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Operation: American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) repatriation
Date: 17th May 1946 (Friday)
Unit No: 1304th AAF Base Unit, Air Transport Command, 10th Air Force
Type: C-47B
Serial: 43-48308
Code: Unknown
Base: Mingaladon, Rangoon, Burma
Location: Unknown
Crew:
Pilot: 1st Lt. Horace Joe Gabbart O-769790 USAAF Age 23. MiA (1)
Check Pilot: 1st Lt. Melvin Lee ‘Pat’ Power O-933431 USAAF Age 39. MiA
Radio Operator: Pfc. Eugene F. Ryan 17134187 USAAF Age 20. MiA
Passengers:
Lt Cmdr. James Theodore Campbell O-205425 USNR Age 39. MiA
1st Lt. Harry Chan O-877552 USAAF Age 22. MiA
AGRS Team:
Capt. Roy W. Corley Jr. 1587766 US Army Age 32. MiA
1st Lt. Henry Edwin Derbyshire 2nd. O-1116766 US Army Age 25. MiA
1st Lt. Donald Claire ‘Curly’ Dutton O-1118713 US Army Age 31. MiA
S/Sgt. Glenn Franklin Cox Jr. 36961634 US Army Age 20. MiA
Tech/4th Grade. Warren Roberts Haines 42083730 US Army Age 20. MiA
Tech/5th Grade. Wallace Jetson Davis 33551295 US Army Age 23. MiA
REASON FOR LOSS:
C-47B 43-48308 departed Mingaladon airport in Rangoon, Burma early in the morning on 17th May 1946 for Barrackpore, India.
Along with the three (3) crew there were eight (8) passengers six (6) of whom were from the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS). The manifest for the aircraft listed 12 caskets containing the remains of thirty-eight (38) bodies recovered by the AGRS team from PoW cemeteries in southern Burma.
Note: The manifest included 12 caskets which have been reported that there may have up to forty-five (45) sets of remains only thirty-eight (38) sets were named.
The AGRS group comprised, Capt. Corley and 1st Lt. Derbyshire who were from the Corps of Engineers, 1st Lt. Dutton was from HQ US Forces, China-Burma-India Theatre and the three (3) SNCOs who were from the Quartermaster Corps.
The remains of the recovered thirty-eight (38) named bodies were identified as:
S/Sgt. Albert I. Malok, Sgt. Harold B. Cummings, Sgt. Elias E. Gonsalves who were the Engineer, Gunner and Radio Operator from the 88th Recce Squadron, 7th Bombardment Group (H), B-17E (unknown #);
1st Lt. Robert L. Kavanaugh, T/Sgt. Edward R. Bodell who were the Pilot and Engineer from 492nd Bombardment Squadron (H), 7th Bombardment Group (H), B-24D 41-42513;
1st Lt. John C. Kelley, T/Sgt. Urvan A. Aubuchon, S/Sgt. Thomas E. Hopes, S/Sgt. Francis B. Jordon who were the Bombardier, Engineer, Asst. Engineer and Asst. Radio Operator respectively from 493rd Bombardment Squadron (H), 7th Bombardment Group (H), B-24J 42-73059;
T/Sgt. Charles A. Pittard who was the Radio Operator from 9th Bombardment Squadron (H), 7th Bombardment Group (H), B-24D 41-24126;
FO. Gene Gambale who was the Bombardier from 9th Squadron (H), 7th Bombardment Group (H), B-24J 42-73435;
1st Lt. James M. Grey who was the pilot from 530th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group, P-51A 43-6296;
Sgt. Norman E. Albinson who was the Asst. Radio Operator from 374th Bombardment Squadron (H), 308th Bombardment Group (H), B-24J 42-73312;
S/Sgt. Frank Rodriguez who was the Asst. Engineer from 9th Bombardment Squadron (H), 7th Bombardment Group (H), B-24J 42-73055;
Cpl. Julius F. Yackie who was a crewman from a 1st Air Commando Force, CG-4A Waco Glider;
Capt. Wayne E. Westberg who was the Navigator/Bombardier from the 434th Bombardment Squadron (M), 12th Bombardment Group (M), B-25J 43-3896;
2nd Lt. Everitt E. Briggs Jr. who was the pilot of 530th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group, P-51A 43-6284;
S/Sgt. Jack R. Sheets who was the pilot of the 71st Liaison Squadron, 1st Recce Group L-5 42-98863;
Sgt. J. Brown – No corroborating details have been found for an individual with this rank and name who had served in USAAF.
Thirteen (13) of the bodies were believed to be the remains of the following named personnel:
2nd Lt. Burdette H. Baker, 1st Lt. Joseph F. Zizlavsky who were the Pilot and Bombardier from the 491st Bombardment Squadron (M), 341st Bombardment Group (M), B-25D 41-30367;
Capt. Bill Wright who was the pilot from the 9th Bombardment Squadron (H), 7th Bombardment Group (H), B-24J 42-73055;
Capt. William R. Gilhousen who was the pilot of the Fighter Section, 1st Commando Group, P-51B Mustang 43-6872;
1st Lt. Robert D. Drummy who was the pilot of 490th Bombardment Squadron (M), 341st Bombardment Group (M) B-25H 43-4905;
2nd Lt. Joseph C. Rich who was the Navigator of the 373rd Bombardment Squadron (H), 308th Bombardment Group (H), B-24J ‘Maxwell House III’ 42-73245;
1st Lt. Burdett C. Goodrich who was the pilot from 459th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, P-38H 42-67001;
Capt. Armin J. Ortmeyer Jr. who was the pilot of 459th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, P-38H 42-66990;
1st Lt. Amil Boldman Jr. who was the pilot of 459th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, P-38H 42-66986;
1st Lt. Robert F. Angell who was the pilot from the 530th Fighter Squadron, 311 Fighter Group, P-51A Mustang 43-6040;
1st Lt. Paul E. Almand who was the Co-Pilot of 99th Squadron, 29th Transportation Group, C-46A Commando 41-5171;
2nd Lt. Thomas P. Hogan who was the navigator aboard 493rd Bombardment Sqn (H), 7th Bombardment Group (H), B-24J 42-73059;
1st Lt. Charles B. Listen who was the pilot of a 1st Air Commando Force, CG-4A Waco Glider.
An investigation board carefully considered the evidence available and found that the individuals listed above met their death while flying as crew members and passengers aboard C-47B type aircraft, AAF serial number 43-8308, and that the remains listed above were lost when the subject aircraft became missing on the 17th May 1946 while returning to Calcutta, India, after an AGRS mission to Rangoon, Burma.
It was the opinion of the board that any further attempt for recovery of their remains would prove unsuccessful for the following reasons:
a. Last word of subject aircraft was received at Barrackpore Airbase, Calcutta, India, at 0705Z, on the 17th May 1946, at which time the Radio Operator of 43-8308 picked up a signal which was sent to another inbound plane, and thinking it was for him, came back with a reply QRU “nothing for you”. At the time of this message the plane was still 55 minutes from Barrackpore, according to ETA. This would indicate that the aircraft was either:
(1) over the Bay of Bengal and on course at the time;
(2) or that the pilot was lost and could have been in the Chittagong Hill Tracts or over the Bay of Bengal and off course.
b. The last contact with 43-8308 could have placed it over Chittagong Hill Tracts, but the aircraft could not have crashed in this area without the authorities having knowledge of the disaster within one day.
c. Aerial searches at the time of disaster, consisted of thirty-eight (38) missions amounting to a total in excess of two hundred seventy-five hours (275:05). This covered a corridor approximately three hundred (300) miles wide from Calcutta in India to Rangoon in Burma, with a special flight as far south as the Andaman Islands. No evidence was found that the aircraft had crashed on land and no floating wreckage that would indicate that the aircraft crashed into the Bay of Bengal.
d. As no information was ever received as to the location of this missing aircraft it was impracticable to dispatch search and recovery teams.
e. The subject aircraft had at one time been fitted with cabin fuel tanks and although the tanks were later removed, the fuel lines and fittings were left intact. These fittings were so located in the cabin that they could have been easily kicked by one of the passengers on board loosening the fittings and allowing gasoline fumes to escape into the interior of the cabin. If this was the case the slightest spark would have ignited these fumes, resulting in an explosion which could have scattered parts of the aircraft for many miles, making location of the crash impossible.
f. The subject aircraft would have run into the forecasted heavy storm on its intended course, however, before take-off the pilot had declared that he was aware of the approaching storm and would fly around it to the north. However, the pilot may have found it necessary to alter his course and fly in a westerly direction taking him over the Bay of Bengal which would have resulted in a crash into the sea.
In view of the above findings the board recommended that no further attempts toward recovery of the subject aircraft and that the descendants be made aware and these remains were declared non-recoverable in accordance with the guidance issued by The Adjutant General’s Office.
(1) 1st Lt. Gabbart was one of five (5) officers and thirteen (13) enlisted men who were injured during rioting in Calcutta on the 12th February 1946.
Above courtesy of The Arizona Republic, dated 13th February 1946
On the 5th November 2009, Clayton Kuhles claimed to have located the wreckage of this aircraft near Birmani Kami in Tripura in India. Afterwards, he made a site report to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) for further investigation.
During late 2013 the reported wreckage was investigated by a team from JPAC. They concluded the wreckage was in fact the crash site of Convair CV-240-7 AP-AEG which crashed on the 14th March 1953.
The aircraft took off from Karachi Airport flying via Delhi-Safdarjung Airport in India to refuel then took off again bound for Dhaka Airport in East Pakistan (Bangladesh). Aboard was five (5) crew and eleven (11) passengers. Flying during bad weather, the pilot descended in poor visibility in an attempt to ascertain his position and crashed into a mountain south of Kalahasahar. Everyone aboard was killed.
Burial details:
Above: 1st Lt. Horace J. Gabbart, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)
1st Lt. Horace Joe Gabbart. Air Medal (AM). Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 16th September 1922 in Daisy, Oklahoma. Son of Marie B. Gabbart of Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Above: 1st Lt. Melvin L. Power, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)
1st Lt. Melvin Lee ‘Pat’ Power. Air Medal (AM). Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 21st September 1906 in Trinidad, Colorado. Son of Walter Lee and Lelia Mae (née Smith) Power of Trinidad, Colorado. Husband to Venus Aurora (née Hemenway) Power of Oakland, California, USA.
Above: Pfc. Eugene F. Ryan, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)
Private 1st Class (Pfc) Eugene F. Ryan. Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 30th March 1926 in Missouri. Son of Hortense M. Ryan of Webster Groves Missouri, USA.
Above: Lt Cmdr. James T. Campbell, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)
Lt Cmdr. James Theodore Campbell. Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 12th July 1906 in Ohio. Son of Orr Lee and Tressa Tracy Frances (née Weitz) Campbell of Lima, Ohio, USA.
Above: 1st Lt. Harry Chan, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)
1st Lt. Harry Chan. Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 21st April 1924 in California. Son of Sook Ming Chan of Oakland, California, USA.
Above: Capt. Roy W. Corley, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)
Capt. Roy W. Corley. Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 29th April 1914 in Oklahoma. Son of Roy Waldo (deceased in 1944) and Dora Odale (née Stevens) Corley. Husband to Kathryn Margaret (née Maxey) Corley of San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Above: 1st Lt. Henry E. Derbyshire II, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)
1st Lt. Henry Edwin Derbyshire II. Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 17th August 1920 at Fort Loudon, Pennsylvania. Son of William Hastie and Catherine Barclay (née Skinner) Derbyshire of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, USA.
Above: 1st Lt. Donald C. Dutton, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)
1st Lt. Donald Claire ‘Curly’ Dutton. Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 13th November 1914 in Elsinore, California. Son of Edward Byron (deceased in 1935) and Mary Florence (née Hurt) Dutton. Husband to Rose Dutton of Lynwood, California, USA.
Above: S/Sgt. Glenn F. Cox Jr., Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)
S/Sgt. Glenn Franklin Cox Jr. Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 3rd January 1926 in Cayuga, Illinois. Son of Glenn Franklin and Ethel Marie (née Johnson) Cox of Danville, Illinois, USA.
Above: Tech/4th Grade Warren R. Haines, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)
Tech/4th Grade Warren Robert Haines. Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 28th March 1926 in Pennsylvania. Son of Everett Hendickson and Helen (née Stokes) Haines of Medford, New Jersey, USA.
Above: Tech/5th Grade Wallace J. Davis Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)
Tech/5th Grade Wallace Jetson Davis. Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 25th August 1922 in Louisa, Virginia. His brother James Davis, was his immediate Next of Kin, from Orange, Virginia, USA.
Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew, passengers and the missing airmen and their families (Jan 2025).
Other sources listed below:
RS 30.01.2025 - Initial upload
RS 30.01.2025 - Initial upload
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