1952 — Oct 26, USAF WB-29 weather plane lost, typhoon, Anderson AFB, Guam to Philippines-10

— 10 Air Weather Recon Assoc. “Gone, But Not Forgotten.” Accessed 12-23-2011.
— 10 Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo. “Wreckage of B-29 Found, Reports Say.” 10-30-1952, 1.

Narrative Information

Air Weather Recon Association:
“WB-29 44-69770 “Typhoon Goon II” 26 Oct 52 54th SRS (M) Wea. Andersen AFB, Guam

Maj Sterling L. Harrell
Capt Donald M. Baird
Capt Frank J. Pollack
1Lt William D. Burchell
1Lt Clifton R. Knickmeyer
MSgt Edward H. Fontaine
A1C Alton B. Brewton
A1C William Colgan
A1C Anthony J. Fasullo
A3C Rodney E. Verrill.”

(Air Weather Recon Assoc. “Gone, But Not Forgotten.” Accessed 12-23-2011.)

Newspaper

Oct 27, United Press: Manila, Philippines, Oct. 27 (UP) — An American B29 weather plane carrying 15 men flew into typhoon Wilma off Guam last night and disappeared, the Far East Air Force announced today.

“The plane left Anderson Air Force base on Guam early yesterday to make weather ‘fixes’ on Wilma, and was scheduled to have landed at Clark Air Force base, near Manila.

“Search operations were begun when the Air Force communications station at Guam lost contact with the B-29. Its fuel would have been exhausted at 7 p.m. (5 a.m., EST) yesterday….” (Lowell Sun, MA. “B-29 Disappears in Typhoon Near Guam With 15 Aboard.” 10-27-1952, p. 1.)

Oct 28: “Manila, Oct. 28 (UP) — Typhoon Wilma roared out to the China sea today after tearing across the central Philippines and adding considerably to the heavy destruction wrought last week by typhoon Trix. Three persons were reported dead and 21 others were missing, including the 15-man crew of a United States Air Force, B-29 weather plane believed lost at sea between Guam and the Philippines…..It was last heard from early Sunday, flying at 10,000 feet some 200 miles east of the island of Samar, and about to enter the ‘eye’ of the storm…..

“The plane reported its radar equipment out of order, but no other trouble before it disappeared.. Clark Air Force Base sent another weather plane into the teeth of the typhoon yesterday, but it found nothing. Every available ship and plane in the area was alerted. The Navy transport Fred C. Ainworth diverted course to aid the search….” (Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo. “B-29 Feared Lost in Typhoon.” 10-28-1952, p. 15.)

Oct 30: “Manila, Oct. 30 (UP) – Reports that parts of a plane were washed ashore on northern Samar island yesterday were received in Manila today, and they were believed to be part of a missing B-29 weather plane. The United States Air Force weather plane from Guam, with 10 men aboard, disappeared Sunday morning just after the pilot reported he was flying into the eye of typhoon Wilma to plot its course.

“The Most Extensive Air Force operation in the western Pacific since the war failed to find any sign of the plane or survivors during the four days of searching.

“Thirteenth Air Force officials said the search, involving planes from Clark Field, Sangley Point Naval Station, and the Philippine air force, would continue until all possible sectors were searched….” (Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo. “Wreckage of B-29 Found, Reports Say.” 10-30-1952, p. 1.)

Sources

Air Weather Recon Assoc. “Gone, But Not Forgotten.” Accessed 12-23-2011 at: http://www.awra.us/gallery-may05.html

Lowell Sun, MA. “B-29 Disappears in Typhoon Near Guam With 15 Aboard.” 10-27-1952, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=55406654

Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan. “B-29 Feared Lost in Typhoon.” 10-28-1952, p. 15. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=133141523

Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan. “Wreckage of B-29 Found, Reports Say.” 10-30-1952, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=133141541