SUMMARY OF CIRCUMSTANCES

On 23 June 1944, Second Lieutenant Frederick Frenger and Second Lieutenant Curtis L. Aultman took off at 1315 Eastern War Time (EWT) from Syracuse Army Air Base, New York, in a C-47 aircraft for a local flight to practice low level navigation. The weather was hazy, visibility 2 miles, and wind calm. After takeoff, they flew low level to Watertown, New Jersey, then on to Lake Ontario, using a course of 230 degrees magnetic. since they were without proper survival equipment, they flew southwest along the shore to avoid flying over the lake. At approximately 1400 EWT, the crew reported that they had lost the right engine and were ditching. The aircraft remained afloat for about 10 minutes while the crew escaped. They were picked up by a power boat about 30 minutes later. Rescuers included Mr. and Mrs. Elwin Kast, Malfort Fifft, Christine and Faith Sawyer, and Clarence Greene -- all from Mannsville, New York. The crew received only minor injuries. The aircraft sank and was not recovered. Crash site is listed as 1 mile in Lake Ontario, west of Pulaski, New York.

WAR DEPARTMENT

U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES

ARMY AIR BASE, SYRACUSE, NEW YORK

REPORT OF AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT

Accident No. 060

1. PLACE: 1 Mile in Lake Ontario West of Pulaski, New York.
2. Date:.............................................. June 23, 1944
3. Time:.............................................. 1400 EWT.
4. Type and model of Aircraft:.......... C-47A
5. A. F. No.......................................... AAFTCC.
6. Station............................................ AAB, Syracuse, New York.

PERSONNEL

NAME: RANK USE OF PARACHUTE

Frenger, Frederick 2nd Lt. No

Aultman, Curtis, L. 2nd Lt. No

AIRCRAFT DAMAGE

Plane sank in Lake Ontario necessitating a major overhaul upon completion of salvage. All blades bent on both propellers.

1. Weather at the time of the accident: Ceiling - hazy aloft; Visibility 2 miles; Wind calm.
2. Was the Pilot flying on instruments at the time of the accident? ...... No.
3. Cleared from: AAB, Syracuse, New York.
4. Pilot's Mission:: Low level navigation training flight.
5. Nature of the accident: All propeller blades were bent on contact with the water and the aircraft sank in Lake Ontario.

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD LOG

U.S. COAST GUARD OSWEGO STATION

MONTH OF JUNE, 1944

LIEUT. J.N. HEBERT U.S.C.G.

Friday, June 23, 1944

WIND

3:15 PM Received telephone call from New York State Police Pulaski station that a plane had crashed in Lake about 1/2 mile off Port Ontario, immediately Manned Master Life boat # 36343 and proceeded to the scene arriving at 5:00 pm. Upon arrival the location of the wrecked plane could not be found. Searched in the vicinity until 7:30 pm, at which time operations were discontinued for the day.

7:30 P.M. Received word from the state police at Pulaski, N.Y. that the plane previously reported as crashed and sunk off Port Ontario had actually crashed off Montario Port which is 5 miles from the first position received, and that the occupants had been rescued. From the location received this plane is in about 30 feet of water. This unit will wait instructions from Syracuse Air Base regarding salvage.

Saturday June 24, 1944

12:15 P.M. Detailed 4 men with Motor Life Boat # 36343 to proceed about 20 miles 52 degrees from Oswego, N.Y. to try and locate US Army Plane which had crashed in that vicinity at about 2:00 pm 23 June, 1944. Returned to station at 8:30 pm.

Monday June 26, 1944

9:00 A.M. Detailed 3 men with MSB # 25768 to proceed about 20 miles 50 degrees from Oswego, N.Y. to try and locate US Army plane which crashed in Lake Ontario 23 June.

7:45 P.M. Crew with MSB # 25768 returned to station.

Tuesday June 27, 1944

9:30 A.M. Detailed 3 men with MSB 25768 and proceeded to vicinity of Montario Point, N.Y. and search for U.S. Army Plane that crashed in that vicinity 23 June, 1944

7:30 P.M. Crew with MSB 25768 returned to station

Wednesday June 28, 1944

9:15 A.M. Detailed 3 men with MSB 25768 to proceed to vicinity of Montario Point, N.Y. to search for U.S. Army bomber missing since 23 June, 1944

7:30 P.M. Crew returned to station with MSB 25768.

Thursday June 29, 1944

9:20 A.M. Walters, Carl W. (214-020), Boyle, and two men departed station for Montario Point, New York, to try and recover U S Army Plane that crashed in that vicinity at about 2:00 P.M. 23 June 1944.

9:30 P.M. Crew returned to station with Master Surfboat @ 25768.

Friday June 30, 1944

9:00 A.M. Buscher, Benidict B. (213-631) CBM and 3 men departed station with CG 36343 and grappling dear to search for U S Army Plane that crashed and sunk in that vicinity of Montario Point, N.Y. on 23 June, 1944.

8:00 P.M. Buscher, Benedict D. (213631) C.B.M. and crew of 3 men returned to station with CG 36343.

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD LOG

OSWEGO STATION

MONTH OF JULY, 1944

Monday July 3, 1944

8:20 A.M. Buscher, Benedict D. (213-631) C.B.M. and 2 men departed station with Master surfboat # 25768 for Montario Point N.Y. to search for US Army plane that crashed in that vicinity 23 June.

7:00 P.M. Buscher, Benedict D. (213-631) C.B.M. and one man returned to station from Montario Point leaving Hansen, John J. (540-593) with master surfboat which was moored in Sandy Pond. Boat was left in this vicinity to save long return trip and that grappling could be resumed at an earlier time on the next day.

Tuesday July 4, 1944

8:15 A.M. Lieut J.N. Hebert and 2 men departed with a truck T-4230 to Montario Point, N.Y. to search in Lake for U.S. Army Bomber which crashed in Lake in that vicinity.

8:00 P.M. Lieut J.N. Hebert and 2 men returned to station with T-4230 leaving Bradford, James T. (211-716) with master surfboat which was moored in Sandy Pond.

Wednesday July 5, 1944

8:20 A.M. Buscher, Benedict D. (213-631) departed station with one man and truck T-4230 for Montario Point, N.Y. where search for U.S. Army Plane was continued with MSB 25768.

6:30 P.M. Buscher, Benedict D. (213-631) CBM and one man returned to station with T-4230 leaving Guggs, Walter W. (201-663) MM 2/c with Master SB 25768 moored in Sandy Pond.

Thursday July 6, 1944

8:15 A.M. Buscher, Benedict D. (213-631) CBM and 2 men departed station with T-3416 for Montario Point, N.Y. to continue search for US Army Plane that crashed in Lake Ontario 23 June, 1944

9:10 P.M. Buscher, Benedict D. (213-631) CBM and 2 men returned to station with CG 25768 from Montario Point N.Y. after searching for the U.S. Army plane.

SERVICE RECORD AVAILABLE UNDER THE F.O.I.A

• Curtis Lamar Aultman
• CITY/TOWN AND STATE OF LAST KNOWN ADDRESS AND THE DATE OF ADDRESS: Titusvile, Florida; November 1975
• SERIAL/SERVICE NUMBERS: 14 153 952 AND 0 828 899
• BRANCH OF SERVICE: Army of the United States and the United States Air Force Reserve.
• DATE OF BIRTH: January 17, 1922
• DATES OF SERVICE: November 24, 1942, to January 21, 1955 (Active duty enlisted service from November 24, 1942, to April 14, 1944. Active duty officer service from April 15, 1944, to February 13, 1946.)
• MARITAL STATUS: Single
• DEPENDENTS: None
• RANK/GRADE: First Lieutenant
• DECORATIONS AND AWARDS: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with five bronze service start, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon.
• EDUCATION/SCHOOLING: Pre-pre flight Course, Knoxville, TN. 1943; Pre flight Course, Maxwell Field, AL, 1943; Primary Flying Course, Turner Field, GA, 1943; Basic Flying Course, Bush Field, GA, 1944; Advanced T.E. Course, Moody Field, GA, 1944
• DUTY STATUS: Discharged

RECORD OF MILITARY EXPERIENCE

• 6 May 1944 to 30 June 1944 2nd Cargo Combat Group, 8th Cargo Combat Squadron, Syracuse Army Air Base, Syracuse, New York; Pilot, Two Engine
• 1 July 1944 to 31 Dec 1944 - Same
• 1 Jan 1945 to 30 June 1945 - 8th Cargo Combat Squadron, APO 322-1, Pilot, Two Engine C-46.
• 1 July to 24 Nov 1945 - 8th Cargo Combat Squadron 2nd Combat Cargo Group, Leyte, P.I., Pilot Two Engine C-46

FREDERICK FRENGER

• CITY/TOWN AND STATE OF LAST KNOWN ADDRESS AND THE DATE OF ADDRESS: Los Angeles, Ca; April 1971
• SERIAL/SERVICE NUMBERS: 39 153 544 AND 0 805 606
• BRANCH OF SERVICE: Army of the United States and United States Air Force Reserve
• DATE OF BIRTH: April 9, 1919
• MARITAL STATUS: Single
• RANK GRADE: Captain
• DECORATIONS AND AWARDS: European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze service star, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal.

RECORD OF MILITARY EXPERIENCE

• 11 May 1944 to 30 June 1944- 2nd Cargo Combat Group, 8th Cargo Combat Squadron, Pilot, T.E.
• 1 July 1944 to 18 Sept 1944 - 2nd Cargo Combat Group, 8th Cargo Combat Squadron, SAAB, Syracuse, New York, Pilot, T.E.
• 19 Sept 1944 to 27 Jan. 1945 - 815th AAFBU, MAAF Mo, Pilot T.E. C-47.