THE PASSENGERS
Skymaster Down
JOYCE & VICTOR ESPE
WIFE OF ROBERT ESPE
Joyce M (Stanley) Espe, wife of MSgt Robert A Espe, mother of infant Victor E Espe and Unborn Infant Espe (7 months). Joyce Espe was seven months pregnant at the time. A native of Hapur, India, she was struggling with the Alaskan winter. She was flying from the military base in Anchorage, south over the Yukon, to Great Falls, Montana. From there she planned to go to Rifle, Colorado, where she had close friends, to give birth to her second child. Robert Espe spent many years searching for Joyce and Victor and the lost plane in the Yukon.
Lt. Mike Tisk
PILOT C54 SKYMASTER 2469
Lt. Mike Tisk was co-pilot of the missing C54 #2469. He was from Louise, West Virginia and was a veteran of many years with the US Airforce. He entered the service following his graduation from Follansbee High School. He flew transport planes in the carribean during the war and after the war the continental United States. He had been operating out of Alaska for the year previously to the aircraft going missing. The oldest boy in a family of 10 children he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. jacob Tisk of Louise, a small mining community.
SGT. JUNIOR LEE MOORE
SERGEANT US AIR FORCE
Sgt. Junior Lee Moore had four siblings - two living brothers; Earl Moore and Wayne Moore ( Both were in the army overseas when this happened) and two sisters Sis and Pat. They said they use to call him cub because he was as mean as a bear
FRANKLIN GREGORY
CAPTAIN US AIRFORCE
Captain Franklin Gregory who left his wife Marjorie and daughter back in Anchorage Alaska. Marjorie was pregnant with daughter Barbara and also caring for her two-year-old son -- she found herself suddenly left behind in Alaska. Within weeks the military knocked on Marjorie’s door and told her they needed her house for incoming personnel. She had to leave. So, she packed up and went home to Virginia
CLARENCE GIBSON
RADIO OPERATOR C54 SKYMASTER 2469
This is S/Sgt Clarence Gibson. He was on the C54 #2469 flight lost over the Yukon in 1950. He was the radio operator on board this flight. His wife was pregnant wtih a daughter Judy he also had two little girls ages 5 and 2.
CPL RAYMOND BILL MATHENY
US AIRFORCE
Cpl. Raymond H. Matheney was by all rights a master baker, known to have created dishes for high-ranking military brass.
ALBIE PARKER BAUGHMAN JR.
US AIRFORCE
One of the missing, Albie Parker Baughman, Jr. In front of his barracks in Alaska.
JOE METZLER
US AIRFORCE
1st Lt. Joe Metzler was the navigator on this flight. He was assigned to the 2nd Strategic Support Squadron, 97th Bomb Wing, Strategic Air Command at Biggs AFB, Texas.
His wife Ruth Graul-Metzler never remarried. She never gave up hope that they would someday find "her Joe."