Charles Donald Arceneaux was born on 29. Apr. 1923 at Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. He was the son of
Edgar Pierre Arceneaux and
Edna Mary Grevemberg. Charles Donald Arceneaux died on 5. Dec. 1945 at age 22; air sea mission in the Atlantic Ocean. CharlesDonald was off the Florida coast while searching for lost Navy Fliers. Donald was lost when the plane he was in crashed off the Florida coast while searching for Naval Flyers lost in the Bermuda Triangle. On December 5, 1945 a flight of 3 Navy TBM’s was reported overdue and presumed down somewhere off the coast of Florida. This was Flight 19 that was reported lost in the "Bermuda Triangle". At 7:30 p.m. Donald joined 3 aviators and 9 other crew members in A PBM patrol plane in the search for Flight 19. The following is an excerpt from an article in the Naval Aviation News (Jun.1973) "The Loss Of Flight 19" "One search aircraft was lost during the operation. At 1927,(5,December,1945) PBM-5, Buno 59225, was airborne from Banana River with 3 aviators aboard and a crew of 10. At 1930, the aircraft radioed an "out" report to its home base and was not heard from again. Cruising off the coast of Florida, the tanker S.S. Gaines Mills was sailing through the dark night when it sent the following message, "At 1950, observed a burst of flames, apparently an explosion, leaping flames 100 feet high and burning for ten minutes. Position 28 degrees 59 minutes north, 80 degrees 25 minutes west. At present, passing through a big pool of oil. Stopped, circled area using searchlights, looking for survivors. None found." Her captain later confirmed that he saw a plane catch fire and immediately crash, exploding upon the sea. A message from USS Solomons (CVE 67), which was participating in the search, later confirmed both the merchantman's report and the fears of many at Banana River. "Our air search radar showed a plane after takeoff from Banana River last night joining with another plane, (the second PBM) then separating and proceeding on course 045 degrees at exact time S.S. Gaines Mills sighted flames and in exact spot the above plane disappeared from the radar screen and never reappeared." No wreckage was sighted and according to witnesses there was little likelihood that any could have been recovered due to a very rough sea. The next day, water samples, taken in the area, developed an oily film. The area was not buoyed due to the heavy seas nor were diving or salvage operations ever conducted. The depth of the water was 78 feet and the site was close to the Gulf Stream. During the Board's examination of the disappearance of the PBM, several witnesses were questioned concerning gas fumes and smoking regulations, which were reportedly well posted and rigidly enforced aboard all PBMs. Although the Board's report is not a verbatim record and no accusations were made, there seems to be enough inference present to cause one to suspect that the Board was aware of the PBM's nickname, "the flying gas tank." "