Last Flight, The Missing Airmen, March 1951

[Author’s Preface: This is an abbreviated account of the ill-fated flight of the C-124 Globemaster II N43173C, 49-0244.]

C-124A tail number 9244 (buno 49-0244).  This photo was taken in Jan 1951 at RAFB Lakenheath

C-124A tail number 9244 (buno 49-0244). This photo was taken in Jan 1951 at RAFB Lakenheath

VIEW THE COMPLETE LIST OF MISSING AIRMEN

At 1915 Zulu, on Wednesday, the 21st of March, 1951, the C-124 commanded by Major Robert J. Bell of the 2nd Strategic Support Squadron departed Walker AFB, loaded with aircrews and equipment of the 509th Bomber Group, final destination was RAFB Lakenheath, England.
At 2212 Zulu, they touched down at Barksdale AFB, Shreveport, Louisiana where they remained overnight. On Thursday, the 22nd of March Brigadier General Paul T. Cullen and his staff joined the other passengers and boarded the aircraft. BG Cullen was the commander of the newly established 7th Air Group assigned to England. The flight took off at 0425 Zulu, destination Loring AFB, Limestone, Maine.

Following an uneventful eight hour flight, the C-124 touched down at Loring, time: 1230 Zulu. While the aircraft was being refueled, the pilots and navigators went to base ops where they received an updated weather briefing. They filed the flight plan for the final leg: Limestone direct Gander, great circle (rumb line) to Mildenhall RAFB, U.K.

The flight route was over the weather ships that linked the American continent to the British Isles. Along the route, they checked in with each ship, giving a position report, status onboard, and receiving updated weather.

At 0100 Zulu, Friday the 23rd of March, 1951, they checked in with the British weather ship 4YJ stationed at 52 degrees north latitude, 20 degrees west longitude. The C-124 radio operator gave their position report (appx 800 miles southwest of Ireland). Shortly thereafter, the C-124 gave out a Mayday call, reporting a fire in the cargo crates. They began jettisoning the crates and announced they were ditching. The C-124 ditched at the approximate grid 50 degrees 45 minutes North, 24 degrees 03 minutes West. The aircraft was intact when it touched down on the ocean. All hands excited the aircraft wearing life preservers and climbed into the inflated 5 man life rafts. The rafts were equipped with cold weather gear, food, water, flares, and Gibson Girl hand crank emergency radios.

Captain Walter A. Wagner, Jr.

Captain Walter A. Wagner, Jr.

The USAF 509th element stationed in England launched a B-29 to search for the survivors. Captain Muller was the pilot in command. He located the men when they fired several flares. The B-29 was not carrying any rescue equipment that could be dropped to the survivors. Captain Muller radioed back that he had located the men and would remain on station until bingo fuel. They continued circling and hoping for rescue aircraft to arrive but to no avail. Reaching critical fuel, Captain Muller was forced to abandon his fellow airmen and return to base.

Not one ship or a single aircraft returned to the position given by Captain Muller until Sunday, the 25th of March, 1951. When the ships arrived all they found were some charred crates and a partially deflated life raft. Ships and planes continued searching for the next several days but not a single body was found. The men of C-124 #49-0244 had quite simply disappeared.

It is a fact that Soviet submarines and surface vessels were active in this area and that the Soviets had no qualms about capturing and holding American servicemen, particularly aviators.

We do not know what fate befell these men.

The Missing Airmen

Name Rank Rating Assignment
Adler, Glenn E. SSG 509th BWng 830th BSqd
Adrean, Phil B Capt Pilot 509th BWng 830th BSqd
Ambrose, George W. Sgt 509th BWng 4013th ArmElecMaintSqd
Ambrose, Sterling L. Cpl 509th BWng 715th BSqd
Amsden, Robert D. SSG FEng 509th BWng 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Armstrong, Karl R. Jr. 2Lt Nav 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Bell, Robert J. Maj Pilot 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Bemis, Bartin C. Ssgt CE 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Berenberg, Dwight A. Pvt RadOp 509th BWng 830th BSqd
Bristow, Robert R. Sgt RadOp 509th BWng 393rd BSqd
Broussard, Joseph D. Sgt CE 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Chute, Arthur F. Cpl FC 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Collins, Emmette E. Capt Pilot 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Counsell, John E. Capt Bmbdr 509th BWng 393rd BSqd
Crow, Jack R. Cpl FC 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Cullen, Paul T. BrigGen C SAC 2nd Air Force 7th Air Div
Davis, Francis N. Capt Nav 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Dubach, Mark O. Capt Nav 509th BWng 715th BSqd
Dudek, Miezyslaw Capt Bmbdr 509th BWng 393rd BSqd
Dughman, Gene D. Ssgt 509th BWng 393rd BSqd
Fife, Jack R. 1Lt Pilot 509th BWng 715th BSqd
Fisher, William E. Jr. 2ndLt Nav 509th BWng 715th BSqd
Gray, Kenneth N. Col SAC 2nd Air Force 7th Air Div
Green, Charles E. TSgt FltEng 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Green, Thomas E. Ssgt 509th BWng 4013th ArmElecMaintSqd
Hopkins, James I. LtCol Pilot SAC 2nd Air Force 7th Air Div
Jones, Homer Jr. SSG SSgt RadOp 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Kampert, Robert F. Capt Bmbdr 509th BWng 393rd BSqd
Kelly, Thomas R. Capt Bmbdr 509th BWng 830th BSqd
Krawiec, Carl N. Capt Bmbdr 509th BWng 715th BSqd
Lee, Max D. 2ndLt Nav 509th BWng 830th BSqd
Lengua, Nicolo A. Ssgt RadOp 509th BWng 830th BSqd
Lutjeans, Samuel P. Bmbdr 509th BWng 715th BSqd
Mathers, Howard P. 2ndLt Pilot 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
McGee, Ronald D. Sgt RadOp 509th BWng 393rd BSqd
McKoy, Edwin A. LtCol Pilot SAC 2nd Air Force 7th Air Div
Meckler, Frank A . Sgt FltEng 509th BWng 830th BSqd
Peterson, Walter T. Capt Pilot 509th BWng 393rd BSqd
Porter, Calvin Capt Bmbdr 509th BWng 393rd BSqd
Rafferty, Lawrence E. Pilot 509th BWng 715th BSqd
Scarbrough, Everett D. Msgt CE 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Stoddard, Gordon H. Maj Pilot SAC 2nd Air Force 7th Air Div
Swisher, Clarence G. Cpl 509th BWng 393rd BSqd
Thomas, Bobby G. Cpl 509th BWng 715th BSqd
Vangilder, Taylor H. Msgt 509th BWng 509th Av Sqd
Vincent, Roger S. Capt Pilot 509th BWng 830th BSqd
Wagner, Walter A. Jr. Pilot 509th BWng 830th BSqd
Williamson, H. C. Msgt 509th BWng 509th Av Sqd
Witkowski, Raymond L. Bmbdr 509th BWng 715th BSqd
Zabawa, Edwon D. Capt Bmbdr 509th BWng 830th BSqd
Zalac, Frank B. Capt Pilot 509th BWng 715th BSqd
Zweygarti, John C. Capt Bmbdr 509th BWng 830th BSqd
C-124 Aircrew
Maj . Bell was in command of the flight. He was the squadron ops officer and was doing a route check on the pilots, Capt. Collins and 2ndLt Mathers. Capt. Davis the squadron navigator was evaluating 2ndLt Armstrong.
Amsden, Robert D. SSG FEng 509th BWng 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Armstrong, Karl R. Jr. 2Lt Nav 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Bell, Robert J. Maj Pilot 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Bemis, Bartin C. Ssgt CE 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Broussard, Joseph D. Sgt CE 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Chute, Arthur F. Cpl FC 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Collins, Emmette E. Capt Pilot 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Crow, Jack R. Cpl FC 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Davis, Francis N. Capt Nav 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Green, Charles E. TSgt FltEng 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Jones, Homer Jr. SSG SSgt RadOp 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Mathers, Howard P. 2ndLt Pilot 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
Scarbrough, Everett D. Msgt CE 509th BWing 2nd StrtgcSptSqd
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