Recovering C-47B 43-16261 Dakota: Operation Gahngguh Malaysia Jungle

Описание: C-47B 43-16261 vanished on November 27, 1945, flying from Singapore to Butterworth—then the Dakota disappeared into the Malaysian jungle near Beruas under decades of regrowth. This documentary follows Operation Gahngguh and shows why locating a wreck is not the same as bringing a crew home. On a steep, remote slope, the team turns C-47B 43-16261 into a controlled aircraft recovery site: building a forensic grid, documenting every find, and using wet screening to separate tiny fragments from heavy clay.
You’ll see wreckage recovery done the hard way—helicopter hoist logistics, hand carries, weather windows, and strict chain of custody so evidence can support identification. We also explain what can and can’t be recovered from a 1945 crash (long before modern black box standards), and why tropical soil can erase bone fast while preserving teeth or metal clues. In the end, C-47B 43-16261 becomes more than a serial number—it’s a test of persistence, engineering, and respect for the missing.
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Disclaimer :
Educational/historical documentary. Some visuals may be reconstructed from available records and field methods.