Compiled 12-22-2023 by Wayne Blanchard for: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–12 Pacific Wrecks, OA-10 Catalina Serial Number 44-34050. Accessed 12-22-2023

–11 Aviation Safety Network. USAAF Canso A test flight lost off Los Negros, Admiralty Islands.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 98:

“Date: Thursday 21 June 1945

“Type: Canadian Vickers OA-10A Canso A[1] (PBY-5A)

“Operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF

“Registration: 44-34050

“MSN: CV561

….

“Crew: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4

“Passengers: Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7

“Total: Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11 [Cites Pacific Wrecks which names 12 dead.]

“Aircraft damage: Missing

“Aircraft fate: Presumed damaged beyond repair

“Location: 177km (110.6 mls) S off Los Negros, Admiralty Islands (Pacific Ocean)

“Phase: En route (ENR)

“Nature: Military

“Departure airport: ? [Mokerang Airfield, Los Negros (Pacific Wrecks.)]

“Destination airport: ?

“Narrative:

“The plane failed to return from a test flight to test distance measuring equipment for COMAIR Admiralties. The plane was never found. The four crew members and seven passengers are presumed to have died in the crash.”

Pacific Wrecks, OA-10 Catalina Serial Number 44-34050:

“USAAF Air Transport Command, Pacific Division, Pacific Wing, 1551^st AAFBU

“Aircraft History

“Built by Canadian Vickers Limited in Montreal, Canada as the Model CL-1 a license built version of Consolidated Aircraft Corporation Model 28-5A. Constructors Number CV561. Delivered to the U. S. Navy (USN) as PBV-1A Catalina 68014. Assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAD) as OA-10A Catalina serial number 44-34050. Ferried overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

….

“Mission History

“On June 21, 1945 took off from Mokerang Airfield on Los Negros at 3:30am to conduct tests with distance measuring equipment for COMAIR Admiralties. Aboard were four crew (pilot, engineer and two radio operators) plus seven passengers (five AACS officers and two AACS enlisted men from the 68th Airways and Communications Service Group and 91st Army Air Force Base Unit and 1551st Army Air Force Base Unit). This aircraft was last reported position by radio was 110 miles south of Los Negros at roughly Lat 3 47′ S Long 147 12′ E.

“Search

“When this PBY failed to return, a search mission for it was launched using five C-47s, two OA-10s and numerous fighters. No visible signs of wreckage nor any trace was found. The search was officially abandoned June 25, 1945 at midnight. Originally listed as missing in action; six months later declared KNB (killed No Body).

“Memorials

“The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. As the mission was deemed non-combat, none of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously.

Pilot 1st Lt. Paul W. Drew, O-376182 1551st AAFBU (MIA / KIA) Sacramento, CA
Engineer Cpl Earnest J. Bauer, 32757555 1551st AAFBU (MIA / KIA) Paulsboro, NJ
Radio Sgt Ralph E. Beirdneau, 39554075 1551st AAFBU (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA
Radio Cpl Harry D. Paige, Jr., 11115773 1551st AAFBU (MIA / KIA) Quincy, MA
Passenger 1st Lt. Paul C. Crouch,..68th Airways and Communications SG (MIA / KIA) Barstow, TX
Passenger 1Lt Gordon A. Johnson…68th Airways and Communications SG (MIA/KIA)

Minneapolis, MN
Passenger 2nd Lt. Robert L. Flicker, O-872333 91st AAFBU (MIA / KIA) Kingston, NY
Passenger 2nd Lt. Milton M. Tittler, O-871854 91st AAFBU (MIA / KIA) New York, NY
Passenger 2nd Lt. Ralph J. Greco…68th Airways and Communications SG (MIA/KIA) Brooklyn, NY
Passenger S/Sgt Robert P. Eisele, 15324588 91st AAFBU (MIA / KIA) Barberton, OH
Engineer Sgt Clyde Allen Walker, 39325795 1551st AAFBU (MIA / KIA) La Grande, OR
Passenger Cpl Carl A. Spangler…68th Airways & Communications SG (MIA/KIA) Philadelphia, PA
MIA June 21, 1945 at 4:35am
MACR 14670

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 98. USAAF Canso A (PBY-5A) test flight lost off Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, 6-21-1945. Accessed 12-22-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19450621-2

Pacific Wrecks. “OA-10 Catalina Serial Number 44-34050.” 11-18-2023 update. Accessed 12-22-2023 at: https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/oa-10/44-34050.html

Wikipedia. “Consolidated PBY Catalina.” 11-20-2023 edit. Accessed 12-22-2023 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_PBY_Catalina

[1] In Canadian Service the Consolidated Model 28, PBY Catalina was known as the Canso. (Wikipedia. “Consolidated PBY Catalina.” 11-20-2023 edit.)

1945 — June 21, USAAF Catalina test flight lost 110M S off Los Negros, Admiralty Islands— 12