42-107329 C46
On 29 September 1944, a Curtiss C-46A Commando, # 42-107329, “Ridge Runner,” assigned to 20th Air Force, 2nd Air Transport Squadron (Mobile), at Kalaikunda, India, departed the airfield at Changtu, China, for the airfield at Hsian, China. Last contact was by radio at 1545Z, SW of Shunhwa, China, after which it crashed into a mountain 40 miles north of Hsian, China, possibly due to map error(s) and poor weather. The crew and passengers were:
Pilot Capt. Joseph G. Paxton 0-409025
Co-Pilot 2ndLt James D. O’Neill 0-1288107
Radio Operator SSgt Joseph T. Mahon 33351167
Engineer SSgt John M. Lincoln 18134704
Passenger 1stLt George W. Smith 0-863257 Hqs, 2nd ATS
“ Cpl Luther M. Turpin 34764272
The next-of-kin listed were:
Paxton Joseph F. Paxton, F, P.O. Box 171, Tellecon, AZ
O’Neill W, 258 E. 203rd St, NY, NY
Mahon W, 515 Adler St, Scranton, PA
Lincoln Evelyn C. Lincoln, Rte 1, Bentonville, AR
Smith Constance N. Smith, W, 47 S. Madison St, Allentown, PA
Turpin Anazea S. Turpin, M, 644 Elizabeth Plc NW, Atlanta, GA

C-46A Commando over the Himalayas