Russian C-47 found in Siberia (1 Viewer)

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vikingBerserker

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Apr 10, 2009
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from: Russian C-47 Dakota Found In Siberia - English Russia

This Douglas C-47-DL, serial number 42-32892, factory 9118 was deliver to the US Air Force on February 24th 1943. It was then handed to the USSR Air Force on 12th march 1943 under the lend-lease programme, where it was given the ID 'USSR-H-328′. It was sent to the 7th Arctic Aviation Regiment of the 1st Air Division.

According to order number OK/071 of April 16th 1943 it was enlisted by the Office of Polar Aviation to conduct ice reconnaissance. From October 22nd to November 1th 1943 it explored the Kara Sea under the command of the pilot, MA Titlova.
From 3th June to 24th July 1944 it made further sorties from bases in Anderme for further reconnaissance of the Kara Sea. In 1945 it was sent to the Chukotka Polar Air Arm where it was given the number A-3072.

One book describes the final fate of this aircraft:
"Emergency, Saturday April 13th 1947 in the area of the river Dudypty, North of the village Volochanka. Failure of the left engine. Successfully made a landing and sat for around twenty days, until discovered by the crew of F. Shatrova. 28 people survives, some with minor frostbite on their hands and face (mostly children). Commander Tyuikov, airborne radio operator Smirnov and seven passengers were missing – they had gone in search of help in the snowy tundra and never returned."
 

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Been 'instument scavenged' for some time and likely some of the fuel and oil was too hence removed cowling (but why so far away - scavengers? squatting/toilet wind-break? grave marker? windblown?) and maybe the lack of fabric except for a small tuft between the trim tab and rudder (a long stretch of an hypothesis I grant you) was possible by the remaing crew for heating /or cooking with while awaiing rescue - likely too the canvas seats.

So say, most likely within 12km somewhere are the lost remiains of the 'help expedition'.
I hope they are found assuming wildlife (animal or human) or the enviroment haven't at some point knawed upon, spread them apart or disintergrated them - although unfortunately I doubt many would bother to look - unless 'state' sponsored.

Mind due though, with the radio/nav man in that expedition, they likely wnet towards nearest village, huts, military place or steppe herders etc which they might have flown over before the crash... but lost in Wintery Sibiria, likely suffering with white out too, at some point they c/w-ould've gone in circles til clustering for rest and warmth...
 
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What a find. thanks for the post.

Looks to be relatively intact, inspite of sitting out in the harsh elements all these years.
 
Looks like skid marks still visible in the pic with the cowling piece, it appears to me that the plane was coming from the direction it is now facing and spun around as it stopped. The cowl fell off a ways back.
 

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