1945 — Nov 30, USN PB4Y-2 plane missing, NAS Kodiak, AK to NAS Seattle, WA — 25
Last edit Nov 24, 2023 by Wayne Blanchard for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–24-26 Baugher. US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (50360 to 60009). 10-27-2011.
–25-26 Walla-Walla Union-Bulletin, WA. “Gales Hamper Air Search.” 12-6-1945, p. 1.
— 25 Aviation Safety Network. USN PB4Y-2 Privateer out of NAS Kodiak missing, 30Nov45
— 25 Commanding Officer, US NAS Kodiak. “History of NAS Kodiak, Alaska…” 7-9-1946.
Narrative Information
Aviation Archaeology Investigation & Research: “59777 PB4Y-2….Missing…AK, NAS Kodiak btwn NAS Seattle, WA…Transport flight, NAS Seattle, WA, missing, Loss date/ Stricken 30 Nov 1945.” (AAIR. “PB4Y USN Aircraft Airframe History List.”)
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945 (USN PB4Y-2, 30Nov45):
“Date: Friday 30 November 1945
“Type: Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
“Owner/Operator United States Navy (USN)
“Registration 59777
“MSN: 45036
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 25 / Occupants: 25
“Location: Missing, Alaska – USA
“Phase: En route
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: NAS Kodiak, AK
“Destination airport: NAS Seattle
“Narrative: Aircraft gave its last position report over Sitka, Alaska. It was never heard
from again. A search by the Navy and Coast Guard revealed no trace of the aircraft.”
[Blanchard note: Sitka is about 635 miles to the east by southeast by air from NAS Kodiak. It is near the southeast tip of land bordering Canada. The distance from Sitka to Prince Rupert Island, Canada it about 235 nautical miles.]
Baugher: “Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer….59777 (VPB-122) missing on flight from NAS Kodiak, AK to NAS Seattle, WA Nov 30, 1945. 24 missing…26 MIA.” (Baugher. US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (50360 to 60009). 10-27-2011 rev.)
US Naval Air Station Kodiak: “On 30 November, PB4Y-2A, Bureau Number 59777, attached to VPB 122, piloted by Lt. JG John Edgar McMillan, took off from NAS Kodiak, Alaska, for Whidbey Island carrying a crew of eight and seventeen passengers. The plane was last heard from at 1747Z reporting position on the south-west leg of Yakataga, estimating the southwest leg of Sitka at 1825Z. Through the entire coastal route from Kodiak to Whidbey Island has been searched thoroughly, no trace of the plane or occupants has ever been found.” (Commanding Officer, US NAS Kodiak. “History of NAS Kodiak, Alaska…” 7-9-1946, pp. 1-2.)[1]
Newspapers
Dec 3: “Vancouver, B.C., Dec. 3 (AP) — United States planes fighting heavy winds searched tonight for a U. S. Navy plane missing on an Alaska-Seattle flight with 15 persons, believed to be Navy personnel, aboard. The missing plane left Kodiak, Alaska, on the 1,000-mile trip Saturday [Dec 1]. Since then violent gales have swept the British Columbia coast.” (Morning Herald, Hagerstown MD. “Search Made For Missing Airplane.” 12-4-1945, 12.)
Dec 5: “….A navy Privateer transport with…[unclear – 12 or 22] men aboard is missing after leaving Kodiak, Alaska, November 29. Air patrols are searching a 1000-mile stretch of Alaskan coastal regions along the route….” (San Antonio Light, TX. “Survivors of 6 Air Crashes Sought.” 12-5-1945, p. 13.)
Dec 6: “Washington, (AP) – The navy Thursday identified six officers and 19 enlisted men reported missing on the flight of a PB4Y-2 (Privateer) from Kodiak, Alaska, to Seattle November 30. The plane, a part of patrol bomber squadron 122, was last reported over Sitka, Alaska. Next of kin have been notified. Eight of the 25 aboard were crew members and 17 were passengers. The crew included John Gordon Spenger, aviation machinist mate…Seattle.
“Passengers included Francis John Fries, aviation machinist’s mate, 3-c, 20, of naval air station, Kodiak, son of John F. Fries…Walla Walla.
“Portland ( AP) – Gales along the Pacific coast from Northern California to Alaska Thursday hampered the sea and air search for a navy transport with 26 men aboard missing since November 29 after, leaving Kodiak, Alaska, for Seattle.
“Announcement by the Thirteenth naval district that 26 instead of 12 men were believed aboard the large “privateer” placed the total servicemen unaccounted for in the Northwest Thursday at 38 army and navy airmen and passengers.
“The navy has alerted all ships at sea in the area of the transport’s 1,000 mile route to watch for signs of the missing plane.
“Seven airplanes, involving 54 servicemen have disappeared in a five week period during storms or bad flying conditions in the region….” (Walla-Walla Union-Bulletin, WA. “Gales Hamper Air Search.” 12-6-1945, p. 1.)
Sources
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 128. USN PB4Y-2 Privateer out of NAS Kodiak, to NAS Seattle, missing, 30Nov1945. Accessed 11-24-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/82138
Baugher, Joseph F. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (50360 to 60009). Oct 27, 2011 revision. Accessed at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries6.html
Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Air Station, Kodiak, Alaska. July 9, 1946 Memorandum. Subj: “History of NAS Kodiak, Alaska; submission of 2 September 1945 to 1 January 1946, supplement to.” 7-9-1946. Accessed 12-4-2011 at: http://www.kadiak.org/navy/1945sep_dec.txt
Morning Herald, Hagerstown, MD. “Search Made For Missing Airplane.” 12-4-1945, p. 12. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=78377130
San Antonio Light, TX. “Survivors of 6 Air Crashes Sought.” 12-5-1945, p. 13. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=69109312
Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA. “Gales Hamper Air Search [Missing Navy Plane].” 12-6-1945, p. 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=19272652
[1] We view this source as authoritative in the areas of dating of the incident and the number of fatalities.