Adventurer nets more USAF Warbirds in India

Clayton Kuhles of www.MIArecoveries.org just returned home from a 7-week MIA search expedition In NE India. Clayton say’s “This was probably the most successful and productive search expedition I’ve ever done. I reached 7 additional US aircraft wrecks during this expedition which began in mid-September. Among the MIA wrecks which were finally located was the very elusive B-24J #42-100184 (”Zoot Chute”) with the remains of 10 US personnel aboard. This aircraft was located at over 11,000 ft. elevation on a rugged mountain north of Damroh, crashed on 25 May 1944. The B-24J #42-73308 a.k.a. “Hot as Hell” was lost on 25 January 1944. I found “Hot as Hell” slightly to the SE on 07 December 2006.”

All aircraft reached during this just-completed expedition will be researched and identified within the next couple months. Once the aircraft ID’s have been established, Clayton will locate and notify the surviving family members. Full site reports with documenting photographs should be posted on www.MIArecoveries.org by year’s end.

This expedition like his previous expeditions, was self-funded and supplemented with a few cash donations from family members of the MIA airmen. No funding or other support was received from JPAC.

List of aircraft’s found:

B-24D #42-40069
Lost 20 March 1943
10 dead
Found 20 Sept 2008 north of Itanagar

C-46A #42-107386
Lost 04 Feb 1945
34 dead
Found 23 Sept 2008 west of Saga lee

C-47-DL #41-18518
Lost 13 July 1943
4 dead
Found 28 Sept 2008 northwest of Anini

C-87 #42-107259
Lost 09 Aug 1943
5 dead
Found 03 Oct 2008 southeast of Donli

C-46A #41-24739
Lost 29 Jan 1944
4 dead
Found 10 Oct 2008 south of Along

C-87 #41-23791
Lost 09 April 1943
6 dead
Found 16 Oct 2008 north of Tezu

B-24J #42-100184
Lost 25 May 1944
10 dead
Found 26 Oct 2008 north of Damroh