43-15812

 

On 10 October 1944, a C-47 A, # 43-15812, “Frivolous Sal,” assigned to 10th Air Force, 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 10th Combat Cargo Squadron, departed the airfield at Dinjan, India, on a secret mission to Myitkyina, Burma. It was last contacted by radio on departure from Warzup, Burma, with Cpl. Clarence H. Newcomb, # 33297100, and its destination from Warzup was Myitkyina. The crew were:

                                                  Pilot                             1stLt Edward L. Winston        0-806949

                                                  Co-Pilot                       2ndLt Richard U. Reusch        0-768668

                                                  Aerial Engineer            TSgt Hiram T. Hovick             33194728

                                                  Radio Operator            Cpl Maurice P. McKay            19169536

It was on a combat mission. Its cargo was unknown to clerical staff. From 10th Combat Cargo Squadron commander to 10th Air Force, dated 12 December 1944: The demolished C-47A was found on 7 November 1944 by a ground party from Headquarters, Air Jungle Rescue Unit, Tingkawk Sakan, Burma. The C-47Z was completely demolished from the center of the fuselage to the nose. The tail was intact, and the serial number was plainly visible. The rest was gutted by fire. “The pilot, co-pilot and engineer were burned to the point of near cremation.” Nothing was found of the radio operator, Cpl. Maurice P. McKay. A map in the MACR file shows that the crash was just North of the Thi Seingon River between the villages of We ban and Kweindwa, near a tributary of the Seingon River. It was off course, probably taking evasive action from a threat. 

The next-of-kin were listed as:

                                         Winston           Mr. & Mrs. Lewis E. Winston, parents, 701 Main St, Blackburg, VA

                                         Reusch             Mary E. (Reusch) Schwankl, S, 391 Beacon St, Saint Paul, Minn.

                                         Hovick            Margaret B. Hovick, W, 641 W. 4th St, Long Beach, CA

                                         McKay             Marion B. McKay, F, Rte 1, Box 317, Troutdale, OR

WINSTON, EDWARD LEWIS, First Lieutenant, # 0-806949, USAAF

 

Edward L. Winston was born on 4 December 1919 in Ethel, West Virginia, to Lewis Edward Winston (1894-1967) and Mary Elizabeth (Painter) Winston (1899-1987). A brother was Charles Robert Winston (1922-1986). Living with them in 1940 was his paternal grandmother, Malinda “Lendy” Irene Winston (1865-1950) (widow of Edward James Winston (1860-1901). His father was a merchant. He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

 

He registered for the WW II draft 11 July 1941, while a student at Virginia   Institute, residing t Blacksburg, Montogomery, Virginia, and described himself as 5’8”, 135 lbs, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He enlisted in the USAAF. He was selected for flight training in the USAAF and completed basic flight school then advanced instruction. He was rated for multi-engine aircraft. He earned his commission and pilot wings. After a too-brief leave at home, he was sent overseas to India. On 10 October 1944, a C-47 A, # 43-15812, “Frivolous Sal,” assigned to 10th Air Force, 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 10th Combat Cargo Squadron, departed the airfield at Dinjan, India, on a secret mission to Myitkyina, Burma. It was last contacted by radio on departure from Warzup, Burma, with Cpl. Clarence H. Newcomb, # 33297100, and its destination from Warzup was Myitkyina. It was on a combat mission. Its cargo was unknown to clerical staff.