Position 2: Sgt. George H. Ratliff 18108127, below left photo: |
United States Douglas C-47A "Skytrain" Cargo Aircraft A.A.F. Serial Number 43-15137 |
History of C-47A-80-DL 43-15137: Craft Number: 19603 Built under A.A.F. Contract Number: AC-32725 Contract Serial Number Range: 43-15033 to 43-16132 Gross weight 29,300 lbs. Wingspan 95', length 63' 9". Engine type: (2) Pratt and Whitney R-1830-92. Max speed 220 MPH. Total cost $101,644 per aircraft - to include cost of aircraft, engines, propellers, and radios. Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft, Long Beach California Accepted: 08 February 1944 |
CHALK 40 - JUNE 6th 1944 |
C-47A 43-15137 was assigned to the 306th Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS) 442nd Troop Carrier Group (TCG) 50th Troop Carrier Wing (TCW) IX Troop Carrier Command, Royal Air Force (RAF) Station Fulbeck England (also known as USAAF station 488). The 442nd TCG comprised of the 303rd TCS - Nose Code J7, 304th TCS - Nose Code V4, 305th TCS - Nose Code 4J and the 306th TCS - Nose Code 7H. On June 6th 1944 C-47A 43-15137 was assigned the Airborne "Chalk" number 40. The "Chalk" number was the number assigned to each aircraft during an operation and literally written on the side of the aircraft next to the jump door in white chalk. On C-47A 43-15137, the number assigned was "40". 1st Lt. Buckley A. Maynard O-529480 with is his crew, Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Elmer W. Ambler O-816197, Navigator 2nd Lt. Donald J. Markey O-697797, Flight Engineer SSgt. Francis A. Kline Jr 13145545 and Radio Operator Sgt. Vernon F. Coss 17098809 took off under Mission "Boston", Serial 26 for Operation Overlord - the invasion of Normandy France. |
The 306th TCS formation comprised of 9 aircraft on June 6th 1944. The first "V" was formed by Chalk 37, piloted by Major Royal S. Thompson, Chalk 38 by 2nd Lt. Billy Imboden Jr and Chalk 39 by 1st Lt. Cornell C. Houston. The second "V" formation was lead by C-47A 43-15137. Her sister aircraft were Chalk 41 piloted by 2nd Lt. Douglas H. Lippe and Chalk 42 by 2nd Lt. Thomas H. Mills. The last "V" in the entire formation of Serial 26 was led by Chalk 43, piloted by 1st Lt. James M. Myers, Chalk 44 by 1st Lt. Ardall C. Tiedeman and Chalk 45 by 2nd Lt. William J. McCormick Jr. Only the lead plane in each "V" was crewed by a Navigator. This was done due to a shortage of Navigators available in the 306th TCS on June 6th 1944. The 306th TCS was responsible for carrying all of "B" Company, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Image courtesy http://www.6juin.com |
306th TCS C-47s with Nose Code 7H, early 1945, left photo. Note - the aircraft have had their "invasion" recognition stripes on their tails or wings removed from the Normandy and Holland operations. The lead C-47 (far left row) is 43-15137 (Tail Letter H). The second aircraft is Tail Letter O (S/N unreadable). The third aircraft is Tail Letter A (S/N unreadable). No other aircraft tail or serial numbers were readable in this photo. Photo from (342-FH Box 76 A18095) National Archives. |
The destination of 43-15137 (Chalk 40), as well as the other 44 aircraft for Mission "Boston" was Drop Zone T, the Merderet Sector of the Cotentin Peninsula. The objective was Amfreville. The responsibility for this objective was trusted to the members of the 82nd Airborne Division, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR). The order was to hold the La Fiere causeway in support of the 505th PIR (ordered to seize the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise) and hold the defensive line between Gourbesville and Le-Hameau-Renouf. At approximately 0244 hrs on June 6th, Chalk 40 dropped her paratroopers: Position 1: 2nd Lt. James F. Clarke O-1294267 (KIA 13 June 1944) Position 2: Sgt. George H. Ratliff 18108127 Position 3: PFC William J. Siekierski 12073110 Position 4: PFC Cecil W. Hindman 38232461 Position 5: PFC Steven P. Paris 36728347 Position 6: PFC Chris Courneotes 33549442 Position 7: Pvt. Audra Pritchard 20524699 Position 8: Pvt. Michael Tojchak 33077400 Position 9: Pvt. Ezio Fontanella 33264276 Position 10: Pvt. John R. Oxford 34687047 Position 11: Pvt. John M. Jefferson 32808293 (KIA 7 June 1944) Position 12: Cpl. Robert B. Roussey 33315798 Position 13: T-5 Charles C. Peckham 32281987 (KIA 19 January 1945) Position 14: PFC Roy V. Moeller 18017873 Position 15: PFC Paul L. Collins 14120167 Position 16: PFC Roland H. Daniel 35622178 Position 17: Pvt. Reinhold W. Bonnell 36569887 (KIA 15 June 1944) Position 18: Cpl. Edward J. Schwartz 36152479 |
When 2nd Lt. James F. Clarke was killed, his personal effects were sent to his mother Elizabeth Clarke, above left photo. His effects included his wallet, insignia, dog tags (one early war brass and one pre-war steel style), two aircraft spark plug shipping plugs and a lanyard made from parachute cord. His mother embroidered a gold star over the flag that she had for her two sons that were in the service. His brother wrote on the inside cover of his pocket dictionary: "My Brother Jim died June 13, 1944 in the invasion of France on a Tuesday with the Paratroopers", above right photo. To read the detailed story of 2nd Lt. James F. Clark, CLICK HERE |
CHALK 76 - SEPTEMBER 17TH 1944 |
On September 17th 1944, C-47 43-15137 was again assigned the role of deploying paratroopers, but this time it was for Operation Market Garden - the Allied invasion of Holland. 43-15137 was assigned the "Chalk" number 76, Serial A-10, Drop Zone C. 1st Lt. Buckley A. Maynard (O-529480) was again the pilot of this aircraft, but with a different crew: Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. John A. Bolt, Navigator 2nd Lt. Robert D. Marrington, Flight Engineer TSgt. Francis A. Aline Jr. and Radio Operator Cpl. Joseph J. Calder. On this mission, 43-15137 (Chalk 76) ferried the members of "I" Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 101st Airborne Division to Holland: Position 1: 1st Lt. Fred Anderson Jr. O-1283357 Position 2: Pvt. Frederick Olszewski 32673022 Position 3: Pvt. David M. Dillon 35800403 Position 4: Pvt. Edmond T. Riley 38471475 Position 5: PFC. Carmel J. Curtis 34037831 Position 6: Cpl. Harry D. Watson 16110874 Position 7: Cpl. John H. Siesennop 16096286 Position 8: Pvt. George E. Albers 36859775 Position 9: Pvt. Victor J. Deluca 36177147 (KIA 18 September 1944) Position 10: Pvt. Merrill A. Goldsmith 39714847 Position 11: Pvt. Martin J. Descant 38486267 Position 12: Pvt. Robert A. Cerio 39535536 Position 13: Pvt. Paul J. Jackson 38599152 Position 14: SSgt. Alexander W. Engelbrecht 12138873 Position 15: Sgt. Murton J. McCarty 17108479 Position 16: T/5 Lawrence F. Lane 19127572 Position 17: (No Rank Listed) Peter C. Pzaszynski 32071402 |
POST-WAR HISTORY: |
Currently only several days of C-47A 43-15137's wartime history are currently known. After World War Two, 43-15137 was flown to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) Bush Field, GA on 18 November 1945. She was then registered as NC36699 to Bruning Aviation, Hampton MS 29 January 1946; followed by Consolidated Air Transit Inc., East Orange, NJ 23 December 1947; Air Parts Inc., NY 09 November 1948; Regina Cargo Air Lines Inc., NY 14 April 1949; A.J. Williams, trading as British Guiana Airways, Ltd., Miami, FL 13 October 1950; registered as VP-GAG 27 December 1950; Guyana Airways Corp. 1963 and re-registered as 8R-GAG 1967; East West Helicopters Inc., Harrison, OH 22 February 1979; registered to Air Service Center, Inc., Hamilton, OH 22 February 1979 and re-registered as N9060Y 01 March 1979; registered to Hoganair Inc., Hamilton, OH 15 June 1979 and re-registered as N89HA 01 July 1980; purchased by H.A. Hartley 25 July 1985 (registration pending to estate of H.A. Hartley Jan 1991); registered to Aviation Consulting & Services, Mineral Wells, TX 15 April 1992 (registration pending to Hal & Vicki Davidson, Weatherford, TX May 1994) and finally to the Confederate Air Force (Rio Grande Valley Wing), Brownsville, Texas. C-47A 43-15137 was registered to the City of Brownsville, Brownsville TX 17 August 1998 and stored at Brownsville, TX October 1998. In the fall of 2006 the decision was made to sell C-47A 43-15137 at auction after six decades of hard service. At that time, her wartime service history was a complete mystery. The high bidder was a scrap dealer. C-47A 43-15137 was cut apart to reclaim her body for her precious aluminum. Her remains were dragged to a scrap field. Later, a careful eye would see the only significant section still intact - the cockpit. A deal was struck, and her cockpit was saved. QuestMasters obtained this cockpit section during the summer of 2007. Her wartime service history is still being pieced together. |
C-47A 43-15137 wearing the colors of Guyana Airways, registration 8R-GAG Barbados 1969, above left photo. C-47A 43-15137 wearing the colors as N98HA - Ohio U.S.A. 1986, above right photo. |
C-47A 43-15137 wearing the colors as N98HA, just prior to destruction - Brownsville TX 2006, above left photo. C-47A 43-15137 after destruction, above right photo. Her nose section is all that remains of her proud past....but, it has been saved. QuestMasters will restore this section with her wartime paint scheme of the 306th Troop Carrier Squadron nose code 7H. |
306th Troop Carrier Squadron C-47 with nose code 7H, left photo. This aircraft carries the tail letter P. This photo was taken after June 5th 1944, as indicated by the five alternating white and black recognition stripes painted on the tail. These stripes were painted within hours of the invasion of Normandy France, June 6th 1944. This aircraft serial number is not currently known. The nose of this C-47 carries the artwork of Alberto Vargas, and what appears to be the name: "PRECIOUS CARGO". |
THE PARATROOPERS AND CREW OF CHALK 40: |
Position 1: 2nd Lt. James F. Clarke O-1294267 (KIA 13 June 1944) - Chalk Leader: |
Position 3: PFC William J. Siekierski 12073110, below center photo: |
Position 4: PFC Cecil W. Hindman 38232461, below right photo: |
Position 5: PFC. Steven P. Paris 36728347, below left photo: |
Position 10: Pvt. John R. Oxford 34687047, below center photo: |
Position 12: Cpl. Robert B. Roussey 33315798, below right photo: |
Position 13: T-5 Charles C. Peckham 32281987 (KIA 19 Jan 1945), below photo: |
Position 14: PFC Roy V. Moeller 18017873, below center photo: |
Position 15: PFC Paul L. Collins 14120167, below right photo: |
On September 18, 1944 at 15:06 HRS, D+1 of Operation Market Garden, Lt Buckley Maynard piloted a C-47A "Skytrain" over Holland. This was his second mission for Operation Market Garden. His first was the previous day piloting C-47A 43-15137 "Chalk 76" carrying paratroopers of the I Company, 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. On September 18th, members of the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion (AEB), 101st Airborne Division, Serial A-53, were to be glider landed with a Willys MB 1/4 Ton Truck. 9 Minutes from Landing Zone (LZ) W near Son, Flight Officer Noel McCann piloted a CG-4A 42-79151 Glider named "Queen City" being towed by Lt Maynard. The CG-4A was is given the nickname ‘Queen-City’, after F/O McCann's hometown and the name ‘Clara’ after his wife. German anti-aircraft artillery targeted the CG-4A and shot it down while in tow behind the C-47A. The CG-4A crashed in Oisterwijk, Holland. She was one of eighty gliders that had previously taken off from Chilbolten Airfield in the south of England. The crash killed Pilot F/O Noel McCann T-122016 306th Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS) 442nd Troop Carrier Group, 1st Lt Ray Hiltunen O-1103214 B Company 326th AEB (seated in the Co-Pilot seat), PVT Raymond L. Carson 36176352 326th AEB and T-5 Ray J Le May 36239073 326th AEB. Due to the shortage of glider pilots during war, Lt Hiltunen was assigned as the Co-Pilot to assist during flight to check instruments and fly the glider in the event something happened to the pilot. The cargo, a Willys MB "Jeep" serial number 313624 survived the crash and was captured and used by the Wehrmacht. To read the story of Pilot F/O Noel McCann CLICK HERE |
SEPTEMBER 18TH 1944 |
"KOOL AID" |
During the 1980s C-47A 43-15137 carried an unusual nick name. Skydivers often jumped from her for sport, and when they did, she was referred to as "Kool Aid". This nick name stemmed from her service time with Guyana Airways Corporation as 8R-GAG after 1967. It was in 1977 that James Warren "Jim Jones" the founder and leader of the Peoples Temple moved his followers to Guyana, South America. Later these followers would refer to this place as "Jonestown". C-47A 43-15137 was one of the aircraft contracted to fly the followers to Jonestown. Jonestown would forever be written into the history books when over 900 followers of "Jim Jones", 276 of which were children, died when they consumed a cyanide laced grape "Flavor Aid" beverage on November 18th 1978. History would remember the beverage as "Kool Aid". |
Position 1: 2nd Lt. James F. Clarke (KIA 13 June 1944), below photo: |
Position 18: Cpl. Edward J. Schwartz 36152479, below photo: |
Position 17: Pvt. Reinhold W. Bonnell 36569887 (KIA 15 June 1944), below: |
In August 2015, QuestMasters commissioned a painting, with the aviation artist Ron Cole, of C-47A 43-15137 as she deployed her paratroopers on June 6th 1944. This painting is copyright of QuestMasters and Ron Cole. It is available for purchase here: http://coles-aircraft.myshopify.com/products/c-47-chalk-40-on-d-day |
Navigator: 2nd Lt. Donald J. Markey O-697797 (Normally crewed C-47A 43-15133 "The Outcast") |
Position 6: PFC Chris Courneotes (*note below) 33549442, below center photo: |
Note: PFC Chris Courneotes 33549442 (position 6) changed his name after WWII to Chris Kanaras. |
C-47A 43-15137 wearing the colors registered as VP-GAG (after 27 December 1950 and before offical registration of 8R-GAG in 1967), in Guyana in 1968, above left photo. C-47A 43-15137 wearing the colors of 8R-GAG at Hogans Private Airport, above right photo. Photo credit: Win Anderson via Wally Anderson, left photo; Charlie Pyles right photo. |
C-47A 43-15137 carried 4 parapacks under the aircraft on June 6th 1944 as "Chalk 40" as documented on Form B, signed by Lt James F. Clarke, above left photo. Every paratrooper on Chalk 40 was assigned a parapack or bundle after deployment. The original document in the above right photo was retained by Cpl. Robert B. Roussey. This is the bundle assignment for "Chalk 40": Ratliff, Bundle 1, Spare Barrel / and Spare Parts; Siekierski, Bundle 1 and 2 - 1 Box Ammo / 1 Machete Spade and Shovel; Hindman, Bundle 2, 1 Box Ammo / 1 Demo Kit; Paris, Bundle 1 Machine Gun; Courneotes, Bundle 1, Tripod / Gas Alarm / 1 Box Ammo; Trojack, Bundle 1, 2 Boxes Ammo; Pritchard, Bundle 1 and 2, 3 Boxes Ammo; Oxford, Bundle 2, 2 Boxes Ammo; Fontanello, Bundle 1 and 2, 1 Bag Rifle Grenades / Shovel; Jefferson, Bundle 1 and 2, 2 Bags Rifle Grenades / Pick; Cpl. Roussey, Bundle 2, 1 Bag Demo. / Camouflage Net. L.M.G. Crew in Plane 40 from 2nd. Squad: Schwartz, Bundle 3, Spare Barrel and Parts / Scoop Shovel; Collins, Bundle 3, 1 Bag. Shovel and Machine Gun; Daniels, Bundle 3, 2 Boxes Ammo and Tripod; Bonnell, Bundle 3, 3 Boxes Ammo. in M2 Bag or in Hand. |
THE PARAPACKS OF CHALK 40: |
On September 19th 1944, the 306th Troop Carrier Squadron deployed gliders carrying B Battery and Headquarters Battery, 907th Glider Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, Serial A-81, in support of Operation Market Garden. |
SEPTEMBER 19TH 1944 |
On March 24th 1945, the 306th Troop Carrier Squadron deployed gliders for Operation Varsity, the crossing of the Rhine River into Germany. This was the final Airborne operation in Europe. On March 24th 1945, C-47A 43-15137, Operation Varsity, Serial A-20, Chalk 48 deployed a glider containing the 224th Airborne Medical Company, 17th Airborne Division. The crew of C-47A 43-15137 was: Pilot 1st Lt Rufus Y. Norris O-696654; Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Gilbert F. Klenke O-720666; Flight Engineer S/Sgt Albert F. Meilutis 33678110 and Radio Operator Sgt Joseph J. Calder 12084314. The crew of the CG-4A Glider were F/O Laverne J. Dawson and F/O Cuthbert B. Joyner. The names the 224th Airborne Medical Company on Chalk 48 are currently unknown. |
Chalk 48 - MARCH 24TH 1945 |
C-47A 43-15137 is currently being restored by QuestMasters as of the summer of 2015. Her aluminum skin is being hand stripped of her previous paint scheme. None of her original WWII paint is present on the outside, having been repainted several times in the past 70 years. Her interior however has not been repainted and will remain untouched. Only original WWII components will be replaced on the interior of the aircraft. QuestMasters will restore this section with her wartime paint scheme of the 306th Troop Carrier Squadron nose code 7H. Her nose art is currently unknown. |
CURRENT STATE |
C-47A 43-15137 wearing the colors of Guyana Airways Corporation, registration 8R-GAG, in Guyana in 1968, above photo. Photo credit: Win Anderson via Wally Anderson. |
Guyana's Highest award for Bravery - The Cacigue Crown of Valor: |
It would seem that C-47A 43-15137 continuously shows up in history. Roland DaSilva was born on November 27th 1936, the first born of four sons. Roland showed a keen interest in flying from an early age. Roland's first flight was on December 30th, 1954. After seven hours, Roland performed his first solo flight accompanied by a British Guiana Airways Pilot Captain Julian Pieniazek. He was issued his pilot's licence on March 21st 1955. In September 1957, Roland DaSilva became the first Guyanese to join British Guiana Airways. His first training flight was in aircraft VP-GAG (formally C-47A 43-15137) on September 9th 1957 with Chief Pilot Johnny Wilson. During one of the routine trips to the interior of Guyana, and on approach to Letham in VP-GAG (C-47A 43-15137) with Captain P. Wilson at the controls, the aircraft struck a large vulture, which smashed through the windshield. Captain Wilson sustained a nasty cut over his eye and was temporarily blinded by the blood and was incapacitated. Roland DaSilva, as the co-pilot, promptly took control of the aircraft and landed without further incident. After medical treatment, Roland flew back to Atkinson Field from the co-pilot seat with a temporary fix to the damaged windshield and a bandaged Captain Wilson in the left hand seat. The Rupununi Uprising: On Thursday January 2, 1969 during one of Roland’s routine trips to the Rupununi area, after takeoff from Lethern with a DC-3 registration VP-GAF, Roland intercepted a radio transmission from a missionary aircraft. It was reported that there was shooting at the Police Station at Lethern. After further discussion with Georgetown, Malcolm Chan-A- Sue in C-47 VR-GAG (C-47A 43-15137) who was flying in the Southern Rupununi area was advised by the Georgetown ground station to fly directly to Atkinson Field. A group of Guyana Defense Force soldiers and members of the Guyana Police Force were assembled at Atkinson Field and they were flown back to Lethem in C-47 8R-GAF piloted by Roland DaSilva, C-47 8R- GAG (C-47A 43-15137) piloted by Michael Chan-A-Sue and C-47 8R-GAS piloted by Jardim. The fleeing civilians were evacuated to Georgetown to safety and relocated after the uprising was quashed. During the next 18 hours, all three aircraft flew reinforcements and supplies for the policemen and soldiers assembled at Manari in preparation for the ground assault on Lethem. Rupununi Uprising Award: On Tuesday, June 24, 1969 Prime Minister Forbes Burnham presented awards to Roland DaSilva and five other pilots of Guyana Airways Corporation. The awards were for their bravery and dedication to duty in the face of fearful odds during the Rupununi uprising in January 1969. The awards consisted of plaques of polished purpleheart wood with the insignia of the GAC Logo inlaid in polished anodized aluminum. Major Roland DaSilva would later be awarded Guyana's highest award: The Cacigue Crown of Valor, for his part in the military action leading to the capture of both the "Rupununi" and "Fort Jaguar" in the new river triangle, for bravery of the highest order, in the defense of Guyana "in circumstances of great danger involving serious risk of life". Roland DaSilva is the only person to have ever received this award. Content obtained from www.guyanagraphic.com |