6 fatalities

Disappearance of a Six-Crew Aircraft in Chirdwin Valley (41-5204)

Chirdwin Valley, IndiaFlight

On August 7, 1943, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 41-5204) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Chirdwin Valley, India in flight. 6 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A military aircraft with a crew of six vanished without a trace in the Chirdwin Valley. No wreckage or personnel were recovered, and the specific circumstances of the loss remain unknown.

What happened

An aircraft operated by the 6th Squadron crashed in the Chirdwin Valley. The incident occurred under unknown circumstances, leading to a complete loss of contact with the flight. Search efforts failed to locate any physical evidence of the event. Neither the wreckage of the plane nor the members of the crew were ever found. The aircraft was carrying a total of six personnel, all of whom were listed as part of the squadron's operational staff.

Findings

Due to the lack of recovered debris or survivor reports, no definitive technical or human factors could be established. The investigation concluded that the specific cause of the crash remains undetermined because no trace of the aircraft was located in the valley.