USAF C54 Skymaster 2469, Lost In the Yukon in 1950

The Disappearance

United States Air Force Douglas C-54D Skymaster, tail number 42-72469, was a military transport aircraft that disappeared on 26 January 1950 during a routine flight between Anchorage, Alaska, and Great Falls, Montana. On board were 44 persons – 8 crew and 36 passengers, including a pregnant service spouse with her infant son. The aircraft last reported its position at Snag, Yukon at 2309 Zulu Time (1509 Local Time); this was the last anyone has heard from the aircraft or the 44 people on board.

The flight route by Snag is Amber 02. AF 2469 should have reported its next location overhead Aishihik, Yukon at approximately 2339Z/1539L but was never heard after their check-in at Snag. The aircraft was officially reported lost by Eighth Air Force at 2005 Alaska Standard Time on 26 January and searches began the next day.

The Initial Search

After the disappearance of AF 2469, a combined Canadian-American search was conducted from 27 January until 23 February. This search was named Operation Mike for the pilot 1st Lt Kyle McMichael. About 85 aircraft and 7,000 personnel searched approximately 350,000 square miles of territory through the flight area but no trace of wreckage was found.

The search effectively ended on 14 February when Convair B-36 44-92075, carrying a Mark 4 nuclear bomb, crashed in northern British Columbia. The aircraft and personnel assigned to Operation Mike were dispatched to search for the missing B-36. No more substantial searching was ever undertaken - the USAF only searches for aircraft and personnel lost in combat.

See this excellent documentary: https://gem.cbc.ca/skymaster-down/s01e01

Modern Searches

Civil Air Search & Rescue Association (CASARA) is a volunteer organization providing air search support in searching for missing aircraft. CASARA Yukon has searched for Skymaster 2469 for several years as part of their regular training. They will continue to do so until the aircraft, crew and passengers are found.

The Skymaster 2469 CAN/AM Society is a team of dedicated members with experience in aviation operations and history, glaciology, archaeology, digital mapping, research, and air and ground searching. The Society formed in 2022 and incorporated with Yukon Societies in 2023. It is a non-profit volunteer organization with a purpose to research, coordinate, conduct and report on an air and ground search for the missing USAF C-54D Skymaster 2469 and its 44 passengers and crew.

Search Planning 2024

The Society has finalized a search plan that relies heavily on the few known and highly probable data items related to the flight. Although other areas may warrant attention, we feel that our first efforts should focus on a zone along Amber 02 west of Aishihik. Given that the wreckage may be highly fragmented and dispersed and possibly hidden by rugged terrain or forest re-growth, we intend to search the area intensively rather than extensively. A plan and budget are now in place. Some ground based searching is also anticipated.

We are so fortunate that a generous supporter has demonstrated his faith in our initiative and offered his Cessna 182 for the search in the summer of 2024. This is a huge assist to our program but significant support costs must still be covered for what may be a 2-week program based from Burwash, YT. A budget has been finalized and logistical details are being addressed daily.

The full scope of our intended program would require funding of $25,000, mostly for fuel, field support, etc. That figure would be substantially higher but for the contribution of our generous donor. Should funding permit, intense examination of higher probability targets may be undertaken by helicopter.

The personal element in this mystery is still very strong – many family members and friends of the crew and passengers listed above are active on social media and still hoping for closure.