1965 — June 5, USAF C119 unexplained crash, Caribbean, NE of Crooked Isl. Bahamas–10

–10 Assoc. Press. “Air Crash Clues Are Inconclusive.” The News Tribune, FL. 7-26-1965, p. 1.
–10 Aviation Safety Network. USF C119 crash, off Crooked Island, Bahamas, 6-5-1965.
–10 UP. “Flying Boxcar, 10 Men Missing.” The Idaho Free Press, Nampa. 6-7-1965, p. 1.
–10 Waukesha Freeman, WI. “Debris May Be From Airplane.” 8-11-1965, p. 18.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database:
“Date: Saturday 5 June 1965
“Type: Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar
“Operator: United States Air Force – USAF
“Registration: 51-2680
“MSN: 10669 ….
“Crew: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
“Passengers: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
“Total: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10 ….
“Location: off Crooked Island, Bahamas (Atlantic Ocean)
“Phase: En route (ENR)
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Homestead AFB, FL…
“Destination airport: Grand Turk Island Airport…Turks and Caicos Islands
“Narrative:

“The Flying Boxcar arrived at Homestead AFB at 17:04 and was prepared for a flight to Grand Turk. It then took off at 19:47 with 4 additional mechanics who were to fix the engine of a C-119 stranded on Grand Turk. The airplane never arrived at the destination and was declared missing. The last radio call came from just north of Crooked Island and 177 miles from Grand Turk Island.

“The coast guard conducted an extensive five-day search, covering about 77,000 square miles per day. Nothing was found. On July 18, 1965 debris from the missing plane was found on beach of Gold Rock Cay just off the Northeast shore of Acklins Island.” (Aviation Safety Network. USF C119 crash, off Crooked Island, Bahamas, 6-5-1965.)

July 26, AP: “Miami (AP) – The U.S. Coast Guard reported today that its study of airplane fragments found on a Bahamas island is as yet inconclusive in determining if they came from a missing Air Force C119. The plane, a flying boxcar, was en route from Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., to Grand Turk Island when it vanished June 5 with ten men aboard. The fragments include an air scoop, an ammunition cover and a small red light which officials said could have come from an airplanes’ wingtip. The plane carried nine Milwaukee Air Force reservists and a Miami airman returning to Ramey AFB in Puerto Rico. It was last heard from 95 miles form its destination.” (AP. “Air Crash Clues Are Inconclusive.” The News Tribune, FL. 7-26-1965, p. 1.)

Newspapers

June 7, UP: “Miami (UP) – Twenty military aircraft and two Coast Guard cutters searched the Bahamas from San Salvador to Grand Turk Island today for an Air Force Flying Boxcar missing with 10 men aboard. At least seven Coast Guard aircraft searched through the night, looking for any flares or lights that might signal a downed airplane.

“The twin-engined C119 took off from Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., Saturday night en route to the Air Force installation at Grand Turk. It carried an aircraft engine for another Flying Boxcar on Grand Turk. Aboard the plane were five crewmen, four Reservists on civilian status and an airman first class hitchhiking from Miami to Ramsey AFB in Puerto Rico. Nine of the men aboard the plane were from the Milwaukee area.” (United Press. “Flying Boxcar, 10 Men Missing.” The Idaho Free Press, Nampa. 6-7-1965, p. 1.)

Aug 11: “Objects found floating near the Acklins island in the Bahamas may have come from the C119 Flying Boxcar which went down while flying in that area June 5. That was reported in Milwaukee today by an air force reserve officer of the 440th troop carrier wing. Ten men, two of them from Waukesha county and all but one from the Milwaukee area, went down with the plane. The local crewmen were Maj. Louis A. Giuntoli, 41…Brookfield, the pilot and T-Sgt. Norman Mimier, 34…Muskego, aircraft engine specialist.

“Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Lingle, wind commander, said the floating objects were a metal oil cooler dust excluder which fits in a wing to keep out dust and a part of a broken plywood box with the letters, ‘Sign Kit,’ printed on it. Lingle said that the missing craft had such a cooler on it, as well a a plywood box which was lettered ‘Contac Mission Kit.’ The general noted that although other C119 cargo planes also might have such objects aboard, he did not know if any had such a plywood box with the same lettering as that which was on the plane from Milwaukee….

“The twin engine plane vanished without any previous trace on a mission from Miami to Grand Turk island in the Bahamas. It belonged to the 440th troop carrier wing of the air force reserve stationed at Gen. Mitchell field in Milwaukee. The aircraft was last heard from only 95 miles from its destination on the 650 mile flight to Grand Turk island. It was carrying maintenance equipment, including an aircraft engine….” (Waukesha Freeman, WI. “Debris May Be From Airplane.” 8-11-1965, p. 18.)
Sources

Associated Press. “Air Crash Clues Are Inconclusive.” The News Tribune, FL. 7-26-1965, p. 1. Accessed 7-13-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fort-pierce-news-tribune-jul-26-1965-p-1/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database. USF C-119 Flying Boxcar crash, off Crooked Island, Bahamas, 6-5-1965. Accessed 7-13-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19650605-0

United Press. “Flying Boxcar, 10 Men Missing.” The Idaho Free Press, Nampa. 6-7-1965, p. 1. Accessed 7-13-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/nampa-idaho-free-press-jun-07-1965-p-1/

Waukesha Freeman, WI. “Debris May Be From Airplane.” 8-11-1965, p. 18. Accessed 7-13-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/waukesha-freeman-aug-11-1965-p-18/