On/about 31 Aug 1945, an A-26C of the 491st Bomb Squadron departed Yangkai to deliver the final Squadron records to 14th Air Force Headquarters at Kunming enroute to join the rest of the Squadron at Kanshapara, India. Supposedly the pilot, Capt Allen J. Walker, experienced mechanical difficulty during or soon after takeoff from Kunming and crashed in to Kunming Lake.

The Squadron records had been closed out before the accident and I can't find any MACRs near that date.

Can anyone help me with information related to this loss, or with suggestions on where to find the information?

Tony Strotman, MSgt (ret.), USAF
Son of T/Sgt Francis E. Strotman, Engineer-Gunner,
491st Bm Sq / 341st Bm Gp (M), Yangkai, China
"USAAF in CBI Tribute" http://www.usaaf-in-cbi.com

I have more and new information.

First, if the plane was assigned to the 491st BS it would have been A-26B, 'Strafer'.

Secondly, according to aviation archaeology an A-26B, piloted by Robert (NMI) Pellicane, performed a belly landing crash at Kunming on 1 Sep 1945 with three (3) men killed. That date coincides with the 29 August 1945 movement of the 491st Bomb Group from Yankai, China to Panagarh, India as the first part of their transfer back to the ZI. AND, Walker delivering the final paperwork to 14 AF HQ. Could Capt. Walker (Operations Officer, 491st BS) have been the copilot?? No MACR info for either man is retrievable from footnote.

UPDATE: Allen J. Walker is still listed as MIA while Pellicane is not. I now (27 May 08) believe these were seperate aircraft.

Any information related to either of these incidents would be appreciated.

(edited to add the 'update')

Tony Strotman, MSgt (ret.), USAF
Son of T/Sgt Francis E. Strotman, Engineer-Gunner,
491st Bm Sq / 341st Bm Gp (M), Yangkai, China
"USAAF in CBI Tribute" http://www.usaaf-in-cbi.com