C-47 43-15488 41 TCS/317 TCG Luzon 26 Jun 1945
 

On 26 June 1945 C-47 43-15488 of 41st Squadron, 317th TCG crashed on Luzon while on a dropping mission (source: online book “Among Heroes: Tales of the Jungle Skippers”).
All crew members were killed. They were Capt. John Newman (P), 2nd Lt Donald R. Cawood (CP), 2nd Lt Charles C. O’Donnell (N), T/Sgt J.R. Sanford (CC) and Sgt A. Cohen (RO).

Looking for full identity of mentioned T/Sgt Sanford and Sgt. Cohen.

Matching this loss with story on http://www.artilleryocsalumni.com/ww2/thameslp.pdf then US Army liaison pilot Lt Laverne D. Thames (O-1194958) was also on board. His friend can be identified as Capt. Phillip I. Taylor (O-1167861, 218th Field Artillery Group). DNB 1944 for Lt. Thames must be an error. Luzon was liberated in 1945).

Thanks for info.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: C-47 43-15488 41 TCS/317 TCG Luzon 26 Jun 1945
 

Sgt Cohen probably Sgt. Alan Morton Cohen (8 Jan 1922-26 Jun 1945), buried at Pittsburgh, PA, I now found.



Regards,

Leendert

Re: C-47 43-15488 41 TCS/317 TCG Luzon 26 Jun 1945
 

Something odd about the plane, supposedly damaged beyond repair on 11 March 45.

https://aviation-safety.net/database...?id=19450311-2

Re: C-47 43-15488 41 TCS/317 TCG Luzon 26 Jun 1945
 

Hello,
43-49488 - 11-3-45,in accident list.

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/s...y/Mar1945O.htm

26-6-45 - ?
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/s...y/Jun1945O.htm

And here -

http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-b...15488&content=

Alex

Re: C-47 43-15488 41 TCS/317 TCG Luzon 26 Jun 1945
 

Here is the grave of T/Sgt John Randolph "Samford", 41st TCG, died 26 June 1945. Fold3 also has the headstone application.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...ndolph-samford


https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...hoto=157280769

Re: C-47 43-15488 41 TCS/317 TCG Luzon 26 Jun 1945
 

Appendix in the Jungle Skippers book says that tail of C-47 #488 was damaged on 11 March 1945 because of the Japanese raid at Clark AB and that a/c crashed on 26 June 1945.

On 11 March 1945 five 41st TCS C-47s had their tails damaged, while on 17 March 1945 three 46th TCS C-47s had their noses blown off by explosives.
Evidently the work of Japanese infiltrators...

Rolland (moved from MI to IN?), thanks for pointing me to the correct name of T/Sgt Samford.

Regards,

Leendert