Discovery of C-47 #43-48308
After more than 63 years of being considered “unrecoverable” by many, the crash site of C-47 #43-48308 was discovered on November 5, 2009, by MIA recovery specialist Clayton Kuhles. To view photographs and read Clayton’s report of the crash site, visit MIA Recoveries. Be sure to read page 5 of the Official Report for details of the discovery.
For our family, this was amazing news. All of these years we have felt a void, not knowing where John’s body was. Our family held a funeral/memorial service for John after learning of his death and placed a headstone on an empty grave; but just like that empty grave, there was still something missing. There were still so many questions. Our family, like so many others, had no closure. While simply finding the plane does not provide closure in itself, it does bring us one step closer to it. At least now we know where John’s body has laid for the last six decades.
That day we found comfort knowing that men like Clayton Kuhles care enough about our lost loved ones to go to great lengths to find them so they can be brought home. We found comfort knowing that the local people cared enough to bury our men and fence in the area so that it would be marked for future generations. We found comfort in knowing that the locals held a memorial service for our men each year. We found comfort knowing that even though our men were lost, they were not forgotten.
The discovery of the C-47 has been reported to JPAC and DPMO, so now we must wait. Wait until they can secure the area and send the proper military personnel to conduct an assessment of the area and determine the possibility of a recovery mission to the site. This process is a lengthy one. It may take years for JPAC to conduct the recovery of the crash site. It is our hope that they may give this mission high priority in their recovery efforts since the crash site holds the remains of so many men.
It is our sincere hope that someday these men will be brought home. It may take time and patience, but one day, God willing, they will return home.
There is a short video shown on Clayton’s website that shows some highlights of the 2009 expedition. Notice the 32 man armed escort that accompanied Clayton into the crash site of the C-47. A full length video can be ordered from www.miarecoveries.org for a donation of $100.
Walter Webb of Westwood, MA kindly provided Google Earth images of the crash site area (based on the coordinates Clayton Kuhles provided in his report).
Crash site in Tripura State, India from 132 miles altitude
© 2010 Leslie K. Roane
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