Mystery crash, S. Burma, 6 Sept 1946 ('45?)

[Stewart McLoughlin]

Matt

PM forwarded, but just for others, reply with everything and much, much more with 24 hours.

Gratitude off the scale!!!

Stewart McLoughlin

[ColinR]

Glad I've found this forum, I've been hunting down info about this a/c crash for a lady who's uncle was on the aircraft.
Has anyone pics of the graves which could be the ones for this flight?
I have the AM form 1180 for the aircraft but nothing else other then info from 'The price of peace' then and the following - 49310 (c/n 15126/26571) to RAF as Dakota IV KK118. - Remains found 20 mi S of Binhli Sep 6, 1945. Aircraft had broken up while flying in cloud between Hmwabi and Bangkok.
Any help would be great.

[Lyffe]

Colin,

In the event no-one on this Forum can help with photos, it's possible that the 'War Graves Photo Project' might be your way forward. Go to http://www.twgpp.org/ ; the website is quite easy to navigate.

Brian

[Matt Poole]

Colin,

I have e-mailed you the two photos I have -- one close-up of an unknown victim of the Dakota crash, and a shot of the general layout of these graves. I'm not sure if my Rangoon friend can get to Thanbyuzayat for some more shots, but I'll ask her to keep you in mind. If she has any other connections, I'm sure she'll let me know. I'm not sure who took the photos I've sent -- probably the cemetery manager.

Cheers,

Matt

[langranm]

I have been trying to get in touch with you about the Mystery Crash in Burma 1945. I understand that the Identification of the body parts is in progress, and I may be able to help in some very small way, One of the soldiers who went down with the plane was an uncle of mine, and I do have a very good photo of him, if a DNA test is to be done on the bodies I may be able to direct the investigaters on to a full brother of the deseased, or at least children of the brother, The name of the deseased being the S J Reed, of the West Surreys, No close relation to the other Reed on board! I hint at the fact that S J Reed was half brother of my mother, different fathers, so the full brother or his children would be the persons to contact. I may be able to help there, Sorry about the time delay hope I'm not too late in my approuch, regards S J Langran, (John)

[Peter Tennison]

My Father F/O Geoff Tennison flew this aircraft on 1 August 1945. I just thought you may be interested in the notes in his logbook for that day.

"Forced landing-engine failure on take off. 6000lbs freight & 1 IOR. Landed wheels down- no casualties or damage: cause:- 30 gallons of water in starboard main tank, airbourne 30 secs."

He was in 117 Squadron chittagong. Seems like this aircraft had something of a jinx on it.
I have no idea what or who the IOR was.
He flew the aircraft until 9 August 1945

[Oldduffer]

Peter,

IOR stands for: Indian, Other Rank.

There are records of numerous issues such as large quantities of water in the fuel at about this time. Some will have been because of poor standards of supervision and quality control checks on the fuel but there are suspicions that some problems were deliberate tampering.

Colin Cummings

[Peter Tennison]

Thanks for the info Colin. I have two log books of my Fathers, the RAF in India, and the African Air force where he did his flying training.I am also ex RAF, but some of the terminoligy used goes over my head. Many thanks for your reply,
Peter

[StuartLaw]

Hi, my Grandfather Edward James Sullivan died on this flight. I have letters from the Father of the pilot, to my Grandmother, in the months and years after the crash. I too, have photos of the graves in Thanbyuzayat cemetary. I have also found footage of a film shot in Burma a few weeks earlier in the Sittang Bend in which I am 99% sure my Grandfather can be seen washing and cleaning boots with other members of the Battalion.

i also have a letter from my Grandfather's commanding officer etc. one of which indicates the flight took off at 6 minutes past 6 on the 6th.

if anyone is interested I can pass on details. I also hope to visit Thanbyuzayat soon.

Stuart.

[Paul Stanyer]

There is a death notice for 2nd Ltd Pattie Royal Fusiliers in the Times for 3rd October 1945, which says he was killed in an aircrash in Burma fon 6th Sept 1945

So 1945 it si then

BTW Flight OCTOBER 3RD, 1946 has deaths as 'PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MISSING, NOW PRESUMED KILLED IN ACTION" - Including Brown, which may have confused Cummings

2nd Lt Pattie was my uncle, and the Times notice was written by my grandfather. Bryan Pattie was tall and smartly turned out, and was therefore chosen to fly to Rangoon for Slim's parade.