42-93379
On 14 December 1944, a C-47A, # 42-93379, assigned to 10th Air Force, 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 12th Combat Cargo Squadron, departed the Ledo airfield to site 281 and to return. It crashed in Burma during the mission and all aboard were killed. The last contact was by radio with Sgt Floyd F. Higgins, # 19103396, at 1420 hours local. Those crew and cargo droppers (also known as “kickers” – assigned to Quartermaster Air Supply, Dinjan) were:
Pilot 1stLt Ray Monroe Roberts 0-710513
Co-Pilot 2ndLt William Edward Kane 0-821501
Radio Operator Sgt Donald A. Callahan 36729516
Cargo Dropper PFC William E. Taylor 32759381
“ PVT John C. Meyers 35221907
“ PVT Stephen C. Olason 37555802
The next-of-kin were listed as:
Roberts Laura A. Roberts, M, Franklinton, LA
Kane Margaret S. Kane, M, 96 Gaylord Ave, Holyoke, Mass.
Callahan William J. Callahan, F, 7755 S. Ada St, Chicago, IL
Taylor Mary E. Taylor, M, 433 Willow St, Bordentown, NJ
Meyers Marietta P. Meyers, W, 1684 Oakridge Drv, Dayton, OH
Olason Ellen Olason, M, Rte 54, Hensal, ND
ROBERTS, RAY MONROE, First Lieutenant, # 0-710513, USAAF
Ray M. Roberts was born to Laura A. Roberts; in 1942 of Franklinton, Louisiana, he attended Louisiana State University, Baton Rougle, Louisiana. He completed flight schools through advanced training and was multi-engine rated. He earned his commission and pilot wings. He was sent overseas to India. On 14 December 1944, a C-47A, # 42-93379, assigned to 10th Air Force, 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 12th Combat Cargo Squadron, departed the Ledo airfield to site 281 and to return. It crashed in Burma during the mission and all aboard were killed. The last contact was by radio with Sgt Floyd F. Higgins, # 19103396, at 1420 hours local. The remains of the crewmen (Roberts, Callahan, Meyers, Olason, & Kane) were indistinguishable and they were buried in a common ceremony and graves in the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louiseville, Kentucky, on 28 September 1949 (Sec. E, Graves 167-168).
