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Joseph C. Rich

Joseph C. Rich, MIA-KIA from the CBI.

Joseph C. Rich, MIA-KIA from the CBI.

Anyone with more information on Mr. Rich, please contact Pat at pat@rshonor.org.

Info from postings by Lisa Phillips:

B-24 "Maxwell House II" Serial Number 42-73245

 

USAAF

 
Crew
2nd Lt. Joseph C. Rich (POW/KIA)
Crashed
November 27, 1943

Mission History
Shot down on Mission B. Rich was taken prisoner in Rangoon Prison. Died in Rangoon Prison on 9/13/44.

Recovery of Remains
After the war, Rich\'s remains were recovered and put aboard an C-47 43-48308 which subsequently crashed on its mission back to India, with their remains aboard.

Seeking Information
Lisa Phillips (niece of 2nd Lt. Joseph C. Rich)
"I am looking for information on my uncle 2nd Lt. Joseph C. Rich. His remains were placed aboard C-47 43-48308 that went missing carrying 38 remains on board from that prison."

 

More at http://www.miac47burmawwii.org/

 

From http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/c-47/43-48308.html:

C-47B Dakota Serial Number 43-48308

US Army
AGRS
Pilot
1st Lt. Melvin L. Power (0-933431) 1304th AFBU
Co-Pilot
1st Lt. Horace J. Gabbart (0-769790) 1304th AFBU
Passenger
Fred Hart (32437482)
Passenger
Royal Butterfield (0-728565)
Passenger
Richard Meredith (0-728902)
Passenger
Thomas Stephens (0-683542)
Passenger
Ewell Temples (34444337)
Passenger
Charles Pero (12168305)
Passenger
John F. Cook (19148135)
Passenger
Joseph C. McClung (38288140)
Passenger
2nd Lt. Joseph C. Rich (0-739054) B-24 42-73245
Passenger
Edward Ryan (0-672445)
MIA
May 17, 1946
MACR
15043

Mission History
This C-47 was assigned to the post-war AGRS (American Graves Registration Service) carrying 38 sets of remains from the Rangoon POW Prison that went MIA on a flight from Rangoon to Calcutta. The last contact with the C-47 was over Akyab (today, Sittwe) and the pilot radioed in he was heading NE enrooted to Barrackpore. The plane was never heard from again. This would place the C-47 over land. Flown by two pilots from the 1304th Air Force Base Unit. Also aboard were five unidentified sets of remains from B-24 "Bugs Bunny" 42-73222

Seeking Information
Lisa Phillips (niece of 2nd Lt. Joseph C. Rich):
"I am looking for information on my uncle 2nd Lt. Joseph C. Rich. His remains were placed aboard C-47 43-48308 that went missing carrying 38 remains on board from that prison."

References
Thanks to Lisa Philips and Bruce Fenstermaker for this information. Power\'s photo via Charlotte (Power) Driver.

From the National WWII MemorialL

BRANCH OF SERVICE
U.S. Army Air Forces

HOMETOWN
Portland, ME

HONORED BY
Ms. Lisa Phillips, Niece 		 
 
ACTIVITY DURING WWII
308TH BOMB GROUP, 373RD BOMB GROUP, 14TH AIR FORCE. SHOT DOWN ON NOVEMBER 27, 1943 ABOARD \'MAXWELL HOUSE II\'. SERVICE NUMBER 42-73245, TAKEN PRISONER IN RANGOON PRISON CAMP WHERE HE DIED ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1944.

 

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