1950 — Jan 26, USAF SAC C-54 transport disappears ~Snag, Yukon Territory, Canada–44
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard, 8-29-2023, for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 44 Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-70686 to 42-91973). 5-18-2011 rev.
— 44 Gero. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, 46.
— 44 Kennebec, Matt. “Vern McGarrigle Collec. No. 10054. Douglas DC-4 C-54D…[USAAF]”
— 44 Planecrashinfo.com. “1950…Military-USAF…near Snag, Yukon Territory…Jan 26…”
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Douglas C-54D-1-DC Skymaster….72469 (c/n 10574) crashed near Snag, Yukon, Canada Jan 26, 1950. 44 killed.” (Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-70686 to 42-91973). 5-18-2011 rev.)
Gero: “Operated by the Strategic Air Command (SAC), the four-engine transport disappeared while flying between two air bases, from Elmendorf, near Anchorage, Alaska, to Great Falls, Montana, US, with 44 persons aboard, including a crew of eight. All were American military personnel except for two passengers, a civilian dependent and her infant son. In its last position report, transmitted shortly after 14:00 local time, the aircraft was in the vicinity of Snag; there were no indications of what could have happened to the C-54. The weather along the route ranged from clear to partly cloudy, except in the vicinity of Whitehorse, where there was a solid overcast at 7,500ft (2,300m), and a slight possibility of icing.” (Gero 1999, p. 46.)
Kennebec: “12/31/2010. Remarks by Matt Kennebec…The plane…would make its way to Berlin July 1948 as one of the first C-54s used in the Airlift. It was with the Second Strategic Support Squadron out of Biggs AFB Texas when it vanished….
“Operated by the Strategic Air Command, the transport disappeared while flying between Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, USA and Great Falls AFB, Montana, on January 26, 1950.
“Aircraft AF2469 had filed an 1,800 mls (2,900 km) and 8.5 hr flight plan that would take it over Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, following the Alaska Highway to British Columbia near Fort Nelson and then into Alberta just north of Edmonton, flying south over the Rocky Mountains and then down into Montana. Two hours into the flight, at 17:09 while flying near Snag, Yukon Territory, the last radio contact was made. The aircraft and its 8 crew and 36 passengers (34 servicemen and 2 civilians) failed to arrive at Great Falls AFB.
“Just before midnight the biggest ever northwest search got under way, covering 354,135 sq. mls (917,205 sq. km), involving 7,000 people and 85 aircraft, from single-engined bush planes to four engine bombers (two C-47s crashed, crews were rescued). As of this day no trace has been found of the aircraft nor its passengers.” (Kennebec, Matt. “Vern McGarrigle Collection No. 10054. Douglas DC-4 C-54D (42-72469 c/n 10574 US Army Air Forces.”)
Planecrashinfo.com: “Operated by the Strategic Air Command, the transport disappeared while flying between Elmendorf AFB and Great Falls, Mt. There were 44 persons aboard. All were American military personnel except for two passengers, a civilian dependent and her infant child. Last radio contact was at 17:09 near Snag, YT. It took Amber Airway No. 2 over Canada, but failed to arrive at its destination. The wreckage still had not been found by 1951.” (Planecrashinfo.com.)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-70686 to 42-91973). 5-18-2011 revision. Accessed 12-16-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_4.html
Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. UK and Newbury Park, CA: Patrick Stephens Limited, an imprint of Hayes Publishing, 1999.
Kennebec, Matt. “Vern McGarrigle Collection No. 10054. Douglas DC-4 C-54D (42-72469 c/n 10574 US Army Air Forces.” Accessed at: http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/10054.htm
Planecrashinfo.com. “1950…Accident Details…Military-USAF…near Snag, Yukon Territory…Jan 26…” Accessed at: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1950/1950-5.htm
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