Investigation
The Clark Field Rescue Coordinating Center declared the aircraft missing the morning of 16 March 1962, 24 hours after the final radio message was received. Navy officials reported that they believed that the aircraft had crashed closer to Guam than the Philippines. At the time of the disappearance, the weather was clear and the sea calm. The Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines ordered aircraft and ships to the area.
The first day of searching continued overnight. During the first two days of the search, vessels crisscrossed 75,000 square miles (190,000 km2) of ocean. Secretary of the Army Elvis Stahr told newspapers that "e have not given up hope that it will be found and that those aboard are safe," and that a "maximum effort" was being made. After four days of searching, Major General Theodore R. Milton of the 13th Air Force told newspapers that the chance of finding survivors was doubtful, every effort would be made "as long as there is any hope at all."
Search efforts included aircraft from Guam, Clark Field, the US 7th Fleet, and the Air Force at Okinawa. Additionally surface ships and aircraft from numerous U.S. base in the western Pacific contributed to the search efforts.
After eight days, the search was called off. The search, which was, at the time, one of the largest to ever take place in the Pacific, had covered more than 200,000 square miles (520,000 km2) of ocean.
Read more about this topic: Flying Tiger Line Flight 739