Port Moresby - Pongani

On November 10, 1942 at 01:30 PM, Port Moresby - Pongani experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF, with the event recorded near Mount Obree Central.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

23 people were known to be on board, 17 fatalities were recorded, 6 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 73.9%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 19, passenger fatalities: 14, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is weather. Christened 'The Flying Dutchman', the aircraft was flying from Port Moresby to Pongani on behalf of the 33rd Troop Carrier Squadron's to deliver supplies and troops from the 32nd Infantry Division and the 126th Infantry Regiment. While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the aircraft encountered severe downdrafts, lost altitude and hit the slope of Mt Obree, in the center of PNG. Of the twenty-three aboard, seventeen survived the crash. Many had serious injuries and burns, and died afterwards waiting for help. Eventually, some of the survivors found help and only six survived. The wreckage was rediscovered during an air search mission for a missing Piaggio on March 8, 1961. The airplane has the dual registration VH-CCU and 41-18564. Crew: 2nd Lt George W. Vandervort, pilot, † Cpt Theodore W. Barron, † T/Sgt Stephen J. Pitch, flight engineer, † Sgt George B. Kershner, radio operator. Passengers: Sgt James M. Verstay, † Pvt Vernon R. Moak, † Pvt Charles W. Raddatz, † Pvt Charles I. Stokes, † Pvt Margarito Padilla, † Pvt Carlos D. Failin, † Pfc Gerald M. Grove, † Pfc Frank A. Thomas, Jr., Pvt Duane R. Butler, Sgt Edward K. Holleman, Pvt Floyd L. August, Pvt John W. Mobley, Tec Lawrence E. Peterson, † Pvt John J. Bellus, † Pfc Malvern E. Patton, † Pvt Theodore Romero, † Pfc William L. Smith, † Pvt Martin J. Brandon, † Pvt Antonio T. Montes. †

Aircraft reference details include registration VH-CCU, MSN 4689, year of manufacture 1942.