Operation Jungle Jewel
Sergeant First Class Ron Celli of Company C 2nd Battalion 7th Special Forces Group worked for the Civil Military Operations and received in December 1989 information about the discovery of a World War II fighter plane in the jungles of Panama. The crash site had been discovered by a Panamanian who stumbled across it while hunting. According to the hunter, several large bones resembling human remains were also discovered buried in the foliage surrounding the site. Of course, the report had to be investigated and higher command required evidence of the site, and its existence before manpower and hours were invested. Ron didn't hear of the site or the supposed human remains discovered there until he found himself in Panama, almost a year to the date later, while participating in operation Fuerta Caminos he was approached by the hunter again. This time the hunter had proof, a rusted radio plate dating back to World War II. It was only then that Operation Jungle Jewel was underway.
 | United States Army Southern Command realized the importance of such a discovery and granted Celli the use of 193rd Infantry Brigade soldiers, and also the use of a Chinook and Blackhawk helicopter to locate the site. He also was given a scout platoon and an engineer platoon, totalling 40 soldiers. Celli lead the group into the jungle and on the second day of the mission the crash site was found in province De Colon Province at grid coordinates NA 6600 0038. Some of the wreckage, and despite the ravage of both time and jungle, were clearly discernible. The marking (42-20880) on the plane's tail fin was still readable. Two of the aircrafts 30-caliber machine guns still had live rounds in their chambers. The aircraft turned out to be a 32nd Fighter Squadron Bell P-39 Airacobra. |
On December 13, 1944 at 08:33 hour a 32nd Wolfhounds three-ship formation flight existing of flight leader 1st Lt William L. Davidson, 2nd Lt. Emmel C. Possis and 2nd Lt. Warren Maxon took of from France Field Canal Zone for a scheduled training flight in the Porto Bello area. Short after take-off the flight leader asked due to bad weather conditions permission to change the flight plan to Cocle Del Norte where the weather seemed somewhat better. After permission they charted a course to Cocle Del Norte and started practicing steep turns and right and left echelons. At about 09:15 hour back in formation and flying at 8,500 feet and with overcast they started toward the field. West of Cocle Del Norte the weather looked bad and to the east it was clear above the overcast. They had to come up due north so they made a left turn and headed that way, climbing to about 9,500 feet to get above the layer of clouds ahead of them. At about 150 mph they entered a cloud, after entering it the flight leader noticed that Lt. Maxon was missing. Lieutenant Possis was still on his left and slid slightly below his plane. The two pilots never saw Maxon again. They landed at France Field at 09:42 hour and notified Operations and a search was sent out immediately. A thorough search was made, but was delayed due to difficult weather conditions. The search revealed nothing.
According to Captain David A. Silverman, 32nd Fighter Squadron engineering officer, the P-39 42-20880 was in good condition and had its last 100 hour inspection on 21 November 1944 and a 25 hours inspection on 5 December 1944. Upon examination of all available evidence regarding the incident of Lt. Maxon being separated from his flight and since considered missing, no positive conclusion can made as to be the exact cause of the crash. It is believed by the Station Accident Officer, Major Francis M. Brunner that pilot was so inexperienced that he became confused and could not make the transition from visual to instrument flight.
 | Second lieutenant Warren Maxon (O-773747) was assigned to the 32nd Fighter Squadron since November 5, 1944 and had acquired a total of 34:45 fighter hours and 3:35 bi-place transition time, 4:00 bi-place hooded instrument time and 3:00 link time up to his last flight. He passed the required examination of the indoctrination course to fly the aircraft assigned to the 32nd squadron. What really happened on that day in December? Only God knows. |