1945 – Jan 6, USAAF C-46 crash, Himalayan mt. side, Arunachal Pradesh, NE India–all 13

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard for: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/  Last edit 12-16-2023.

–13  AFP. “Missing World War II aircraft found in India after 77 years.” Khaleej Times, 1-24-2022

–13  Aviation Safety Network. USAAF C-46 crash, mt. side, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 1-6-1945

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945:

“Date:                          Saturday 6 January 1945

“Type:                         Curtiss C-46A-45 CU Commando

“Operator:                   United Srtates Army Air Force – USAAF

“Registration:              42-96721

“MSN:                         30383

“First flight:                 1944

….

“Crew:                         Fatalities:   4 / Occupants:   4

“Passengers:                Fatalities:   9 / Occupants:   9

“Total:                         Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 13

….

“Location:                   Arunachal Pradesh (India)

“Phase:                        En route (ENR)

“Nature:                       Military

“Departure airport:      Kunming-Wujiaba Airfield…China [HQ for numerous USAAF units]

“Destination airport:    Chabua Air Force Sation, India

“Narrative:

“The aircraft went missing on a flight from Kunming to Chabua. Weather en route was poor with thunderstorms and severe icing.

“The wreckage of the aircraft was found on a snow-covered mountain side in Arunachal Pradesh in India in January 2022.” (Aviation Safety Network. USAAF C-46 crash, mt. side, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 1-6-1945.)

Newspaper

Jan 24, 2022, AFP: “A missing World War II plane has been identified in India’s remote Himalayas nearly 80 years after it crashed with no survivors, following a search in a treacherous high-altitude area. The C-46 transport aircraft was carrying 13 people from Kunming in southern China when it disappeared in stormy weather over a mountainous stretch of Arunachal Pradesh state in the first week of 1945. ‘This aircraft was never heard from again. It simply disappeared,’ said Clayton Kuhles, a US adventurer who led the mission after a request from the son of one of those on board the doomed flight.

“The expedition saw Kuhles and a team of guides from the local Lisu ethnic group ford chest-deep rivers and camp in freezing temperatures at high altitudes. It was a potentially lethal mission: In 2018 three Lisu hunters had died of hypothermia in the same area when they were caught in an unseasonal September snowstorm, Kuhles said, while two others ‘barely escaped alive’….

“But the team finally located the plane on a snow-clad mountain top last month, where they were able to identify the wreckage by the tail number. There were no human remains in what was left of the craft.

“Kuhles was tasked with conducting the search by Bill Scherer, whose officer father was aboard the plane when it crashed….

“Hundreds of US military planes went missing around the theatre of operations in India, China and Myanmar during World War II. While hostile fire from Japanese forces did account for some aircraft losses, Kuhles said the majority are believed to have been brought down by ice damage, hurricane-force winds and other severe weather conditions.” (Agency France-Press. “Missing World War II aircraft found in India after 77 years.” Khaleej Times, 1-24-2022.)

Sources

Agency France-Press. “Missing World War II aircraft found in India after 77 years.” Khaleej Times, 1-24-2022. Accessed 12-16-2023 at: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/offbeat/missing-world-war-ii-aircraft-found-in-india-after-77-years

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945. USAAF C-46 crash, mountain side, Arunachal Pradesh, NE India, 1-6-1945. Accessed 12-16-2023 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19450106-3