43-48730         C47

 

On 18 June 1945, a C-47B, “Beth Ann,” # 43-48730, assigned to Air Transport Command, 1st Air Commando Group, 319th Tactical Cargo Squadron, departed the airfield at Warazup, Burma, on a cargo (drums of fuel) air supply mission to Yewe Taung, Burma. The crew was:

 

                                             Pilot                             1stLt Billy H. Hastings             0-1590926

                                             Co-Pilot                       F/O Harold S. Pettit                  T-4947

                                             Radio Operator            Sgt James Brown                      36568663

                                             Engineer                      Cpl Fredrick W. Helbig             33208549

                                             Radar Mechanic           SSgt William H. Felhoelter      15319850

                                             Supply Dropper           SSgt Gilbert I. Allis                  31085160

                                             “                                   Cpl Melvin P. Henry                 33707504

                                             “                                   SSgt Alvin R. McMinn             32363083

 

Last contact with the C-47B was by radio with Cpl. Joe Collins, 38513054. The search for the C-47B was led by Capt. Alfred Kaufman, 0-412427. Five C-47s and 2 L-5 (Stinsons) of the 319th Troop Carrier Squadron searched the area. Air Jungle Rescue searched the target area with two L-5s. The search operation was hampered by low hanging scud clouds (heavy rain). The pilot of the missing C-47B had informed the Warazup tower he had climbed out of the top of ground fog. At 0548, the C-47B radio operator reported to the squadron their departure and destination as Bhamo, Burma. The air supply mission was to drop fuel drums by parachute to an air warning station. The next-of-kin listed were:

 

                                           Hastings          Lousana C. Hastings, W, 3065 W 35th Ave, Denver, CO

                                           Pettit                Patricia E Pettit, W, 3529 Bryn Mawr, Dallas, TX

                                           Brown              Marjorie M Brown, W, 14889 Northlawn St, Detroit, Mich.

                                           Helbig              Stella B Helbig, W, 100 3rd St, Oakland, MD

                                           Felhoelter         Mary E Foelhoelter, M, 725 E Chestnut St, Louisville, KY

                                           Allis                  Laura T Ellis, W, Calrain Rd, Shelburne Falls, Mass.

                                           McMinn           Carrie E. McMinn, M, 354 Commonwelth Ave, Trenton, NJ

                                           Henry               Lealyn Henry, W, Good St, Houtsdale, PA