42-96549         C46 (MACR 10618)

 

On 18 December 1944, at 1642 Z, a C-46A, # 42-96549, assigned to 10th Air Force, Air Transport Command, 1332nd AAF Base Unit, departed the airfield at Mehanbari, India, on a transport mission to Kunming, China. There was no contact with it after departure and it did not land. The crew were:

 

                                                     Pilot                             1stLt Kenneth K. Connell                   0-520619

                                                     Co-Pilot                       2ndLt Robert G. Reid                          0-760390

                                                     Radio Operator            PFC Jack F. Lawrence                         18149692

 

On 26 December 1944, the C-46A was found, crashed and burned, the crew killed, about 12 miles northeast of Kunming, China. The remains were buried in the American military airfield cemetery at Kunming, China.

CONNELL, KENNETH KEITH, First Lieutenant, # 0-520619, USAAF

 

Kenneth K. Connell was born 26 May 1912 in Washington to Leon Edward Connell (1891-    ) and Hazel Beatrice (Lord) Connell (1890-1982). A sister was Shirley (Connell) Nuetzel (1909-2004).

 

He enlisted in the USAAF in California and was trained through flight schools to advanced and was multi-engine rated. He earned his commission and pilot wings. He was sent overseas to India. On 18 December 1944, at 1642 Z, a C-46A, # 42-96549, assigned to 10th Air Force, Air Transport Command, 1332nd AAF Base Unit, departed the airfield at Mehanbari, India, on a transport mission to Kunming, China. There was no contact with it after departure and it did not land. On 26 December 1944, the C-46A was found, crashed and burned, the crew killed, about 12 miles NE of Kunming, China. The remains were buried in the airfield cemetery at Kunming, China. After recovery from the American military airfield cemetery at Kunming, China, his remains were buried in the National Memorial of the Pacific, Hawaii, on 21 July 1949 (Sec. D, Grave 300).

REID, ROBERT G., Second Lieutenant, # 0-760390, USAAF

 

Robert G. Reid was born on 8 December 1922 in Tonawanda, New York. He enlisted in the USAAF in Buffalo, New York on 8 January 1943 and was trained through flight schools to advanced and was multi-engine rated. He earned his commission and pilot wings. He was sent overseas to India. On 18 December 1944, at 1642 Z, a C-46A, # 42-96549, assigned to 10th Air Force, Air Transport Command, 1332nd AAF Base Unit, departed the airfield at Mehanbari, India, on a transport mission to Kunming, China. There was no contact with it after departure and it did not land. On 26 December 1944, the C-46A was found, crashed and burned, the crew killed, about 12 miles NE of Kunming, China. The remains were buried in the airfield cemetery at Kunming, China. After recovery from the American military airfield cemetery at Kunming, China, his remains were buried in the National Memorial of the Pacific, Hawaii, on 25 January 1949 (Sec. C, Grave 437).