1955 — June 29, USAF C-47 Transport Plane hits Sitkinak Island peak, AK –all 10

— 10 Aviation Safety Network. USAF Douglas C-47A, mountain crash, Sitkinak Isl., 6-29-1955
— 10 Baugher. 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437). 11-7-2011 rev.
— 10 Long Beach Press-Telegram, CA. “Alaska Plane Crash Takes Lives of Ten.” 7-1-1955, 7.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network:
“Date: Wednesday 29 June 1955
“Type: Douglas C-47A-85-DL (DC-3)
“Operator: United States Air Force – USAF
“Registration: 43-15594
“MSN: 20060
“First flight: 1944
“Crew: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
“Passengers: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
“Total: Fatalities: 10/ Occupants: 10
….
“Location: Sitkinak Island, AK (United States of America)
“Phase: En route (ENR)
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Kodiak Airport, AK
“Destination airport: Anchorage-Elmendorf AFB, AK
“Narrative: Crashed into a mountainside, killing all ten on board.”

Baugher: “Douglas C-47A-85-DL….15594 (c/n 20060) crashed Jun 29, 1955, Sitkinak Island, Alaska. 10 killed.” (Baugher. 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437). 11-7-2011 revision.)
Newspaper

July 1: “Kodiak, Alaska (AP) – Ten plane deaths were marked up today as one of the early costs of a planned big air raid warning installation on Isolated Sitkinak Island, off the southern tip of this North Pacific outpost. An Air Force C47 transport from the Elmendorf base at, Anchorage, flying from here to drop supplies, hit the island’s highest peak late Wednesday, possibly because of a sudden downdraft. The crew’s seat belts were unfastened and a plane door apparently open at the time, the first party to reach the wreck reported.

“The crew of four was accompanied by three Western Electric Co. representatives, engaged on the installation, and three soldiers from the 558th Aerial Communications System.

“Only last week bids were opened for the four million dollar project which will look westward to the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutians. It will be one of several such warning systems ringing much of Alaska.

“Turbulent weather handicapped searchers but one small party reached the wreckage and recovered eight bodies Thursday.” (Long Beach Press-Telegram, CA. “Alaska Plane Crash Takes Lives of Ten.” 7-1-1955, 7.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. USAF Douglas C-47A, mountainside crash, Sitkinak Island, 6-29-1955. Accessed 4-11-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19550629-0

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

Long Beach Press-Telegram, CA. “Alaska Plane Crash Takes Lives of Ten.” 7-1-1955, p. 7. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=45750653