7th CCS Lose of X-681

April 1945, C-46, X-681 recently had both engines changed. Captain’s Jim Moon and Otho Watford were on a flight from Biak to Peleliu in X-681 when, close to this tiny island, Capt Watford noticed the oil pressure on the right engine plummeting downward. The cylinder head temperature rose dramatically and when checking the right engine visually, they discovered flames around the engine.

The following is in Captain’s Watford's own words. "I heard a voice on the radio telling Peleliu Tower that a plane was on fire. We started looking and by golly, it was us. We were at 10,000 ft. and just ready to let down which we proceeded to do in earnest. The right engine was in flames which were only momentarily muffled by the fire extinguisher. They never taught us the let down procedure for this, you know. One wants to get down as fast as possible but speed just causes the fire to burn more vigorously. The fire burned through the 2 bottom bolts holding the engine on and the thing started bumping up and down. We were afraid the engine was going to fall off at any moment and we held our breath as we let the gear down for the final approach. On the slower speed, smoke filled the cockpit.

That must have been some scene with the plane landing like a bucking bronco from the flapping engine and flames covering the right wing. Twenty to thirty petrified passengers were on board. We couldn't see the instrument panel and there was a line of Corsairs waiting to take off. I greased the baby in, the smoothest 3 point landing I ever made and the instant the wheels touched the Strip the right engine fell off. For some reason we took a sharp turn to the left but the engine hit the tail and turned us back straight saving us from a drop into a swampy area. It was a matter of milking down with only left brakes and left prop to stay on the runway. When we finally stopped, it didn't take long to empty the plane and the Marines were all over it with their fire fighting equipment. They went right in close, not knowing whether it would blow up or not. I remember the Marine Commandant, Col. Day, walking up to us and saying, "Nice job." Capt. Moon and I checked into the Marine B.O.Q. and used 3 beer chits right away. I remember we flew back to Biak the same day with Wayne Duckett." It was later learned that one of the fuel lines came loose in flight and caused the engine to burn, and X-681 was lost to us and leaving us with 22 flyable aircraft.

Lt. Curtis H. Krogh, 7^th Combat Cargo Squadron, 2nd Combat Cargo Group. From his manuscript 'The Story of the 2nd Combat Cargo Group, 54th Troop Carrier Wing, 5th Air Force, Pacific Theater.

I am looking for former members of the 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 1st, Combat Cargo Group, 2nd Combat Cargo Group and the 4th Combat Cargo Group. In fact I would like to hear from anyone who flew over the Hump during WW II, or flew any Combat Cargo Missions at any time (Berlin Air-Lift, Korea, etc)

Please e-mail comment, suggestions, corrections,etc to: bill@comcar.org

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