Total Persons on Board:44 - Eight crewmen, and 36 passengers, including 3 civilians. | Flight Crew | | Major Gerald F. Brittain, pilot, 36 | First Lt. Mike Tisik, co-pilot, 25 | | First Lt. Joseph W. Metzler, navigator, 31 | First Lt. Kyle L. McMichael, aircraft commander, 28 | Master Sgt. Clyde A. Streitmann, engineer, 29 | Tech. Sgt. Harry W. McConegly, engineer, 30 | Staff Sgt. Raymond H. Snow, engineer, 24 | Staff Sgt. Clarence A. Gibson, radio operator, 35 |
| Passengers | | Eldon V. Dolansky, Sunny side, WA | Mrs. Joyce M. Espe, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. wife of M Sgt Robert E. Espe, of the 57th Air Installation Squadron | Victor E. Espe (Infant), Elmendorf AFB | | Capt. Frank E. Gregory, Eielson AFB, Alaska | T-Sgt. Jack P. Faris, Houston, Texas. | S-Sgt. Robert E. Ahearn, Charlton City, Mass. | | S-Sgt. Jack E. Dickerson, Dunsmuir, Calif. | S-Sgt. Burnis T. Lively, Long Branch, W. Va. | S-Sgt. Raymond G. Mangold, Rodney, Ark. | | S-Sgt. John J. McDonald, Lowell, Mass. | S-Sgt. Clinton D. Tompkins, Langley, Wash. | Sgt. Ray L. Asel, Los Angeles, Calif. | Sgt. Donald W. Dagle, Hawarden, IA | Sgt. Noel B. Jones, Harlingen, Texas. | Sgt. Roy F. Jones, Marietta, Ga. | | Sgt. Junior Lee Moore, Montgomery, Pa. | Sgt. Harold R. Noell, Nebraska City, Neb. | Sgt. Tommy E. Rhoad, Flint, Mich.. | Sgt. Julian C. Thomas, Lake City, SC | Cpl. Albie P. Baughman, Tioga, TX | Cpl. Henry S. Kerchner, Thomasville, Pa. | | Cpl. Jeff D. Johnson, Allentown, N. J. | Cpl. Raymond H. Matheny, McKenzie, Tenn.. | Cpl. Bernard Portrey, Preston, Neb. | Cpl. Richard L. Suggs, Crossville, Tenn. | Cpl. Thomas J. Young, Sulphur Rock, Ark. | Pfc. John A. Chalopka, Richmond, Mo. | | Pfc. Charles W. Cook, Van Dyke, Mich. | Pfc. Billie C. Cummins, Corbin, Ky. | Pfc. Francis D. Hofer, Seattle, Wash. | Pfc. Herman L. Lawson, Pauline, SC | Pfc. Loyd E. Lowry, Mustoe, VA | Pfc. William W. Cranor, Dallas, Texas | | Pvt. Robert M. Hiatt, Toppenish, Wash. | Pvt. Blake F. Maxwell, Lynn, Mass. | Pvt. Robert T. Reitmeyer, St. Louis, Mo. |
When:January 26, 1950
Weather:Low clouds, fog, drizzle. Low temperatures.
Flight Route:Enroute from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, to Great Falls, Montana. The plane's final destination was Biggs AFB near El Paso, Texas.
Area Believed Crashed:The missing plane was last heard from over Snag, 10 miles into Yukon territory from the Alaskan border.
Reason for flight:Transportation of personnel
Type Plane:A Douglas C-54D "Skymaster", serial number 42-72469, powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-2000-11 engines
Search efforts: The search was dubbed "Operation Mike", a name taken from the missing plane's commander, 1st Lt. Kyle E. McMichael. On January 30th, a C-47, attached to the 57th Fighter Wing at Elmendorf Field, and piloted by 1st Lt. Charles H. Harden, crashed near Mt. McClintoc, injuring four aboard. In 2012, a new effort - armed with modern search tools - is mounting to locate the wreck site. Visit http://www.facebook.com/OperationMike for more info.
Controversy: Despite one of the largest searches to that time, no trace of the plane, or its personnel, have been found. For more information, view the following:
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