Near Jonas Ridge in Burke County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

U.S. Army Air Force Crash

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 14, 2025

1. U.S. Army Air Force Crash Marker

Inscription. In memory of the 18 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) men who were killed near here during World War II when their twin-engine Douglas C-47 Skytrain military transport #41-18562 crashed in a dense fog on Gingercake Mountain, Jonas Ridge, NC on May 15, 1943.

F/O W. B. McBroom, Pilot-Texas • 1st Lt. Morton M. Katz-Ohio • 2nd Lt. James E.R. Lauderdale-N. Mex. • 2nd Lt. Donald E. Lewin-California • 2nd Lt. Robert C. Mack-Ohio • 2nd Lt. Thomas B. Oksendahl-N. Dak. • 2nd Lt. Joseph E. Plaza-Nev. • 2nd Lt. James H. Valentine-Ohio • F/O James C. Armstrong Jr-Ind. • F/O Orville M. Buchheit-Ind. • T/Sgt. Edward T. Russell-Ohio • T/Sgt. Gerald J. Sutherland-Minn. • S/Sgt. William B. Goddard-Ohio • S/Sgt. Lester J. Kuchar-Ill. • S/Sgt. Francis P. McMahon-Ohio • S/Sgt. Guy A. Partridge Jr-Ind. • Sgt. Melvin F. Mullinax-Ill. • Pvt. William T. Templeman-Ill.

We Honor You

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is May 15, 1943.

Location. 35° 57.198′ N, 81° 52.677′ W. Memorial is near Jonas Ridge, North Carolina, in Burke County. It is at the intersection of North Carolina Route 181 and Gingercake Road, on the right when traveling east on North Carolina Route 181

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. The marker is a ground level at a cutout along a wooden fence. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 8194 NC-181, Jonas Ridge NC 28641, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in North Carolina’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Linville Gorge from Brown Mountain Overlook (approx. 2.2 miles away); Brown Mountain Overlook (approx. 2.2 miles away); Rockhouse Restaurant (approx. 3.6 miles away); Crossnore School (approx. 5.2 miles away); a different marker also named The Crossnore School (approx. 5.2 miles away); DAR Chapter House (approx. 5.7 miles away); The Bell Tower (approx. 5.7 miles away); The Weaving Room at Crossnore School (approx. 5.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jonas Ridge.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Gardens of the Blue Ridge (was approx. 2.7 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . USAAF C-47 flies into fog-shrouded Gingercake Mountain, NC.

At 1700, a Douglas C-47 flying in instrument conditions collided with Ginger Cake Mountain, approximately 25 miles NNW of Morgantown, North Carolina, killing four crewmembers and fourteen passengers….The airplane had taken off at 1500 EWT from Laurinburg-Maxton Army Air Base, Maxton, North Carolina, on a personnel transport flight to Lunken Field, Cincinnati,
Photographed by Mark Parker, March 14, 2025

2. Wider view U.S. Army Air Force Crash Marker
Ohio.

(Submitted on March 15, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

U.S. Army Air Force Crash Marker, looking north along NC Hwy 181 at Gingercake Road intersection image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 14, 2025

3. U.S. Army Air Force Crash Marker, looking north along NC Hwy 181 at Gingercake Road intersection

Credits. This page was last revised on March 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 383 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 15, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.