41-24739         C46

 

On 29 January 1944 a Curtiss C-46A Commando, # 41-24739, assigned to 10th Air Force, Eastern Sector, Station 11, Misamari, India, departed the airfield at Chanyi, China, at 0904 Zulu, on a cargo mission through the Himalayan mountain range (the Hump) returning to Misamari, India. The crew was:

                                       Pilot                             2ndLt Huland K. Hunt                         0-801951     KIA

                                       Co-Pilot                       2ndLt Lawrence H. Fox                       0-802912     KIA

                                       Crew Chief                  Cpl Alphonse B. Kupchun                   31108558    RTD

                                       Radio Operator            PFC Kenneth L. Seidel                        37313558    KIA

The next-of-kin listed were:

                                           Hunt                Verna W. Hunt, W, c/o Henry Camp, Ocala, FL

                                           Fox                  Pauline E. Fox, M, 1134 Buchanan St., Charlotte, NC

                                           Kupchun         Helen C. Kupchun, W, 45 Fairmount St., Nashua, NH

                                           Seidel               Paul J. Seidel, F, Rte 3, Como Stn, Saint Paul, Minn.

       The C-46 departed Misamari, India, on 29 January 1944 at 0408 Zulu and arrived at Chanyi, China, at 0811 Zulu, same date. It departed Chanyi at 0940 Zulu for Misamari. A “Request News” was sent after the expiration of its ETA. Chanyi reported the C46 landed there at 1446 Zulu. On 31 January 1944 Kunming was queried about the C46. No answer was received. On 2 February, a C46 was instructed to land at Kunming and verify the status of 41-24739. That C46 reported that 24739 had not landed at Kunming (erroneous msg) and that Kunming reported 24739 landed at Mohanbari, India, on 29 January at 1444 Zulu. A msg to all ATC fields in China got no reports. On 3 February 1944, 24739 was reported missing.

HUNT, HULAND KEIRN, Second Lieutenant, # 0-801951

 

Huland K. “Buddy” Hunt was born 11 January 1924 in Florida to Enos Lewis Hunt (1894-1982) and Ora Belle (Keirn) Hunt (1902-1991). Siblings included Lorena Jane (Hunt) Owens (1922-    ) and Gayle Shannon Hunt (1927-    ). He was married to Verna I. (Ward) Hunt on 13 December 1942 in Sumter Co., Florida.

 

He enlisted in the USAAF in Tampa, Florida, on 1 April 1942. After enlisting in the USAAF, he completed flight instruction through advanced school and was multi-engine rated. He earned his commission and pilot wings. He was sent overseas to India and assigned to pilot the C-46 Commando transport. On 29 January 1944 a Curtiss C-46A Commando, # 41-24739, assigned to 10th Air Force, Eastern Sector, Station 11, Misamari, India, departed the airfield at Chanyi, China, at 0904 Zulu, on a cargo mission through the Himalayan mountain range (the Hump) returning to Misamari, India. The C-46 departed Misamari, India, on 29 January 1944 at 0408 Zulu and arrived at Chanyi, China, at 0811 Zulu, same date. It departed Chanyi at 0940 Zulu for Misamari. A “Request News” was sent after the expiration of its ETA. Chanyi reported the C46 landed there at 1446 Zulu. On 31 January 1944 Kunming was queried about the C46. No answer was received. A msg to all ATC fields in China got no reports. On 3 February 1944, 24739 was reported missing.  He is remembered on the tablets of the missing in the Manila American Cemetery & Memorial, Philippines. A memorial marker was placed in the Evergreen Cemetery, Bushnell, Sumter Co., Florida.