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Today, Dec. 10, 2011 marks the 65Th anniversary of the loss of a Marine R5C-1 on Mt. Rainier in Southwestern Washington State with the loss of 32 SOB.
@ around 10:30 A. M. on Dec 10, six R5C-1's of VMR-152 departed San Diego carrying 200 Marines to NAS Sand Point in Seattle. One of the aircraft, BUNO 39528, (C-46A-35-CU S/n 42-3582 l/n 26715-CU 355), which was transferred from the USAAF to the Navy was carrying 30 Marines and 2 crew and reported @ 1613 local they were icing and flying in very bad weather @ 9000 feet near Toutle, WA. and requested clearance to climb above the weather, clearance was granted and nothing more was heard from the R5C. Unknown to the crew, a prevailing wind had shifted to Westerly @ 70 kts. A search was started but looking for a dark blue aircraft in nasty winter weather on the side of a 14,410 high Mountain in Winter weather turned up nothing.
In July of 1947 a hiker on Mt. Rainier discovered shattered aircraft parts wedged in the ice of Tahoma Glacier @ around 9500 feet. A search again was initiated and the nose of the aircraft bearing 10 bodies was located @ around 10,500 ft on the Glacier but it was determined that recovery was far too dangerous and the recovery was abandoned. Those 32 Marines are still in the Glacier and today, the 10Th is 65 years since their untimely end.
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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-
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