Wreck of 14th Air Force B24 "Hot as Hell" discovered in CBI
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Wreck of 14th Air Force B24 "Hot as Hell" discovered in CBI
 garyngina
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Posted: 20 Sep 2007 12:13PM GMT |
Classification: Query
Surnames: Swanson, Chambers, Zaetz, Oxford, Ginn, Queen, Hinson, Gerrans
My family is trying to locate any surviving relatives of the crew of the B24 "Hot as Hell", 425th Bomb Squadron, 308th Bomb Group, 14th Air Force.
The "Hot as Hell" went missing on a flight from Kunming China to Chabua, India on January 25, 1944. Until recently, the location of the crashsite has been unknown. The members of the crew were 1st Lt. William A. Swanson (pilot) of Proctor, Vermont, Flight Officer Sheldon L. Chambers (co-pilot) of Altoona, Pennsylvania, 1st Lt. Irwin G. Zaetz (navigator) of Burlington, Vermont, 1st Lt. Robert E. Oxford (bombardier) of Concord, Georgia, S/Sgt. Charles D. Ginn (engineer) of Crete, Illinois, S/Sgt. Harry B. Queen (radio operator) of Onset, Massachusetts, Sgt. James A. Hinson (gunner) of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Sgt. Alfred H. Gerrans, Jr. (gunner) of Kinston, North Caroina. The remains of the crew were never recovered.
Within the past year, a private American researcher discovered the wreckage of this aircraft in a remote part of northeast India. My family is trying to notify next of kin of this news. Any relatives located could also contribute DNA samples to assist in the identification of any remains recovered.
I'm a nephew of 1st Lt. Zaetz. Any information on any surviving relatives of any of the other crew members, such as crew member obituaries, would be greatly appreciated.
The "Hot as Hell" went missing on a flight from Kunming China to Chabua, India on January 25, 1944. Until recently, the location of the crashsite has been unknown. The members of the crew were 1st Lt. William A. Swanson (pilot) of Proctor, Vermont, Flight Officer Sheldon L. Chambers (co-pilot) of Altoona, Pennsylvania, 1st Lt. Irwin G. Zaetz (navigator) of Burlington, Vermont, 1st Lt. Robert E. Oxford (bombardier) of Concord, Georgia, S/Sgt. Charles D. Ginn (engineer) of Crete, Illinois, S/Sgt. Harry B. Queen (radio operator) of Onset, Massachusetts, Sgt. James A. Hinson (gunner) of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Sgt. Alfred H. Gerrans, Jr. (gunner) of Kinston, North Caroina. The remains of the crew were never recovered.
Within the past year, a private American researcher discovered the wreckage of this aircraft in a remote part of northeast India. My family is trying to notify next of kin of this news. Any relatives located could also contribute DNA samples to assist in the identification of any remains recovered.
I'm a nephew of 1st Lt. Zaetz. Any information on any surviving relatives of any of the other crew members, such as crew member obituaries, would be greatly appreciated.