Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons

Join us now!

Username
Password
Verification
	Stay logged in

- OR -

more social login options..

Forgot Your Password? Forgot your Username? Haven't received registration validation E-mail?

User Control Panel Log out

AAF
- ArmyAirForces.com Main
- Data
  - Chronology
  - MACR
  - Bases
  - Dictionary
  - MOS
  - Post Offices
- Research Help
- Contact
Forums
Posts

Latest Posts

Active Posts

Recently Visited

Search Results

View More
Blog

Recent Blog Posts

View More
Photos

Recent Photos

My Favorites

View More Photo Galleries
PMs

Unread PMs

Inbox

Send New PM View More
Page Extras
Menu
- Forum Themes

Reply to post

Mark Thread UnreadFlat Reading Mode ❐

Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons

Page: 1 2 > Showing page 1 of 2

Author Post Essentials Only Full Version
Alex Smart Division Member Total Posts : 1751 Reward points : 5922 Joined: Status: offline (permalink) 0 Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons Hello, With reference to "Stilwells Mission to China" within it makes reference to "Force Aquila" this is reference to the 10th AF I understand. It also makes reference to a Col. Leo H. Dawson and his flight of 33 A-29 Hudsons. These aircraft it seems ( either in Africa or enroute to Africa or the Middle East ) were held back from their intended destination. Confirmation of that is required please. Also if known; What were the serial numbers of these 33 Hudsons ? What became of them ? Many thanks Alex Quote #1 Serial Number, India, China 28 Replies Related Threads
jonjac Group Member Total Posts : 459 Reward points : 2950 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 [[[[What were the serial numbers of these 33 Hudsons ? What became of them ]]]] What is an A-29?? The 3rd Bomb. Gp. in their 41 months of combat duty in WW II flew A-24 Dive Bombers,A-20 Light Bombers and A-26 Light Bombers. Never did hear of an A-29 Quote #2
RSwank Division Member Total Posts : 1991 Reward points : 6204 Joined: Location: Holland, MI USA Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Lockheed A-29 Hudson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Hudson Quote #3
Alex Smart Division Member Total Posts : 1751 Reward points : 5922 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Thank You Rolland, Now, back to my original questions. With reference to "Stilwells Mission to China" [a book] within it makes reference to "Force Aquila" this is reference to the 10th AF I understand. It also makes reference to a Col. Leo H. Dawson and his flight of 33 A-29 Hudsons. These aircraft it seems ( either in Africa or enroute to Africa or the Middle East ) were held back from their intended destination. Confirmation of that is required please. Also if known; What were the serial numbers of these 33 Hudsons ? What became of them ? Many Thanks Alex [link=javascript:void(showMsgNum(204656))]#1[/link] [link=javascript:void(scrollTo(0,0));][/link] Quote #4
Anthony J. Mireles B-17 Nut Total Posts : 1165 Reward points : 3684 Joined: Location: Calumet City, Illinois USA Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Alex, If I remember right, I think that these A-29 airplanes were discussed here before. Way back on the old aaf dot com. I'll bet garyg knows the story. What was the date they left the states? TonyM. . . . Anthony J. Mireles FATAL ARMY AIR FORCES AVIATION ACCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, 1941-1945 www.warbirdcrash.com Quote #5
garyg Wing Member Total Posts : 845 Reward points : 7916 Joined: Location: Fairborn, OH Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Without going thru my references at home and wanting to get a quick reply to this thread, I do have this info from Bob Scott's bio: After World War II began, he joined Task Force Aquila in February 1942 to fly a group of B-17 Flying Fortress bombers to the China Burma India Theater. Anxious to join the mission, which was to bomb Japan from China, he professed to be an experienced B-17 pilot. He actually learned to fly it en route to Burma via South America and Africa. Upon arrival in India, he found the mission had been scrubbed as Bataan and Corregidor had fallen and that the plan had been disrupted. I'll have to do some digging to see if I can find any references to Hudsons, but the info I've seen on this refer to setting up bombing missions against Japan using B-17s. Gary www.cbi-history.com www.ex-cbi-roundup.com Quote #6
RSwank Division Member Total Posts : 1991 Reward points : 6204 Joined: Location: Holland, MI USA Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Alex, are not these the same planes and serial numbers that were discussed on this thread? http://forum.armyairforces.com/m162958-print.aspx In the book, Stillwell's Mission to Chiana on page 169 and following there is reference to the "planned" diversion of the 33 A-29s. There were to be held up a Khartoum. I wonder if the planned diversion every happened? China certainly was upset about the plan, and from the book it appears that Madam Chiang (see page 172) made the delivery of the A-29s the test of whether the Allies wanted a China Theater. I don't think they were used by the US in the Middle East Air Force under General Brereton in 1942. Maybe they were not diverted at all? Quote #7
tonystro Wing Member Total Posts : 596 Reward points : 9674 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Alex Smart Thank You Rolland, Now, back to my original questions. With reference to "Stilwells Mission to China" [a book] within it makes reference to "Force Aquila" this is reference to the 10th AF I understand. It also makes reference to a Col. Leo H. Dawson and his flight of 33 A-29 Hudsons. These aircraft it seems ( either in Africa or enroute to Africa or the Middle East ) were held back from their intended destination. Confirmation of that is required please. Also if known; What were the serial numbers of these 33 Hudsons ? What became of them ? Many Thanks Alex Alex, Oops! I had posted a long response... then read RSwank's post and link. And realized that almost everything in my long post you and I had already discussed. I have no new information to contribute... sorry! However, if anyone is interested, PM me you email address and I will provide a newsletter article "The Dawson Project" I created following the interviews of the crew chief's. 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 Quote #8
Alex Smart Division Member Total Posts : 1751 Reward points : 5922 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Hello Rolland and Tony, Thank you for the reminder , I thought the info had been discussed here before. My main reason for the questions is with regard to one aircraft, BW730 (41-23592), that was the result of at least two fatalities that now rest in the Khartoum War Cemetery. Although this a/c is in some sources said to have been sent to the RCAF, others seem to suggest that it was meant to go to China. I wondered if it was one of the 33 a/c ? And where could I find details of the accident? (not in footnote that i could see) or listed anywhere else on line. Thanks again Alex Quote #9
tonystro Wing Member Total Posts : 596 Reward points : 9674 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Alex Smart Hello Rolland and Tony, Thank you for the reminder , I thought the info had been discussed here before. My main reason for the questions is with regard to one aircraft, BW730 (41-23592), that was the result of at least two fatalities that now rest in the Khartoum War Cemetery. Although this a/c is in some sources said to have been sent to the RCAF, others seem to suggest that it was meant to go to China. I wondered if it was one of the 33 a/c ? And where could I find details of the accident? (not in footnote that i could see) or listed anywhere else on line. Thanks again Alex Alex, I have no information on that plane. However, 41-23593 (improperly listed in earlier thread s 41-23453), one of the Dawson Project, was destroyed in take off accident at Kano, Nigeria. Other planes in the production series (23562/23597) which I know were part of Dawson Project instead of going to RCAF are 41-23588, 41-23589, 41-23591 and 41-23596. From my interview of Bert Lee, crew chief for Lt. Col Neal -- "At Khartoum, one of the planes coming in from Nigeria had problems during the approach. Something went wrong on their base leg, probably stalled out. In any case, they crashed on the other side of the Nile river, across from the airport. Lt.Col. Neal and Lt. McCarten rushed out to my plane, grabbing another crew chief and said, ‘Get on the airplane. We want to check that out.’ We took off in my plane and flew to the other side of the river, landing in the desert near the crash site. Once there, it was obvious that nothing could be done to help the crew. I and John Long, the other crew chief were detailed as guards, to protect the remains, human and airplane, from scavengers. There was a ‘tommy gun’ in each plane, so we had it and our side arms. Neal and McCarten opened the parachute survival kits, giving the small bottles of whiskey to stay the night and protect the crash site.” 41-23593 crashed on takeoff from Kano for Khartoum on 29 Jul 42. The plane mentioned above crashing at Khartoum should have been on the 29th or the 30th. I hope some of my rambling is of help. 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 Quote #10
RSwank Division Member Total Posts : 1991 Reward points : 6204 Joined: Location: Holland, MI USA Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Alex, I assume you are referring to the two Canadian airmen who were killed at Khartoum in August 1942, P/O Elroy Fenwick Bent RCAF and P/O Peter Hersey Wyman RCAF. I see there have been some threads on 12oclockhigh trying to get to the “bottom” of the mystery of why they were killed at Khartoum supposedly flying an American plane (maybe one of these Hudson's) being discussed here. There does not seem to be any info on the web regarding the crash. This seems to be a case where things fell through the cracks. I took a look at the following website: http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem/photos&casualty=2273711 It has a couple of photos of Bent. In particular, the caption for the 2^nd photo is interesting. It shows Bent with two others at MEP Egypt June 1942. I think MEP is the Middle East Pool, the transit camp for incoming (and outgoing) airmen. I think this may mean that Bent was in Egypt in June 1942 awaiting assignment. I don't think very many RAF units in Egypt were using Hudson bombers. 459 RAAF squadron was one and while 216 squadron and 267 squadron used Hudsons, those squadrons were primarily transport squadrons. Suppose both Bent and Wyman were in the pool awaiting assignment and were give the job of going down to Khartoum, picking up one of the newly reassigned Hudson bombers and flying it to their new squadron assignment, say 459. They crash at Khartoum. Who reports this crash? They never got to their assigned squadron so nothing is reported there. The plane has just been transferred to the RAF, so no US crash report would be filed, not a US plane and not an American crew. Is the replacement pool suppose to file a crash report? The men had actually "left" the pool. This could be a scenario for “falling through the cracks”. Quote #11
Alex Smart Division Member Total Posts : 1751 Reward points : 5922 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Hello Tony And Rolland, Tony, From the US serial numbers you give above are so close to the one that has been given to me that I can see no reason to say that it was not one of those 33 and destined for China. Also it is fact that the US serial number is the one used and not the RAF one 41-23592 (BW730), this leads me to beleive that the a/c was under US control and not RAF. Can any of the others be traced to service in any squadron of the RAF or any allied force in the Middle East or perhaps India or did they indeed end up in China after all ? Rolland, As these 33 a/c were meant for China and that the a/c in question 41-23592 (BW730) was it seems was one of them. It was never taken up by the RAF or by the RCAF at all. As you suggest the a/c may well have been redirected to a Middle East Squadron, in which case there would be record of its transfere from the USAAF to the RAF or similar middle east force somewhere ? Then again it may well have crashed after t/o on its next leg of the journey to China. If only a photo or two would apear of some of these a/c , taken while in transit it might show a) if they had turrets fitted. b) if they wore US star/bar makings or still had original RAF roundels. I would expect the RAF serial number to still be worn along perhaps with the US one. I would not expect at this stage of their voyage to be in the CNAF colours, and expect they would be applied when in India or on arrival in China. However, the following serials relate to the BW serial range that were meant for China. I have not checked them against the numbers given in the link to the earlier thread in the post above. I have checked those that went to Australia and New Zealand. These were meant for China BW386 to BW398 (13) [41-23248 to 41-23260 ] BW413 to BW419 (7) [ 41-2375 to 41-23281 ] BW421 (1) [41-23283 ] BW725 to BW727 (3) [41-23587 to 41-23589 ] BW729 to BW735 (7) [ 41-23591 to 41-23597 ] BW754 (1) [ 41-23616 ] [ BW429 (41-23291) MACR 16220 lost in the Atlantic off Ascention Isl 20th July 1942 was of the Neal Mission , 9th Ferry Group (?) - S/Sgt John Peter Brandenburg is recorded as HQ Sqdn 10th AF in ABMC ] This would make total of 33 a/c. 41-23953 loss for 29th July 1942 - Nigeria should read as 41-23593 ( BW731 ). 41-23953 was a B24D. All for now Alex post edited by Alex Smart - Quote #12
tonystro Wing Member Total Posts : 596 Reward points : 9674 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Alex Smart …….Can any of the others be traced to service in any squadron of the RAF or any allied force in the Middle East or perhaps India or did they indeed end up in China after all ? If only a photo or two would appear of some of these a/c, taken while in transit it might show a) if they had turrets fitted. b) if they wore US star/bar makings or still had original RAF roundels. I would expect the RAF serial number to still be worn along perhaps with the US one. I would not expect at this stage of their voyage to be in the CNAF colours, and expect they would be applied when in India or on arrival in China. I have not discovered any photos, but according to the three crew chiefs I interviewed ; a) Part of the training during their time at Lowery Field, Colorado was “gunnery training” with the Bolton-Paul turret. David George recounted an incident in which a trainee was shooting up barns and sheds until he cut electrical power to the turret. b) The planes had Nationalist Chinese emblems painted over the USAAF markings at Morrison Field, Florida prior to starting out on the Southern Ferry Route. However, the following serials relate to the BW serial range that were meant for China. I have not checked them against the numbers given in the link to the earlier thread in the post above. I have checked those that went to Australia and New Zealand. These were meant for China BW386 to BW398 (13) [41-23248 to 41-23260 ] -23248 Probably not Dawson Project, 21^st ABGp; Ground looped and burned at Lowry Field, 22 Apr 42. -23250 Probable Dawson Project; Ground looped during take off and burned at March Field, 2 Apr 42. -23251 Dawson Project; Experienced damage during landing at Lowry, 31 May 42. Pilot Simmons delivered an unknown serial number to Chengtu, and was later assigned to 491^st Bm Sq in India in Sep 42. -23252 Dawson Project; Crashed near Pockham, Colorado during night mission 29 May 42, killing crew & trainees. -23255 Dawson Project; Ground looped with extensive damage at Lowry, 3 Jun 42. Pilot, Nau, delivered unknown serial number to Chengtu and was assigned to 22^nd Bm Sq in India in Sep 42. -23260 Dawson Project; Was LtCol. Neal’s plane until mechanical difficulties delayed it in leaving Lowery. Neal took different plane. Following repairs ‘60’ spun in near Lebanon, Ohio on 3 Jun42, killing all crew members. BW413 to BW419 (7) [ 41-2375 to 41-23281 ] Joe Baugher shows all the above reached Australia and accounts for their disposition. -23282 Dawson Project; replacement aircraft, received at Lowry Field – Pilot Pickett couldn’t find Karachi Airfield due to weather, crew bailed out near Lakphat, India on 7 Aug 42. BW421 (1) [41-23283 ] -23283 Assigned to 2 Squadron RAAF, shot down 7 May 43. -23286 Dawson Project; Moderate damage due mid-air incident on 24 Jun 42; landed at Curtis-Steinberg Airport, Illinois, flown by Robert Ruick. He reached CBI and was assigned to 491^st Bm Sq on 16 Sep 42, date Squadron was activated. Whether he flew another A-29, rode with another crew, or was transported separately is unknown. BW725 to BW727 (3) [41-23587 to 41-23589 ] -23588 Dawson Project; Take off ground loop and burned at Lowry Field, 22 May 42. Pilot Simmons experience landing difficulties and aircraft damage with -23351 one week later. -23589 Dawson Project; Take off ground loop and burned at Lowry Field, 27 May 42. Pilot Amann delivered replacement, serial unknown, to Chengtu, later assigned to 22^nd Bm Sq in India in Sep. -23491 Dawson Project; Take off ground loop and burned at Lowry Field, 2 Apr 42. Pilot Dickinson delivered replacement, serial unknown, to Chengtu, later assigned to 22^nd Bm Sq in India in Sep. -23592 & 93 Dawson Project aircraft previously accounted for. -23596 Dawson Project; Landing ground loop and burned at Lowry Field, 9 Apr 42. Pilot Fleming delivered replacement, serial unknown, to Chengtu, later assigned to 490^th Bm Sq in India in Sep. In addition; Capt. McCarten (mentioned in Khartoum incident) grounded looped his A-29 during take off from Aden, and it burnt. He and crew chief continued on to Chengtu as passengers in LtCol. Neal’s plane. Two of the A-29s delivered to Chengtu (serials unknown) were destroyed in take off or landing accidents during the three weeks Lt.Col Neal and his people were conducting training for the Chinese. The last A-29 delivered (serial unknown) had been delayed several weeks in Africa following engine failure and emergency landing. Crew chief, David George, reported it was destroyed the next day when Chinese pilot ground looped on take off. Rumors reaching David George months later related that eight of the Dawson Project A-29s had survived to fly a bombing mission in Oct 1942, but by December all had been shot down, lost in weather or wrecked. 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 Quote #13
Alex Smart Division Member Total Posts : 1751 Reward points : 5922 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Hello Tony, To start, my typo , sorry, BW413 to BW419 (7) [ 41-2375 to 41-23281 ] Should read as: BW413 to BW419 (7) [ 41-23275 to 41-23281 ] ____________________________________________ And the following does show that the whole batch [ BW414 to BW419; BW421; BW661 to BW681; BW736 to BW755 ] all went to Australia, none to China. Lockheed RAF USAAF Australia 6092 BW413 41-23275 A16 - 163 6093 BW414 41-23276 A16 - 164 6094 BW415 41-23277 A16 - 165 6095 BW416 41-23278 A16 - 166 6096 BW417 41-23279 A16 - 167 6097 BW418 41-23280 A16 - 168 6098 BW419 41-23281 A16 - 169 ********************************************** 6100 BW421 41-23283 A16 - 171 ******************************************** 6340 BW661 41-23523 A16 - 184 6341 BW662 41-23524 A16 - 185 6342 BW663 41-23525 A16 - 186 6343 BW664 41-23526 A16 - 187 6344 BW665 41-23527 A16 - 188 6345 BW666 41-23528 A16 - 189 6346 BW667 41-23529 A16 - 190 6347 BW668 41-23530 A16 - 175 6348 BW669 41-23531 A16 - 176 6349 BW670 41-23532 A16 - 177 6350 BW671 41-23533 A16 - 178 6351 BW672 41-23534 A16 - 179 6352 BW673 41-23535 A16 - 180 6353 BW674 41-23536 A16 - 181 6354 BW675 41-23537 A16 - 182 6355 BW676 41-23538 A16 - 183 6356 BW677 41-23539 A16 - 191 6357 BW678 41-23540 A16 - 192 6358 BW679 41-23541 A16 - 193 6359 BW680 41-23542 A16 - 194 6360 BW681 41-23543 A16 - 153 ******************************************* 6415 BW736 41-23598 A16 - 154 6416 BW737 41-23599 A16 - 155 6417 BW738 41-23600 A16 - 156 6418 BW739 41-23601 A16 - 157 6419 BW740 41-23602 A16 - 158 6420 BW741 41-23603 A16 - 159 6421 BW742 41-23604 A16 - 160 6422 BW743 41-23605 A16 - 161 6423 BW744 41-23606 A16 - 162 6424 BW745 41-23607 A16 - 170 6425 BW746 41-23608 A16 - 172 6426 BW747 41-23609 A16 - 173 6427 BW748 41-23610 A16 - 174 6428 BW749 41-23611 A16 - 221 6429 BW750 41-23612 A16 - 215 6430 BW751 41-23613 A16 - 211 6431 BW752 41-23614 A16 - 210 6432 BW753 41-23615 A16 - 213 6433 BW754 41-23616 A16 - 208 6434 BW755 41-23617 A16 - 216 ******************************************* Total 49 . And to the Royal New Zealand Air Force Lockheed RAF USAAF RNZAF 6435 to 6446 BW756 to BW767 41-23618 to 41-23629 NZ2037 to NZ2048 Total 12. So all of the above can be disregarded from the China list. Destined for China were ( not all made it). Lockheed RAF USAAF** 6064 BW385 41-23247 6065 BW386 41-23248 6066 BW387 41-23249 6067 BW388 41-23250 6068 BW389 41-23251 6069 BW390 41-23252 6070 BW391 41-23253 6071 BW392 41-23254 6072 BW393 41-23255 6073 BW394 41-23256 6074 BW395 41-23257 6075 BW396 41-23258 6076 BW397 41-23259 6077 BW398 41-23260 6099 BW420 41-23282 6101 BW422 41-23284 6103 BW424 41-23286 6104 BW425 41-23287 6105 BW426 41-23288 6106 BW427 41-23289 6107 BW428 41-23290 6108 BW429 41-23291 6400 BW721 41-23583 6404 BW725 41-23587 6405 BW726 41-23588 6406 BW727 41-23589 6408 BW729 41-23591 6409 BW730 41-23592 6410 BW731 41-23593 6411 BW732 41-23594 6412 BW733 41-23595 6413 BW734 41-23596 6414 BW735 41-23597 All for now ref was "ADF Serials .com" and "The Lockheed file". Alex post edited by Alex Smart - Quote #14
tonystro Wing Member Total Posts : 596 Reward points : 9674 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Alex, I have just received an email from Loyal G. Brown, one of the Dawson Project pilots. In his email he commented "Was last pilot and plane delivered to Chengtu, China. Have Sqd pictore and list of personnel. Believe pilot buried at Kartoumn was Lt. Oneselow. Crashed after engine failure in flight." Does the name 'Oneslow' match with the men in Khartoum cemetary? I will continue contact with him, hopefully via telephone. Other than plane numbers, do you have any questions for which I might seek answers? 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 Quote #15
Alex Smart Division Member Total Posts : 1751 Reward points : 5922 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Hello Tony, The name of Oneselow not in CWGC list for Khartoum War Cemetery. And cannot find any details of an American War Cemetery there and the name does not show up in the ABMC site. Nothing in enlistments in the NARA site either. There was only one that might fit , a Donald R. Onslow, enlisted in 1941 from Portland Oregon. note different spelling. Alex Quote #16
tonystro Wing Member Total Posts : 596 Reward points : 9674 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Alex, In post #8 above, you mentioned two buried in Khartoum War Cemetery. Do you have those names? Tony Quote #17
Alex Smart Division Member Total Posts : 1751 Reward points : 5922 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Hello Tony, See the thread on these airmen here - http://forum.armyairforces.com/tm.aspx?high=&m=179391&mpage=1#204348 All for now Alex Quote #18
tonystro Wing Member Total Posts : 596 Reward points : 9674 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Alex, I had not previously recognized the crew you mentioned were RCAF. Based on that, I think to have been one of the Dawson Project A-29s, the plane crashing on 19 Aug 42 would have to have been one of the three stragglers which had experienced mechanical problems earlier in the route from Florida. All information I have received from men on that mission indicates the majority of Dawson 'flyable' aircraft would have passed through Khartoum by 10 Aug 42. However, three planes were several days behind and I only have confirmation that one of those made it to China (serial number unknown). Tony 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 Quote #19
tonystro Wing Member Total Posts : 596 Reward points : 9674 Joined: Status: offline Re:Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons (permalink) 0 Alex, and others following this thread; I am not certain how much these are necessary to your research. I have just received photocopies of the orders for the 24 planes and crew which reached Khartoum. The orders are sending the planes, with one pilot and crew chief each, on to China, and the remaining men to Karachi. I am providing plane IDs, and can provide pilot and crew chief information if you want it. The USAAF serial numbers are: 1st Flight; 41-23249, 41-23254, 41-23284, 41-23587, 41-23288, 41-37243 2nd Flight; 41-37188 (ground looped on take off from Aden, severely damaged/destroyed, left behind), 41-23248, 41-23248, 41-23590, 41-23282 (crew bailed out, unable to find Karachi airfield), 41-23594 3rd Flight; 41-37251, 41-23256, 41-23259, 41-23258, 41-23287 4th Flight; 41-23595, 41-23257, 41-23583, 41-23286 (last to arrive at Chengtu due to mechanical problems), 41-23247, 41-23592 (reported ly crashed prior to landing at Khartoum, 2Lt. William S. Vanselow, S/Sgt Jack W. Powers were killed), 41-23597 In addition one of these (serial unknown) went missing between India and Kunming China. Hope this is of some value to you 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 Quote #20

Page: 1 2 > Showing page 1 of 2

Jump to:

- OR -

Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons

Stilwells Mission to China and A-29 Hudsons

28 Replies Related Threads