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Pat & Cherie Ranfranz look down at the beautiful tropical flowers they tossed into the crystal blue waters of Yap in which the Coleman Crew lie.
October 26, 2005. more
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The Missing Air Crew Project and web site has been developed and supported by Pat and Cherie Ranfranz from Shoreview, Minnesota. The Missing Air Crew Project is dedicated to the mission of locating the unaccounted for men and planes who were lost near Yap Island during WWII.
Largest obstacle at this time is the cost of underwater search equipment: The technology to locate my uncle's plane (the Coleman Crew) and other American water crash sites around Yap is available, however, it's the cost to acquire the equipment that is the largest obstacle. I have put thousands of dollars into my Missing Air Crew project but the cost to purchase side scan sonar, boat towed metal detector, magnetometer, or remote operated vehicles is too high for me to reach at this time. I'm seeking sponsors to help fund the purchase of underwater search equipment for the Missing Air Crew project. For example, the following company, JW Fishers, offers a complete line of underwater search products that would help us locate the planes.
View JW Fishers Search Products
Please contact Pat if you have frequent flyer mileage to donated to help offset the cost of our search trips to Yap Island. pat@missingaircrew.com
MissingAirCrew.com Mission Statement: Pat & Cherie Ranfranz are committed to locating and documenting the crash site of the Coleman B-24 and other American planes on or near Yap Island. Pat has spent over 20 years researching the 25 June 1944 shoot down and loss of his uncle, T/Sgt John R. McCullough, and the other nine members of the Coleman B-24. The original goal of locating the Coleman B-24 has been expanded to locating and documenting all the American crash sites on or near Yap Island. The MissingAirCrew.com project is committed to documenting the history of the men and their missions through documents, pictures, and oral history before the information is lost in time. The most important goal of the project is to help provide closure to the families of the missing men who lost their lives in service of their country during WWII. Close to 100 men were lost near Yap Island and remain listed as missing in action.
Do you have underwater search equipment or expertise to donate to the MissingAirCrew.com project? The largest obstacle at this time is the cost associated with the equipment necessary to scan the ocean floor to locate and document the Coleman Crew crash site. Let us know if you can help with search equipment and resources such as:
- Side scanning sonar
- ROV (submersible)
- Underwater cameras
- Underwater metal detectors
Email: pat@missingaircrew.com
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Some of the most helpful information is the donation by site visitors of photographs, documents, and the recollections of events related to the planes and men who were lost near Yap Island. Submit information you have to: pat@missingaircrew.com
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Financial donations keep the MissingAirCrew.com project moving forward to fund new research and offset the thousands of dollars Pat & Cherie Ranfranz have spent and will be spending to search for the men and planes lost over and near Yap Island. Sponsorships and donations of any size are welcome and appreciated. Make checks payable to: Patrick Ranfranz/MissingAirCrew.com.
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For your convenience you may send your contribution electronically by using the secure Paypal link below. Paypal accepts major credit cards. Login to your PayPal account and donate to email@ranfranz.com or click on the images or links below to donate with PayPal.
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Pat Ranfranz is seeking sponsors and/or donors to help with the cost of searching for and locating the missing Coleman B-24 near Yap Island and other American missing air crews on Yap. Phase I and Phase II of the search effort was completed in October 2005 and September 2006.
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Phase I:
Phase I is now complete. We returned from Yap on October 29, 2005. Please see more at: October 2005 Yap Trip
- Visited Yap Island in October 2005
- Memorial service for the Coleman Crew with Yapese Chiefs.
- Search and survey of Yap Island crash sites on land and water (Searching for all American crash sites)
- Interviews with Yapese elders who witnessed the shoot down and crash.
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Phase II:
Phase II is now complete. We returned from Yap on September 29, 2006. Please see more at: Sept 2006 Yap Trip
- Return to Yap and search water target area we have identified from interviews during our Phase I trip.
- Continue interviews with Yapese elders to locate and document additional information about American crash sites before the oral history is lost forever.
- Search and document additional American crash sites on land and in the water.
- Search and document Japanese crash/wreck sites on land and in the water.
- Costs will include airfare, hotel, land and dive guides, boat rental, underwater camera, etc.
- Additional costs to utilize side scanning sonar and ROVs. Rov (submersible) can be used to document the crash site and make detailed observations.
- Additional costs to use underwater cameras.
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Phase III:
Phase III has not setup. We would like to return to Yap in late 2007 or 2008. Cost is the largest obstacle at this time. Please contact Pat if you have frequent flyer mileage to donated to help offset the cost of our search trips to Yap Island. Email Pat for more information at: pat@missingaircrew.com |
Largest obstacle at this time is the cost
The largest obstacle at this time is the cost associated with the equipment necessary to scan the ocean floor to locate and document the Coleman Crew crash site. I'm hopeful I can find corporate sponsors and donors who will help me with Phase II of this project. Any help will be greatly appreciated! Email Patrick Ranfranz at: pat@missingaircrew.com or call 651-490-9720.
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Web Site Terms of Use: This web site authorizes you to view materials solely for your personal, non-commercial use. You may not sell or modify the material or reproduce, display, distribute, or otherwise use the material in any way for any public or commercial purpose without the written permission of the web site owner. pat@missingaircrew.com
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