Monthly Report
339th Fighter Squadron (TE)
30 June, 1945
Subject: Historical Data
p. 5
Tragedy struck the 339th one of the heaviest blows this month when a C-47 carrying 12 officers and men crashed in the New Guinea jungles 15 miles due west of Finschhafen near the native village of Maikisung. Pending official investigation it is assumed that the plane, which had been on a routine flight from Palowan to Australia, was lost in weather and crashed into a mountain on 16 June. The dead of this squadron are Major Joseph C. Willis, Jr., commanding officer since 24 December 1944, who had been promoted from captain on the second of the month; Capt. Alvin C. Windes, veteran fighter pilot, who had flown in combat since 20 April, 1944; T/Sgt. Donald Shawl [should be Shaul], Cpl. Frank R Harris and Cpl. Charles Leaman, enlisted crew members. Shawl and Harris had been overseas more than 30 months, Leaman more than 18. Two of the bodies have not yet been identified, but it assumed, since all others are counted for, that these are the remains of Lt. Richard J. Lawson, 339th transport pilot, and Capt. Jerome A. Mykkeltvedt, 68th fighter pilot. Also killed were Lt. Col. Shelby England, 347th Fighter Group Operations Officer; Major Lionel P. Adams, Group Adjutent; Lt. Roy R. Johnson and Lt. Thomas J. Cunningham, XIII Fighter Command; and Capt. Henry J. Sabotke [should be Sabotka], commander of the 100th Bomb Squadron, 42nd Bomb Group.
http://forum.armyairforces.com/339th-fighter-squadron-crash-m94066.aspx (provided by C. Ferris)
339th Fighter Squadron (TE)
30 June, 1945
Subject: Historical Data
p. 5
Tragedy struck the 339th one of the heaviest blows this month when a C-47 carrying 12 officers and men crashed in the New Guinea jungles 15 miles due west of Finschhafen near the native village of Maikisung. Pending official investigation it is assumed that the plane, which had been on a routine flight from Palowan to Australia, was lost in weather and crashed into a mountain on 16 June. The dead of this squadron are Major Joseph C. Willis, Jr., commanding officer since 24 December 1944, who had been promoted from captain on the second of the month; Capt. Alvin C. Windes, veteran fighter pilot, who had flown in combat since 20 April, 1944; T/Sgt. Donald Shawl [should be Shaul], Cpl. Frank R Harris and Cpl. Charles Leaman, enlisted crew members. Shawl and Harris had been overseas more than 30 months, Leaman more than 18. Two of the bodies have not yet been identified, but it assumed, since all others are counted for, that these are the remains of Lt. Richard J. Lawson, 339th transport pilot, and Capt. Jerome A. Mykkeltvedt, 68th fighter pilot. Also killed were Lt. Col. Shelby England, 347th Fighter Group Operations Officer; Major Lionel P. Adams, Group Adjutent; Lt. Roy R. Johnson and Lt. Thomas J. Cunningham, XIII Fighter Command; and Capt. Henry J. Sabotke [should be Sabotka], commander of the 100th Bomb Squadron, 42nd Bomb Group.
http://forum.armyairforces.com/339th-fighter-squadron-crash-m94066.aspx (provided by C. Ferris)
Monthly Report
339th Fighter Squadron (TE)
30 June, 1945
Subject: Historical Data
p. 5
Tragedy struck the 339th one of the heaviest blows this month when a C-47 carrying 12 officers and men crashed in the New Guinea jungles 15 miles due west of Finschhafen near the native village of Maikisung. Pending official investigation it is assumed that the plane, which had been on a routine flight from Palowan to Australia, was lost in weather and crashed into a mountain on 16 June. The dead of this squadron are Major Joseph C. Willis, Jr., commanding officer since 24 December 1944, who had been promoted from captain on the second of the month; Capt. Alvin C. Windes, veteran fighter pilot, who had flown in combat since 20 April, 1944; T/Sgt. Donald Shawl [should be Shaul], Cpl. Frank R Harris and Cpl. Charles Leaman, enlisted crew members. Shawl and Harris had been overseas more than 30 months, Leaman more than 18. Two of the bodies have not yet been identified, but it assumed, since all others are counted for, that these are the remains of Lt. Richard J. Lawson, 339th transport pilot, and Capt. Jerome A. Mykkeltvedt, 68th fighter pilot. Also killed were Lt. Col. Shelby England, 347th Fighter Group Operations Officer; Major Lionel P. Adams, Group Adjutent; Lt. Roy R. Johnson and Lt. Thomas J. Cunningham, XIII Fighter Command; and Capt. Henry J. Sabotke [should be Sabotka], commander of the 100th Bomb Squadron, 42nd Bomb Group.
http://forum.armyairforces.com/339th-fighter-squadron-crash-m94066.aspx (provided by C. Ferris)
339th Fighter Squadron (TE)
30 June, 1945
Subject: Historical Data
p. 5
Tragedy struck the 339th one of the heaviest blows this month when a C-47 carrying 12 officers and men crashed in the New Guinea jungles 15 miles due west of Finschhafen near the native village of Maikisung. Pending official investigation it is assumed that the plane, which had been on a routine flight from Palowan to Australia, was lost in weather and crashed into a mountain on 16 June. The dead of this squadron are Major Joseph C. Willis, Jr., commanding officer since 24 December 1944, who had been promoted from captain on the second of the month; Capt. Alvin C. Windes, veteran fighter pilot, who had flown in combat since 20 April, 1944; T/Sgt. Donald Shawl [should be Shaul], Cpl. Frank R Harris and Cpl. Charles Leaman, enlisted crew members. Shawl and Harris had been overseas more than 30 months, Leaman more than 18. Two of the bodies have not yet been identified, but it assumed, since all others are counted for, that these are the remains of Lt. Richard J. Lawson, 339th transport pilot, and Capt. Jerome A. Mykkeltvedt, 68th fighter pilot. Also killed were Lt. Col. Shelby England, 347th Fighter Group Operations Officer; Major Lionel P. Adams, Group Adjutent; Lt. Roy R. Johnson and Lt. Thomas J. Cunningham, XIII Fighter Command; and Capt. Henry J. Sabotke [should be Sabotka], commander of the 100th Bomb Squadron, 42nd Bomb Group.
http://forum.armyairforces.com/339th-fighter-squadron-crash-m94066.aspx (provided by C. Ferris)
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