1943 — Feb 6, USAAF C49K, Fort Nelson BC-Seattle, crash, Tuchodi Lake peak, BC, Can.–11

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-19-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–11  Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1943. USAAF C-49 43-2004

–11  Canada’s Air War 1943.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1943. USAAF C-49 43-2004:

“Date:                          Saturday 6 February 1943

“Type:                         Douglas C-49K (DC-3-455)

“Owner/operator:        United States Army Air Force – USAAF

“Registration:              43-2004

“MSN:                         6329

“Year of manufacture: 1942

“Fatalities:                   Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11

“Aircraft damage:       Destroyed

“Location:                   320 km N of Fort St. John, BC – Canada

….

“Narrative:     

“The C-49 transport plane disappeared during a flight in Canada. The wreckage with eleven bodies and cargo was found in mountains 20 miles from “Tuchobe Lake” five years later.”

Canada’s Air War 1943….January 1943:

“USAAF C-49K (DC-3) 43-2004 missing on a flight from Fort Nelson, BC to Fort Simpson, NWT, carrying personnel and a military payroll of $200,000 and also a cargo of gold. The wreck was discovered at Tuchodi Lake near Fort Nelson in 1948, having flown into high ground. Partially covered by landslides the remains of LCol A.R. Mensing, 2Lt C.J. Atwood Jr., PFC R.B. Clark, PFC C.H. Danks, Sgt Allie J. Said, Sgt S.M. Schilsky and Pvt R.J. Shepherd and 4 others were recovered, but there is no record of the recovery of the money or the gold (AAIR; www.goldpanning.ca).”

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1943. USAAF C-49 43-2004. Accessed 5-19-2024 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/341138

Canada’s Air War 1943. Accessed 5-19-2024 at: https://www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca/canadaairwar/canadaairwar1943.pdf