This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sgt Duane Kimbrow (Skip)
to remember
Besley, Laura E., SSgt.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Fern
Last Address Shippenville, Pennsylvania
Casualty Date May 15, 1945
Cause Non Hostile- Died while Missing
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location New Guinea
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (VA) - Honolulu, Hawaii
Aircraft/Missile Information
During World War II, the armed forces of many countries used the C-47 and modified DC-3s for the transport of troops, cargo and wounded. Over 10,000 aircraft were produced in Long Beach and Santa Monica, California and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma City plant produced 5,354 C-47s from March 1943 until August 1945.
Model Douglas C-47 Skytrain / Dakota Mk I Length 63.75 ft | 19.43 m Width 95.51 ft | 29.11 m Height 16.99 ft | 5.18 m Engine(s) 2 x Pratt & Whintey R-1830-92 14-cylinder radial piston engines delivering 1,200hp each. Empty Weight 18,199 lbs | 8,255 kg MTOW 25,999 lbs | 11,793 kg Max Speed 230 mph | 370 km/h | 200 kts Max Range 1,600 miles | 2,575 km Ceiling 23,999 ft | 7,315 m | 4.5 miles Climb Rate 1,041 ft/min Hardpoints None. Armament None. Accommodations 3 + 27
