Indian Air Force Helicopter reconnaissance sorties have been carried out over the crash site of the ill fated US Air Force B-24 #42-73308 (“Hot as Hell”). The plane had crashed in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India on January 25, 1944. On 7 December 2006, a private American investigator, Mr. Clayton Kuhles discovered the crash site.

Since the discovery of the crash site, it has been a fight for Gary Zaetz whose uncle, 1st Lt. Irwin G. Zaetz of the U.S. Army Air Force was in the crash. last year American Government begun discussions with the Indian Government about the recovery of American Missing in Action (MIA) remains in India. These discussions continued at the meeting of the joint Indian-US Defense Policy Group (DPG) in January 2008.

Gary also sent an email to Mr. Jaswant Singh, a member of Indian parliament who in turn contacted Mr. Tapir Gao, member of Indian parliament, representing Arunachal East.

Mr. Tapir Gao wrote to Gary that “…on 11th Jan.2008, one of the Wing Commander of Indian Air Force, of North Eastern ,India, contacted me on the matter and they are trying to locate the same within few days by arial survey . Accordingly, I informed the Indian Air Force , Wing Commander who is engaged on the matter about our corresponds and Mr. Khules website and photographs etc taken during his visit to crash site in 2006. And the Local Tribal inhabitance and the District Administrators of the area and the Indian Air Force are also in touch with the District Authorities for the same to locate the crash site.”

The same was officially conveyed by Air Commodore Rakesh Kumar Jolly, Air Attache, Embassy of India in US “The DPG has agreed on a path ahead to expeditiously progress the case further. A meeting is planned in Delhi in Mar 08. IAF has already done a helicopter recce. The area is presently covered with snow and forests. Attempt will be made in the period Apr-May to locate the site and recovery thereafter.”

The complete history of the discover of US Air Force B-24 #42-73308 (“Hot as Hell”) can be read in this article:Hot as Hell, Found in Paradise