Documents / Report
This is a copy of the US Air Force aircraft accident and missing aircraft report on F-89C 51-5853A, released through Michigan Backcountry Search and Rescue. The aircraft was scrambled from Kinross AFB, Michigan on 23 November 1953 to intercept an unknown aircraft over Lake Superior. It disappeared after its radar return merged with the target, which the report identifies as an RCAF Dakota. The file includes weather data, maintenance records, the RCAF search report and a 1954 reopened search, and says no trace was found.
S. Form I Part III T. List of T.O'S not complied with U. Maintenance report on aircraft V. Overlay map 23 November 1953 A/C NO 51-5853A Lt. Moncla 49TH AIR RESCUE SQUADRON 5TH AIR RESCUE GROUP (ARS-MATS) Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan OPS 6-11 28 MAY 1954 Mission Number. 5-49-24-23 November 1953 (Reopened) Objective. AF 5853/F-89/Moncla/Kinross/Alert Scramble/Unk/UHF/1822E/Unk/1 plus 45/3-2/9. Date of Suspension. 23 May 1954. Source and Time of Initial Alert. Headquarters, 5th Air Rescue group at 0950L, 16 April 1954. Date and Time of Initial Dispatch of ARS Facilities. SA-16 AF 7167 airborne at 0757L, 13 May 1954, for snow reconnaissance. Synopsis. T 095L, 16 April 1954, the Operations Officer of Headquarters, 5th Air Rescue group, called relating that new leads had been uncovered on this mission by the missing radar operator's father, Mr. R.O. Wilson. The information had been forwarded to this Squadron through channels requesting reopening of the mission based on reports of a low flying aircraft in the vicinity of Limer, Ontario, Canada which would correlate with the time of the missing F-89. This information had bee reported and investigated during the original prosecution of the mission, but was determined to have no relative bearing on the incident because of time differentiation. Since that time the individual reporting the low flying aircraft stated he may have been mistaken in the time. The information was received by this Squadron on 6 May 1954, and positive search action was planned for on or about 10 May 1954 with the advanced base to be located at Kinross AFB, Michigan. In the meantime, information on the snow conditions in the proposed search area were obtained from Canadian sources. The snow condition on 16 April 1954, was reported from two (2) to four (4) feet deep with an estimated date of 10 May 1954, when snow would disappear. Arrangements were also made with the Royal Canadian Air Force Search and Rescue Centre, Trenton, Ontario, Canada, to reopen the mission and to fly over Canada. Mr. Wilson was contacted for any further information, and he wished to be notified when the mission was actually reopened in order that he might be present at Kinross AFB, Michigan, during the actual search. The weather was reported below minimums in the search area on the estimated date of reopening, but a continued check indicated improvement by 13 May 1954. At 0757L, 13 May 1954, SA-16 AF 7167 reported southern part of search area clear, but northern sector had some snow and the lakes were covered with ice, but with rising temperatures should be clear within four (4) or five (5) days. PHOTOGRAPHS OF SEARCH AREA OVERLAY MAP INDEX OF TABULAR MATERIAL A. Orders Directing the Investigation B. List of Personnel Participating in the Investigation C. Statistical data
Report, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 16 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.