The C-47, operated by the 54th Troop Carrier Squadron took off from Naknek on a flight to Elmendorf Army Air Base. The control tower at Naknek lost contact 30 minutes after departure. The weather at the time required instrument flying with severe winds up to 70 miles per hour reported. The aircraft failed to land at Elmendorf and was declared missing. The Eleventh Air Force launched a one-month search. Frequent snowstorms made the search difficult. The search was resumed 19 August 1943 when the snow had cleared from the tops of all but the tallest mountains. The searches found the wreckage later that month at the 2,000-foot level on south shore of Iliamna Lake. It had apparently struck at full power with everyone aboard killed instantly.