Capt. Herbert Franklin Good (1898-1945) O-262232

HERBERT FRANKLIN GOOD was born in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, the son of Oliver F. Good (1869-1938) and Iva (Aikman) Good (1874-1949). He had three brothers, Paul (1902-1971), Homer (1915-1915) and Wilbur (1916-1977). HERBERT graduated from Stivers High School, and attended Cornell University. He had served in World War I, and a description of him in the book "Lost in Shangri-La," said "he was a tall man, and a leader in his Presbyterian Church."

HERBERT F. GOOD married Hilda Binkley on June 7, 1924 in Miamisburg, Ohio. By 1940, they were living at 325 Monteray Ave., Oakwood, Montgomery, Ohio, and had one son, Robert (1932-2011). At that time, HERBERT was working as a "specialty supervisor" for Standard Oil Company, Dayton, Ohio.

Capt. HERBERT F. GOOD joined the Army and was stationed in New Guinea as part of the 317th Troop Carrier Group, 39th Carrier Squadron. By May 1945 they were assigned to the Far East Air Service Command (FEASC).

On May 13, 1945, Col. Peter Prossen and Maj. George Nicholson were co-piloting a C-47, nicknamed the "Gremlin Special" also known as the "Guinea Gopher." The "mission" was listed as "navigational training", but was in reality a sight-seeing tour to fly over what was known as the "Hidden Valley" (aka Shangri-La) between Hollandia and Mearuke. They took off at 1:30 in the afternoon from Sentai Drome near Hollandia. The plane contained a crew of five, plus nineteen passengers, including eight WACs. The C-47 circled the area, and reports said the plane was caught in a downdraft and crashed on the side of a mountain. Nineteen were killed on impact. Five originally made it out of the airplane; 1st Lt. John S. McCollom, who lost his twin brother, Robert, in the crash; TSgt. Kenneth W. Decker; Cpl. Margaret J. Hastings; Pfc Eleanor P. Hanna; and SSgt. Laura E. Besley. Hanna and Beasley died of their injuries within two days.

Although badly injured, Cpl. Margaret Hastings, TSgt. Kenneth W. Decker, along with 1st Lt. John S. McCollom, set off on foot. The book "Lost in Shangri-La" tells the harrowing tale of their survival, and contains a fascinating back story of the passengers, the natives they encountered, as well as inclusion of the journals and diaries of the survivors . The three survivors were spotted from the air within a few days. Air drops were made, including a radio and food stuffs, but they were in a very difficult area and it took 47 days to rescue the remaining survivors.

Most of the bodies were burned beyond recognition, but Capt. HERBERT F. GOOD, PFC Eleanor P. Hanna, and SSgt. Laura E. Beasley were identified and buried in separate graves. The rest were buried in a mass grave near the crash site.

PFC Hanna and SSgt. Beasley were both returned to their families. PFC Eleanor P. Hanna is buried in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, and SSgt. Laura E. Beasley is buried in Shippenville, Pennsylvania. In 1959, Capt. HERBERT F. GOOD's body was returned to the United States and a burial was held on June 17, 1959, in which he was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, Sect. 11, Grave 84; Findagrave.com #49190673.

U.S. Census Reports, 1900

U.S. Census Reports, 1930

U.S. Census Reports, 1940

newspapers.com/clip/103168995/marriage-of-blnkicy-good/

pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/c-47/42-23952.html

"Lost in Shangri-La" by Mitchell Zukoff, Chapter 4

Findagrave.com/memorial/49190673/herbert-franklin-good

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars (see storiesbehindthestars. org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ U.S. WWII fallen here on Fold3.com. Can you write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

Capt. Herbert F. Good