Featured Exhibit
Arrival and Mission
The WACs of Squadron D, 1202d Army Air Forces Base Unit were the first to be assigned to the African Gold Coast. Comprising 159 WACs, the squadron arrived in October of 1944 and began their assignment in the Air Transport Command's Central African Division as clerks, typists, and drivers, supporting the transportation of troops and supplies.
The Crash
As operations in North Africa came to an end, the WACs of the 1202d were given the option of returning to the United States or transfering to the 1400th Army Air Forces Base Unit in London, England. Sixty-seven of the women choose to continue their service in Europe. Four planes took off from Accra on 30 May 1945, but only three made it to the meeting point at Roberts Army Air Field in Liberia. The third plane, carrying 18 of the 67 WACs and three crewmembers, took off from Accra at 7:08am. The crew radioed in at the first check point at 7:55am, but at 9:20am Roberts Field picked up maydays from the aircraft. The distress signal could be heard for five minutes before contact was lost. An immediate search was launched off what is now Cote D'Ivoire, in the presumed area of the crash, which continued for over a week, but no sign of the aircraft was ever found. All 21 aboard are listed as Missing in Action (MIA) to this day and can be found on the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency database. During World War II, this was the largest loss of WAC life in one event. Of the 27 women still listed as Missing in Action from World War II on the database, those 18 lost in this crash account for two-thirds.
Their Stories: Pfc. Helen Rozzelle
Though the accident and sacrifice of these women made national news, many don't remember the story today. In 1986, Betty McAleenan, who had served in the 1202d as Cpl. Betty Griebel, recorded her oral history for the Women's Army Corps Museum collection. She felt called to relay the story of this tragedy, because her husband, SSG Robert Griebel's, remains had been identified the year earlier, after having been listed as MIA for 42 years. McAleenan enlisted in the WAC after receiving notice he was MIA. In sharing the history of these women, McAleenan shed light on another story of selfless service, that of Pfc. Helen Rozzelle. Pfc. Rozzelle was among the 18 WACs lost in the crash. She originally enlisted in 1943 after her brother, Lt. Richard Rozzelle's, B-17 was shot down off the coast of Italy. To this day, both Rozzelle siblings are still listed as Missing in Action.
To watch Betty Griebel McAleenan's full oral history, click related items below.
Their Stories: Pfc. Frieda Blanck Friend
Pfc. Frieda Blanck was an operator in Holmes Electric Protective Company's headquarters signal board when the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps was organized. She enlisted early after the example of her brother, Staff Sgt. Frederic Blanck, serving in the Army Medical Corps, and attended basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. In June 1943, she was given permission and a leave pass to marry Staff Sgt. Roy Friend while the two were assigned to different army airfields in the United States. Staff Sgt. Friend was soon transferred to Accra where in October 1944, his wife, now Pfc. Frieda Friend, joined him. Staff Sgt. Roy Friend was still assigned to Accra when he heard the news that his wife never arrived to her new station in London, England.
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Their Stories: Pfc. Rose Brohinsky
In her oral history interview in 1986, Betty Griebel recounted how she was originally supposed to be on the third flight out of Accra; however, she and her roommate, Dottie, had packed their supplies together to allow for more room, but transfer papers assigned them to different aircraft. When they discovered that Pfc. Rose Brohinsky and her roommate were facing the same dilemma, Cpl. Griebel and Pfc. Brohinsky went to operations and asked permission to switch flights.
Rose was a dress model in New York City before enlisting in the Women's Army Corps. In the 1202d, she served as a radio technician. Having swapped with Griebel, she never made it to her next assignment in London. Griebel took the earlier flight originally intended for Brohinsky and did not discover what happened until hours after safely landing in France.
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Their Stories: Pfc. Leona Seyfert
Leona Seyfert's sister, Maxine Seyfert, was already training in the U.S. Nurse Cadet Corps program when she enlisted in the Women's Army Corps in 1944. She was quickly on her way to Fort Oglethorpe, Ga for Basic Training. Her assignments stateside included a stint at Romulus Army Air Field in Georgia and Grenier Army Air Field in New Hampshire, before she was assigned to the 1202d Army Air Forces Base Unit in Accra. She worked in the Operations Section of Headquarters, Central African Division, Air Transport Command under LTC Francis Bradley who later described her as "a sincere and conscientious WAC" stating that "her diligence and persistence at any task were a fine example for all of the personnel of this Section." Her letters home include news of a shiny engagement ring from "Link" and trips to see gardens, castles, and mines.
According to family, after the crash Seyfert's fiance, Link, was invited to join the search party, but the wreckage was never found. Many felt Seyfert's loss, and Maxine received a note from Director of the Women's Army Corps, Oveta Culp Hobby, which read "Leona's unselfish devotion to our country, as evidenced by her voluntary service, will ever be a monument to American womanhood."
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Their Stories: Pfc. Mildred Higgins Rice
Since the story of the Accra WACs was made public, the family of Mildred Higgins Rice has donated her collection to the Air Mobility Command Museum in Dover, Delaware. Rice enlisted in the Women's Army Corps in 1944 and quickly travelled to the First WAC Basic Training Center at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. By the summer of 1944, she was assigned to the 561st Army Air Forces Base Unit, Rosecrans Field in Missouri with the Ferrying Division, Air Transport Command. Towards the end of July 1944, she was transferred to the 565th Army Air Forces Base Unit, Reno Army Air Base in Nevada. By October, she was in Accra with the rest of the 1202d Army Air Forces Base Unit. She writes home in the winter of 1945, saying that she's been working long hours - sometimes 56 hours a week. On April 8, 1945, Rice writes to her mother, saying that she's a bit homesick, but she says "I would rather be here than anywhere else, if I can't be home."
Pfc. Rice's collection sheds light on the impact the accident had on those WACs who continued in service in England despite the loss of their friends. A memorial service was held on 12 June 1945 at HQ, European Division, Air Transport Command in London. Commanding Officer Patrice Brooks writes a condolence letter to Rice's mother claiming she was one of the best she ever commanded and Capt. Elsie Sykora in London writes to mention the memorial service and the grief of the WACs recently transferred to her division who had served and were friends with Rice.
To see Pfc. Rice's collection on display, visit the Air Mobility Command Museum.
Their Impact Continues...and So Does the Search
Forty-nine of the original sixty-seven WACs traveled safely to London, England and their new assignment. They continued on in their work with the Air Transport Command, beginning to rebuild in Europe and keeping the war effort moving in the Pacific. Though they carried on the mission, they lived with the trauma of losing colleagues and friends for the rest of their lives. As she prepared for a WAC reunion in 1984, Kay Wiest recalled the Accra crash, stating "all were friends of hers; all died."
The loss of so many at once was a tragedy, but with no sign of the aircraft since, there has been no closure. As the search for the missing aircraft continues, we hope that one day closure can be offered to the families of those 21 who gave their lives in service.
In Memoriam
