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| Date: | Saturday 16 December 1944 |
| Time: | 13:35 |
| Type: |  Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando |
| Owner/operator: | United States Army Air Force - USAAF |
| Registration: | 42-96713 |
| MSN: | 30375 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1944 |
| Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney R-2800-51 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Aircraft missing |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Yibin, Sichuan Province? -
 China
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | |
[MACR 14388]
The Curtiss C-46 Commando registered 42-96713 was operating a domestic cargo flight between Luliang, Yunnan and Hsinching, Sichuan when it went missing. In the last radio communication, the crew said that they were over Ipin [=Yibin], Sichuan. As of 2024, no evidence suggests that this aircraft and its crew have been found.
All four occupants were presumed dead.
1st Lt Robert M. Cole, Pilot
2nd Lt Robert E. Smith, Copilot
Sgt Charles F. Flynn, Jr, Engineer
Sgt John L. Vousden, Radio Operator
Sources:
Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research (AAIR)
https://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/missing-aircrew-reports/macr-14388-42-96713.cfm
https://curtisscommando.e-monsite.com/pages/aircraft/s-n-42-96529-to-42-96802-curtiss-c-46a-45-cu-c-46d-1-cu-commando/commando-42-96713.html
https://marionveterans.home.blog/2022/12/16/sgt-john-l-vousden-missing-in-action-1944
https://www.cnac.org/changchihchong01.htm
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Dec-2024 07:45 | RDV | Updated [Time, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Phase, Source, Damage, Narrative, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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