC, 33516903, VA

All listed on Tablets of the Missing, Manila except Phillip FOWLER who is on the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu.

David.

David,

Again please accept my thanks..all of my family has now passed with the exception of one aunt, my uncle's sister. She has often wondered
if she could find oiut any information on him..With your kind help I can answer at mleast some of her questions..

This forum helps so amny families and give some of them closure..Thank you again..

Brenda

David,

thank you so much for the link..I was able to find all kinds of information..including the nose and rudder number on the plane...
I know they feel certain it went down atsea but since no wreckage was ever found or sited I just wonder..I have the search route
they took..they flew up as far as Baton Island..from Naha to Laoag circling Miyako Island.