1–10

lornajarrettblanchard November 28, 1945

Compiled Nov 17, 2023 by Wayne Blanchard for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

1^st Plane — USAAF C-47, 3 miles near Auburn CA:

— 9 ASN. Accident description. USAAF Douglas C-47B-1-DL. 28 Nov 1945. Near Auburn, CA

— 9 Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA. “Nine Dead in Plane Crash.” 11-29-1945, p. 1.

— 8 San Mateo Times, CA. “Eight Die in Auburn Crash.” 11-29-1945, p. 1.

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 87:

“Registration: 43-16374

“C/n / msn: 20840….

“Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 25….

“Location: 5 km (3.1 mls) NW of Auburn, CA….

“Flight-number: 115….

“Narrative: This C-47B was a regular Military Air Transport Flight from Tucson-Davis Monthan Field, AZ to Sacramento-McClellan Field, CA. The airplane departed at 14:07. A refueling stop was made at Palm Springs, CA. After departing Palm Springs at 15:41 the route of flight was direct to Fresno in CFR conditions. From Fresno the crew continued IFR to McClellan. It was dark by the time the C-47 arrived in the Sacramento area. The crew were not able to locate the airfield and circled the area for some time. The airplane flew into a hillside and caught fire.”[1]

(ASN. Accident description. USAAF Douglas C-47B-1-DL. 28 Nov 1945. Near Auburn, CA.)

Baugher: “Douglas C-47B-1-DL….16374 (c/n 20840) crashed Nov 28, 1945 while on night approach to McClellan Field, CA and was destroyed. Most of the passengers killed were soldiers enroute to being discharged.” (Baugher. 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437). 11-7-2011.)

Newspapers

Nov 29, UP: “Auburn, Nov. 29. – (UP) – Army authorities today counted eight dead, including three air force men and five Japanese-American veterans of service in Italy, as the result of the crash of a C-47 transport plane near here last night.

“Sixteen more “Nisei,” who were to have left the mainland today for their homes in the Hawaiian Islands, were injured. Officials at DeWitt general hospital, where they were treated, said all apparently would survive, although most of them suffered broken bones and severe bums.

“There still was confusion over the exact number of men aboard the plane. McClellan field, the destination of the plane, listed 23, but one of the survivors said he understood there were 23 passengers as well as the three-man crew.

“A search was continued in the crash area, about three miles east of here, for additional dead or injured. Authorities at the army hospital at first believed nine bodies had been found, but later reduced the count to eight. The dead included the pilot, co-pilot, and another Caucasian crew member.”

Nov 29, San Mateo Times: “The plane took off from Palm Springs, Calif., for McClellan field last night and apparently could not find the field. A witness to the crash said the plane apparently was not having engine trouble.” (San Mateo Times, CA. “Eight Die in Auburn Crash.” 11-29-1945, p. 1.)

Nov 29, AP: “Auburn, Calif., Nov. 29. – (AP) – Nine men are dead and 15 hospitalized with serious injuries as the result of a C-47 Army transport plane crash near here last night, Dewitt General Army hospital authorities said today. The big craft, en route to McClellan field, Sacramento, from Palm Springs, Calif., plunged into a mountainside in rain-swept darkness about 7:20 p.m. and immediately caught fire.

“All of the 22 passengers aboard are believed to have been Japanese-Americans who fought with the Ninth Air corps in Italy and were on their way to the Camp Beale, Calif., separation center for discharge before being sent to their homes in Hawaii.

“The dead have been identified tentatively as the plane’s three crewmen and six of the passengers, Lieut. Victoria Le Fevre, Dewitt public relations officer, reported….

“Five bodies were found in or near the wreckage soon after nearby ranchers reached the scene. Three other bodies were located hours later. The ninth man died in the surgery at Dewitt hospital as he was being treated for injuries, Lieut. Le Fevre said.

“The 16 survivors were given emergency attention at Dewitt and are expected by attending physicians to live.” (Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA. “Nine Dead in Plane Crash.” 11-29-1945.)

2^nd Plane: US Navy Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina landing crash, Palmyra Atoll, 28Nov45:

–1 Aviation Safety Network. USN PBY-5A Catalina landing crash, Palmyra Atoll, 28Nov45:

–1 Baugher. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (30147 to 39998). 9-1-2023 rev.

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 87 (USN PBY-5A).

“Date: Wednesday 28 November 1945

“Type: Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina

“Operator: United States Navy

“Registration: 33983

….

“Total: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: [?]

“Phase: Landing (LDG)

“Nature: Military

….

“Destination airport: Palmyra Island Atoll-Cooper Airport…U.S. Minor Outlying Islands.

“Narrative: Hit truck on landing.”

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 87. USAAF Douglas C-47B-1-DL McClellan AFB approach crash 3M NW of Auburn, CA, 28Nov1945. Accessed 11-17-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19451128-0

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 87. US Navy Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina hits truck on landing, Palmyra Island Atoll-Cooper Airport, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands 11-28-1945. Accessed 11-17-2023 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19451128-1

Baugher, Joseph F. 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437). Nov 7, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-18-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1943_2.html

Baugher, Joseph F. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (30147 to 39998). 9-1-2023 revision. Accessed 11-17-2023 at: https://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries4.html

Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA. “Nine Dead in Plane Crash.” 11-29-1945, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=79540923

San Mateo Times, CA. “Eight Die in Auburn Crash.” 11-29-1945, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=37342340

[1] Cites: The Auburn C-47B “Lost on Final Approach” A/C 43-16374 November 28, 1945 By Don R. Jordan; and Prescott Evening Courier – Nov 29, 1945.