Lieutenant General Millard F. Harmon's C-87A Liberator

[Duggy009]

I wonder why he was never found? And what happened?

[old iron]

Wikipedia listing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millard_Harmon

[raconnel]

That looks more like a modified B-24D than a C-87. Note the bomb doors, no passenger windows, and no cargo door.

[mike furline]

MACR 12769 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91131277

https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/41-24174.html

http://joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1941_3.html

41-24172/24173 Consolidated C-87-CF Liberator Express
MSN 967/968
41-24174 Consolidated C-87A-CF Liberator Express
MSN 969
Lost Feb 26, 1945 on flight from Guam to Hawaii. MACR 12769. Gen James R. Andersen was onboard, and North Field at
Guam was later renamed Andersen Field in his honor. Gen Millard F. Harmon was also onboard and
Depot Field on Guam was later renamed Harmon Field in his honor.

[lucky52]

It looks like the s/n on the plane in the picture ends in 4106.That isn’t even close to the s/n in the Pacific Wrecks report.It’s late and I’m tired but am not seeing something here?

[mike furline]

It looks like the s/n on the plane in the picture ends in 4106.That isn’t even close to the s/n in the Pacific Wrecks report.It’s late and I’m tired but am not seeing something here?

I presume the MARC (41-24174) is correct and the aircraft he went missing on isn't the same aircraft as pictured above.

http://joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1941_3.html
41-24106 - No info.
41-24107 - 24107 (converted to a C-87(?) passenger model) assigned to Pacific Wing, Air Transport Command.
It crashed 20 March 1944 in or near New Caledonia, South Pacific. 6 crew and 26 passengers missing
presumed dead. MACR 9145. Plane ook off, with a crew of 6 and 26 passengers, from Whenuapai,
New Zealand on a passenger transport flight to Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield, New Caledonia.
The passengers were all returning to duty after R & R in New Zealand.
A radio operator based at La Tontouta Airfield, New Caledonia had contact with them as
they passed over. After this contact it was later discovered that they had crashed into
a mountain side in New Caledonia which had killed all onboard. They were all interred
there at the crash site, more than likely in a mass grave, and have never been dis-interred
for identification.or near New Caledonia, South Pacific.

Last edited by mike furline on Fri Sep 30, 2022 11:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[marine air]

Quite interesting. He seems like a really decent guy. The aircraft looks to be kept in impeccable condition. Conspiracy theorists would say that Gen. Lemay had something to do with his disappearance. It's been said "more allied aircraft were lost due to weather than enemy action in WW II." I suspect they were pushing weather to get him back to the states and got into a storm the C-87 couldn't handle.

[Mark Sampson]

Kwajelein-Hawaii is a long way. Probably few or no weather reports along that very empty route. There was no weather radar then, and there are no alternate landing sites. So if they ran into a squall line or a weather front, they would have just kept going... except that time it was massive thunderstorms or a typhoon that no airplane could survive.
Ernest K. Gann flew C-87s (disliking them), and wrote a best-seller about his many narrow escapes flying (many aircraft types) in those days. Fate is indeed the hunter...

[Mark Sampson]

Kwajelein-Hawaii is a long way. Probably few or no weather reports along that very empty route. There was no weather radar then, and there are no alternate landing sites. So if they ran into a squall line or a weather front, they would have just kept going... except that time it was massive thunderstorms or a typhoon that no airplane could survive.
Ernest K. Gann flew C-87s (disliking them), and wrote a best-seller about his many narrow escapes flying (many aircraft types) in those days. Fate is indeed the hunter...

[lucky52]

I just thought the pictures were of the plane he went missing in.

[Stoney]

its a 12 hour flight from Kwajelein to Hawaii, did it in a C-54 and another 12 to Oakland.

[menards]

I heard liberator parts were found in the Nikumaroro lagoon...

[marine air]

Thanks Stoney, really appreciate that info. I was looking at it on Flightplan.com and couldn't get an accurate estimate.

[Dan Jones]

Kwajelein-Hawaii is a long way. Probably few or no weather reports along that very empty route. There was no weather radar then, and there are no alternate landing sites. So if they ran into a squall line or a weather front, they would have just kept going... except that time it was massive thunderstorms or a typhoon that no airplane could survive.
Ernest K. Gann flew C-87s (disliking them), and wrote a best-seller about his many narrow escapes flying (many aircraft types) in those days. Fate is indeed the hunter...

It can be a little tough to find, but Gann's second autobiography "A Hostage to Fortune" answers many of the unanswered questions in "Fate is the Hunter". Particularly about him nearly wiping out the Taj Mahal with a C-87.

[Dan Jones]

Double post - my bad.