https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/144398084/paul-allan-mansell

Paul served as a First Lieutenant & Flight Crew Member on C-47A #43-48223, 1403rd Base Unit, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Westchester County, New York prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on November 15, 1940, prior to the war, in New York City, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Single, without dependents.

C-47A #43-48223 took off from England on a flight to France during the war. They were carrying a U.S.O. civilian entertainment group. They crashed, for an unknown reason, near Carmeilles-en-Vallangou, France.

Douglas C-47A-30-DK

43-48223 (MSN 14039/25484) To USAAF Jul 26, 1944. To RAF as Dakota III KG807 Aug 29, 1944. RAF record card says to BOAC as G-AGKC, but this was 43-48330. Returned to USAAF Sep 5, 1944. Eighth Air Force 5Sep44. Ninth Air Force 11Oct44. European Division, Air Transport Command 13Oct44. 1403rd Base Unit, Air Transport Command, Prestwick (Station 500), Scotland. The aircraft took off from Prestwick, Scotland on a flight to Paris-Orly, France transporting Press, US Navy and USO civilian passengers. It crashed with the right engine and wing on fire, hit a small hill which broke off the right wing and destroyed by fire between Cormeilles-en-Vexin and Vallangoujard, France 3Mar45 [16KIS].

John died in the "Line Of Duty" in this crash during World War II.

Service # O2040957

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Those killed on this U.S.O. Flight:

Barschdorf, Alfred E ~ Pfc, Flight Crew, VT
Chapman, Lester I ~ Civilian, Wrestler, TX
Dearstine, Robert H ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, NY
Donor, Ruth G, Mrs ~ Civilian, NJ
Foster, Festus F ~ Captain, Navy, VA
Heeger, Paul J ~ Pfc, Flight Crew, OH
Heideman, Lawrence L L ~ Lt, Navy, MI
Hirth, Herbert H ~ 1st Lt, Flight Crew, LA
Hope, John G ~ Spec/1c, Navy, PA
Mansell, Paul A ~ 1st Lt, Flight Crew, NY
Matkovich, George ~ Civilian, Wrestler
McVey, Albert J ~ Sgt, Air Force, IL
Reuben, Benny ~ Civilian, Wrestler
Ross, George "Jack" ~ Civilian, Wrestler, IL
Sabath, Harold A ~ Civilian, Wrestler
Young, Gaius W ~ Civilian, Wrestler, MN

Note: The Associated Press reported that the European Division of the Air Transport Command stated that this ended a safety run in which 5 million miles of flying by that division had occurred without a loss of life.

( Flight Listing by: Russ Pickett )

Paul Allan Mansell