42-100613

 

On 10 December 1944, a C-47A, # 42-100613, “Jinx Buster,” assigned to 10th Air Force, 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 10th Combat Cargo Squadron, Dinjan, India, departed the airfield at Chenyi, China, after a combat mission, on a flight to Dinjan, India. It was last contacted by radio by Cpl. L. E. Brand, 39271819, at about 1750Z, near 26º 08’ North & 100º 09’ East; 20 miles North of Lake Tahi. The crew, killed in action, were:

                                               Pilot                             2ndLt Robert L. McGrew                    0-720302

                                               Co-Pilot                       2ndLt Charles R. Griffin                      0-709130

                                               Engineer                      TSgt Anton J. Janek                             18025529

                                               Radio Operator            Sgt James E. Parker                             18191138

There was no next-of-kin list in the MACR folder.

MCGREW, ROBERT LOUIS, First Lieutenant, # 0-720302, USAAF

 

Robert L. McGrew was born on 13 Mar 1921 in New Castle, Pennsylvania, to William Carson McGew (1893-1961) and Miriam J. (Curts) McGrew (1894-1975). Siblings were Donald Curts McGrew (1916-2002), Frank William McGrew (1919-1978), Jane Ellen (McGrew) Kemp (1923-2000) and an infant (1924).

 

He registered for the WW II draft on 16 February 1942, resided at 770 McClelland Ave., New Castle, Pennsylvania, and described himself as 6’, 155 lbs, with brown hair and blue eyes. He had a scar on his left forehead on the right side. He enlisted in the USAAF on 22 February 1943. He completed flight instruction through advanced schools and was multi-engine rated. He earned his commission and pilot wings. He was sent overseas to India on 21 May 1944. On 10 December 1944, a C-47A, # 42-100613, “Jinx Buster,” assigned to 10th Air Force, 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 10th Combat Cargo Squadron, Dinjan, India, departed the airfield at Chenyi, China, after a combat mission, on a flight to Dinjan, India. It was last contacted by radio by Cpl. L. E. Brand, 39271819, at about 1750Z, near 26º 08’ North & 100º 09’ East; 20 miles North of Lake Tahi. The remains of the crew (McGrew, Griffin, Janek, Parker) were recovered but were not identifiable individually; they were buried in a group burial in the Chattanooga National Cemetery, Tennessee on 7 November 1947 (Sec. Y, Graves 248, 249, & 250). The family placed a memorial marker in the family plot in the Greenwood Cemetery, New Castle, Lawrence Co., Pennsylvania.

 

His brother, Donald C. McGrew, born 31 December 1916, served in the U.S. Army, Lieutenant, from 24 October 1941 to 2 December 1945 (overseas 30 April 1945 to 5 November 1945), # 0-1181037. He died on 21 October 2002 in Poston, Florence Co., South Carolina.

 

His brother, Frank W. McGrew, born 12 July 1919, served in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant, # 0-678074, from 22 April 1943 to 2 December 1945. He died on 17 April 1978 and is buried in the Oak Park Cemetery, New Castle, Pennsylvania.