[x] Welcome at THunting.com!

A fun place to talk about Metal Detecting, Treasure Hunting & Prospecting. Here you can share finds and experience with thousands of members from all over the world

Join us and Register Now - Its FREE & EASY

THunting.com
Treasure Hunting & Metal Detecting Community
   
Advanced Search
*
Welcome, Guest! Please login or register HERE - It is FREE and easy.
Only registered users can post and view images on our message boards.
Did you miss your activation email?

Login with email, password and session length
Or Login Using Social Network Account
2
News:
Pages:  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 20   Go Down
Print
Share this topic on FacebookShare this topic on Del.icio.usShare this topic on DiggShare this topic on RedditShare this topic on Twitter
Tags:
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Offline xavier
Platin Member
*

From a rainy Brussels
Join Date: May, 2009
Thank you166

Activity
0%
Male
Belgium
Posts: 7339
Referrals: 0

32206.00 Gold
View Inventory

Awards
« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2009, 06:26:45 am »
Go Up Go Down

Like I said I went to the archive and the papers from 25th of May till 14nth of June are not to be found but now I want to see if I cant find some papers in the UK that might have a story on the disappearance of the DC-3 I have a friend who is a retired captain from Lufthansa he flew all over Africa in cargo before going to passenger planes I will see with him what was the most common route I think that he may have done some flying in that area. I will keep you all posted as soon as I get some info on the subject for now I will see if I cant find the weather report of the time and look for the topology of the area also how can we be sure that it went down over Ghana?

Regards Xavier


Linkback:

You are not allowed to view links.
Please Register or Login

http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,10242.msg64467.html#msg64467


Xavier


Logged

So many questions so little time

Offline hardluckTopic starter
Gold Member
*

Join Date: Aug, 2009
Thank you8

Activity
0%
Posts: 1738
Referrals: 0

8875.00 Gold
View Inventory

Awards
« Reply #11 on: December 28, 2009, 06:53:57 am »
Go Up Go Down

Hello Goldigger1950 and Xavier

I have a little job to do in Tahiti next year.  Wink

You never know I might still even be crazy enough to take you up on your offer Goldigger. Grin

Hardluck feels his bones these days with his crook neck cannot afford any more bumluck.  Grin

I study treasure and historical stories as a business and need a little more evidence before I pack up and travel to the coast of Africa on the strength of one newspaper story. And besides I don't have to go to Africa to get in trouble! I can get into trouble without leaving home  Grin

I think you are on the right path Xavier in checking any newspaper reports in England. And asking any former pilots that have flown in the region.

But I do have a theory I like to share with both of you of the fate of this missing DC-3. And what might have occurred result in the loss of the transport aircraft, based on the capabilities of the aircraft, Topography and prevailing weather conditions at the time of the flight.

The DC-3 has a maximum speed 346 km/h or economical cruising speed 266 km/h, Initial rate of climb 1130 ft per minute, Range with maximum fuel 2420 km or 1307 nautical miles, Range with maximum payload 563 km. 305 nautical miles. Depending on load the aircraft, the flight was from Monrovia, Liberia to Accra Ghana, over flying the Ivory Coast. It is possible for the DC-3 depending on cargo to reach its destination non stop without refueling.

Monrovia and the coast of Liberia are known to have constant choppy winds blowing onshore north of Cape Palmas in the southern part of Liberia. The coast line turns south east into the Gulf of Guinea to Ivory Coast and Ghana.

The prevailing weather conditions at the time of the incident and of year in that region. Cape Palmas is about 6 degrees north of the equator. South of the equator in the south the winds a predominantly blow North West. There is a mountain range in South Eastern Liberia with hot winds from the interior blow south West in January colliding with the cooler air from the Gulf of Guinea  And changing north east by July. It is called the intertropical convergence zone.

There is a small mountain range where this collision of cooler and hotter air takes place creating huge thunderstorms. This part of Liberia has a very high level of precipitation. In fact over 400mm of rainfall in April, May and June falls in this area of Liberia. The Area is in the most likely flight path of the DC-3.

The name of this mountain range is The Putu Range which is only about 750 meters high. This small mountain range sticks out of the main slightly higher Mountain range tablelands that runs north south in the eastern part of Liberia.

DC-3 in 1946 was very basic aircraft with no high tech navigation aids. Navigation was in most part done by visual aids by locating landmarks on the ground and compass bearings. The pilots due to severe thermal weather conditions may have wanted to get a visual ground bearing flew the plane under the cloud level. Unaware of thermal down draft where they could of lost enough altitude before they realized the were flying into a 750 meter peak of Putu Range.

The impact would of been catastrophic and the Rain Clad Jungle could have hidden the impact zone before any search parties could attempt to look for them. Not knowing where they went down and such a vast area to search with limited resources hampered any chance of finding wreckage.

Of course this is speculation as it is totally possible that the plane had a catastrophic mechanical failure some where off the coast of the Ivory Coast or Ghana. Knowing the reliability of the aircraft I tend to think pilot error was some how involved due a series of weather related incidents and limitations of the aircraft?

Ultimately we will never know for sure what happened to this plane? But it is good brain teaser and interesting to speculate on the sad fate of this aircraft, passengers and missing treasure.

As you can see I have been burning whats left of my tired old Grey brain matter on this brain teaser of a treasure mystery.  Hey! It was wet today and I had nothing better to do.  Grin

Hardluck Grin


Linkback:

You are not allowed to view links.
Please Register or Login

http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,10242.msg64472.html#msg64472




Logged
Offline xavier
Platin Member
*

From a rainy Brussels
Join Date: May, 2009
Thank you166

Activity
0%
Male
Belgium
Posts: 7339
Referrals: 0

32206.00 Gold
View Inventory

Awards
« Reply #12 on: December 28, 2009, 07:43:00 am »
Go Up Go Down

I believe in dreams but I must also say that I believe in realistic dreams now we know for sure that it went down we also know it?s range also the weather conditions at the time we also have height tek equipment and a very good brain it is just a question of time and funding how hard can that be to realise like the song goes (with a little bit of help from my friends) I have been looking for the weather of the time but have found nothing at the moment will try the military archive if I can get in to it that is. Do we know what the registration number of the air craft was? There should be a flight record for it.64 years have passed since the disappearance so I?m sure that there must be some body alive that can tell us more about it some young child at the time may have heard or seen some thing I?m quite sure that there was not a lot of air traffic at the time so it would have pulled the attention of someone especially kids. What gets me the most is that I cant find any news paper story on it.

Regards Xavier

Ho yes Hardluck I too don?t need to leave home to get into trouble


Linkback:

You are not allowed to view links.
Please Register or Login

http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,10242.msg64476.html#msg64476


Xavier


Logged

So many questions so little time

Offline hardluckTopic starter
Gold Member
*

Join Date: Aug, 2009
Thank you8

Activity
0%
Posts: 1738
Referrals: 0

8875.00 Gold
View Inventory

Awards
« Reply #13 on: December 28, 2009, 11:33:06 pm »
Go Up Go Down

Hello Xavier

Here is a map generalization of  weather patterns relating to Africa. Between the months of Jan and July. Liberia is at the start of the intertropical convergence zone. what weather event happened to the DC3 flight in 1946 would have been influenced by wind direction, surface and sea temperature.

Another mystery we need to solve why was gold transported from Liberia in the first place?

Perhaps we will find some clues in the history of Liberia?

On thing I found you may find interesting is on researching more of the history Liberia where this gold allegedly came from. A possible clue to who or what person or company or mining company dispatched the gold to Accra Gold Coast? There was mining activity there.

Artisanal mining for alluvial gold at a number of localities persisted during the war. Production has been estimated at around 1 t/year. Pre-war production was probably higher, judging from the numerous old alluvial diggings, which are now partially flooded.

I found the following statement in the brief history of Liberia:

 In the decades after 1945, the Liberian government received hundreds of millions of dollars of unrestricted foreign investment, which destabilized the Liberian economy. Liberian Government revenue rose enormously, but was being grossly embezzled by government officials. Growing economic disparities caused increased hostility between indigenous groups and Americo-Liberians.

Was this the source of this gold shipment  embezzled Liberian government gold or mining company shipment???

The mystery deepens

Hardluck  Huh?

Linkback:

You are not allowed to view links.
Please Register or Login

http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,10242.msg64639.html#msg64639



There are 1 attachment(s) in this post which you can not view or download

Please register for viewing them.

west afric weather and temperature pattens.jpg


« Last Edit: December 29, 2009, 12:54:55 am by hardluck »
Logged
Offline xavier
Platin Member
*

From a rainy Brussels
Join Date: May, 2009
Thank you166

Activity
0%
Male
Belgium
Posts: 7339
Referrals: 0

32206.00 Gold
View Inventory

Awards
« Reply #14 on: December 29, 2009, 05:59:00 am »
Go Up Go Down

Thanks Hardluck

Nice map
The thing is that I feel like I?m looking for a ghost NO papers in archive NO missing DC3 went to a few sites that have records of ?all? air disasters and disappearance I found a number of planes that crashed some with fatalities and some with non in that time of 1946 but over Ghana or Liberia 1946 June nothing. Who did this air craft belong to? Why are there no papers in the archive from the 25 May ? 14 June (Canberra Times national library of Australia) am I doing some thing wrong in my research or is there some thing being hidden from us? Lets face it it?s quite a coincidence that I can?t find story nor plane. Huh?

Xavier


Linkback:

You are not allowed to view links.
Please Register or Login

http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,10242.msg64677.html#msg64677


Xavier


Logged

So many questions so little time

Offline hardluckTopic starter
Gold Member
*

Join Date: Aug, 2009
Thank you8

Activity
0%
Posts: 1738
Referrals: 0

8875.00 Gold
View Inventory

Awards
« Reply #15 on: December 29, 2009, 12:42:49 pm »
Go Up Go Down

Hello Xavier

You may be correct we could be possibly chasing a ghost. Could the story written in the Canberra times was an imaginary story written by junior reporter?Huh?

But of course most newspapers in 1946 would of been still under influence of the war office and perhaps more details were concealed by censorship???

Here is some thing else 5 years latter another story appeared in 1951. an American aircraft around the same time of year disappeared of a flight from Accra to Monrovia with 40 Americans on board.

Is it connected or just a coincidence?Huh?

I have done a little more research on gold mining operations in Liberia. Here is some thing you might find interesting.

There are other sources reporting or indicating the failure of a start of the mining operations, in particular of gold, in the first half of the twentieth century in Liberia. In 1933 President Edwin. J. Barclay granted the Dutch 'Holland Syndicate' (whose major financier was 'Wm.H. Muller and company') the sole prospecting rights in the country as well as an option on 50,000 acres (to be selected by the concessionaire).

The Dutch concentrated their surveys on the Western part of the country, hoping to locate gold and diamond deposits in view of the recent discoveries and subsequent exploitation of diamonds in neighboring Sierra Leone, near Pendembu. It was during this search for diamonds and gold that the high-grade iron ore reserves of Bomi Hills were discovered by one of the Dutch explorers.
 
Whether the 'Holland Syndicate' ever found and extracted gold or diamonds is unknown, as no record exists of the minerals possibly extracted and exported. Though export of gold did take place during the 19th century and in the first quarter of the 20th century, the gold industry figured in export statistics for the first time in 1935, to the amount of $22,700. Most, if not all of this, had been produced by small Liberian miners.
 


We have no real evidence of any regular gold shipments after the war. So who was shipping the gold?

Perhaps this Gold and silver was by corrupt members of the Liberian Government awash with funds embezzled from state treasury?

The Allies in the beginning of the cold war era, against Communism in 1946 wanted powerful friends in West Africa and looked the other way at the Liberia's corruption??? Perhaps censors covered up any follow up story of the incident?

A lot of questions, not much answers.  Huh?

Hardluck  Wink

Linkback:

You are not allowed to view links.
Please Register or Login

http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,10242.msg64723.html#msg64723



There are 1 attachment(s) in this post which you can not view or download

Please register for viewing them.

missing plane june 1951.jpg


Logged
Offline xavier
Platin Member
*

From a rainy Brussels
Join Date: May, 2009
Thank you166

Activity
0%
Male
Belgium
Posts: 7339
Referrals: 0

32206.00 Gold
View Inventory

Awards
« Reply #16 on: December 29, 2009, 01:18:00 pm »
Go Up Go Down

Hi hardluck

Guess what I went to the RAF site there I got re-directed to the British museum and to a private sector who also keep micro film of the documents (of all sorts)from 18XX till around 1980 doc?s have to be thirty years old(as I understand it) before they are released for public viewing the thing is that you need a readers ticket further more this readers ticket can only be go ten on there premises there is no way that I?m going to travel 12,000Km for a freaking ticket worth 5 Euro or something like that so I?m going to use the back door now. What I would really like to know is who were the 14 passengers? What are there names? What was the flight number? Who was the pilot and who commissioned the transportation of this gold? It is possible that this crash occurred well before the story got out it would explain why there is no record of the disappearance of it at the dates that I am looking at. I will break down my search by looking at all DC3?s that went down in 1946 excluding the month then select all the ones that went down in Africa the thing is it may not have been classified as (went down) but rather as disappeared or lost I also had a look at deceased pilots from 1946 but there are very few in DC3?s and I did not see any in the right location.

Best regards
Xavier

PS Worst scenario is there was no crash or it?s well covered up

Linkback:

You are not allowed to view links.
Please Register or Login

http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,10242.msg64724.html#msg64724


Xavier


Logged

So many questions so little time

Offline Sue
Gold Member
*

Join Date: Sep, 2006
Thank you1

Activity
0%
Female
United States
Posts: 2652
Referrals: 0

18259.00 Gold
View Inventory

Awards
« Reply #17 on: December 29, 2009, 01:26:08 pm »
Go Up Go Down

Guys, if this crash is same as the one you are discussing, this article says plane vanished 12.4.45.


Linkback:

You are not allowed to view links.
Please Register or Login

http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,10242.msg64726.html#msg64726



There are 1 attachment(s) in this post which you can not view or download

Please register for viewing them.

June.3.1946.jpg


« Last Edit: December 29, 2009, 01:45:59 pm by Sue »
Logged
Offline BitburgAggie_7377
Klugheit und Verstandnis
Platin Member
*

Define Treasure
Klugheit und Verstandnis
Join Date: Jul, 2009
Thank you116

Activity
73%

United States
Posts: 9235
Referrals: 0

26045.00 Gold
View Inventory

Awards

Fisher Impulse , Tesoro Lobo SuperTraq, Tesoro Vaquero, Tesoro Compadre, Garrett AT Max, Whites Sierra Super Trac
« Reply #18 on: December 29, 2009, 02:11:19 pm »
Go Up Go Down

To Sue's point, if it was flying under government colors, it would probably bear the military designation (C-47 in the USAAF) in the records rather than the civilian DC-3 designation......so Xavier, I'd look for missing C-47s or even R4Ds ( US Navy Designation) as well as DC3's.    You might also keep an eye out for the names Skytrain and/or Dakota

Good Luck,

BA

Linkback:

You are not allowed to view links.
Please Register or Login

http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,10242.msg64728.html#msg64728




Logged
Offline hardluckTopic starter
Gold Member
*

Join Date: Aug, 2009
Thank you8

Activity
0%
Posts: 1738
Referrals: 0

8875.00 Gold
View Inventory

Awards
« Reply #19 on: December 29, 2009, 02:20:23 pm »
Go Up Go Down

Hello Sue

Wow!  Shocked


Well done! Give yourself a pat on back. I was beginning to suspect the story to be a hoax! Clearly the two newspaper stories are based on the same story.

We now have the name of Pilot, who owned the aircraft and the true date of the Crash.

Bitburgaggie_7377 has made an excellent point. the aircraft may be listed under other designations.

Xavier Thanks to Sue,We have a date of December 1945, it might pay check DC3 C-47 ETC..or any other crashes in West Africa from that date? it now appears the aircraft belongs to the United States Army so the details would be some where in the United States. Maybe in the Archives?

Hardluck  Huh?

Linkback:

You are not allowed to view links.
Please Register or Login

http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,10242.msg64729.html#msg64729




Logged
Print
Pages:  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 20   Go Up
Jump to:  

Powered by SMF 1.1.19 | SMF © 2005, Simple Machines | Sitemap
Copyright THunting.com