Historical Note: The text within this post is an excerpt from the original Army Air Corps or USAAF accident report that was filed shortly after the aircraft disappeared.  These archival reports were typically the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) or Report of Major Accident.  The reports frequently stated the crash site was believed to be “unrecoverable” or “all but impossible to recover”, due to the very remote and rugged terrain where the aircraft crashed.  Employing the services of local tribal guides, I was able to reach and document this crash site.  Without exception, all the sites were very difficult to reach, often involving many days of trekking from the nearest road and multiple river crossings.

C-109 #44-49628
Found 22 Oct 2007

by

C-109 #44-49628

This aircraft departed Jorhat, India enroute to Chengtu, China on 17 Jul 1945 at approx. 0230 IST.  They had instrument clearance on Able route.  It was a routine Hump cargo flight hauling 100 octane aviation gasoline to the Chengtu area.

A received position report put the aircraft over Pathalipam at 8,000 ft.  There were no further radio contacts with this aircraft.  No replies were received in response to all queries sent. The aircraft disappeared somewhere on the Hump and was declared missing as of 17 Jul 1945.  A concentrated search was conducted to no avail, and the search was abandoned on 17 Aug 1945.  In view of the complete absence of information, the cause of the accident remains undetermined.  Crew declared dead.  Dead: 4.

  • Pilot: 1st Lt. Allen R. Turner
  • Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Frederick W. Langhorst
  • Radio Operator: Cpl. Robert L. McAdoo
  • Flight Engineer: Pvt. Joseph I. Natvik

View the Crashed Aircraft Site Report (PDF)

C-109 #44-49628 Photo Gallery

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Human remains
Pilot 1st Lt. Allen R. Turner
Radio Operator Cpl. Robert L. McAdoo
Radio Operator Cpl. Robert L. McAdoo and wife Elizabeth
Cpl. Robert L. McAdoo memorial plaque
Flight Engineer Pvt. Joseph I. Natvik
Clayton at river crossing enroute to crash site
Clayton having tea break with bamboo cup

C-109 Aircraft Discoveries, Crash Site Reports 2003 to 2010

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Important Notice:​ These MIA missions are mostly self-funded by Clayton Kuhles.  No funding support is received from the US government.  If you believe this is a worthwhile humanitarian project that needs to be pursued, then please visit the Funding page on this website to see how easy it is to support this project in a meaningful manner.  MIA Recoveries, Inc is a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Funding donations to MIA Recoveries, Inc are deductible under Section 170 of the Code.  EIN: 45-3174718