Crash of a Boeing B-50D-90-BO Superfortress in Great Dunmow: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1952 at 2350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48-091
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
MSN:
15900
YOM:
1948
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a routine training mission out of RAF Upper Heyford. En route, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a field located two miles west of Great Dunmow. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 11 crew members were killed. It was later reported that the airplane was carrying a load of ammunition that exploded for several hours, hampering the rescuers' mission.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was caused by gale. Also, the assumption that the pilot-in-command lost his orientation was not ruled out.

Ground fire of a Boeing RB-50F Superfortress in Enewetak

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
47-158
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Enewetak - Enewetak
MSN:
15842
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing to its parking position, the aircraft caught fire for unknown reason. The crew stopped the airplane and all occupants were able to evacuate without any injuries. Unfortunately, the aircraft was completely destroyed by fire. It was carrying film material of aerial-mosaic photography taken of the nuclear weapons test site in preparation of the 'Operation Ivy'.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-110-BO Superfortress in RAF Lakenheath: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
49-0271
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
MSN:
16047
YOM:
1949
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a combined exercice out from RAF Lakenheath with ten other USAF B-50's. During the approach, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion few miles from the airfield, killing all 11 crew members, among them Albin F. Venskus, pilot.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the stall could be caused by a maneuver on part of the pilot-in-command to avoid a collision with another aircraft in the formation was not ruled out.

Crash of a Boeing RB-50G Superfortress in Offutt AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1952 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
47-152
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hickam - Offutt
MSN:
15836
YOM:
1947
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach by night, the heavy bomber was too low when it hit a mound of dirt and crashed in a fiery explosion few dozen yards short of runway threshold. Five occupants were killed while 12 others were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-110-BO Superfortress in Seattle: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1951 at 1418 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
49-0268
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Seattle - Seattle
MSN:
16044
YOM:
1949
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew (three engineers and pilots from Boeing and three USAF officers) were engaged in a local flight from Seattle-Boeing Field to test the airplane that was subject to technical modifications. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the four engine airplane encountered serious difficulties to gain height when the right wing hit the roof of a brewery located about a mile north of the airfield. Out of control, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion on the Lester Apartments building. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire fed by 4,000 gallons of fuel. All six crew members and five people in the building were killed while 11 other people on the ground were injured. The exact cause of the mishap remains unclear.
Crew:
Lt Lloyd G. Vanderwielen, pilot,
Earl Edwards, copilot,
Cpt Charles A. Dews, radar observer,
M/Sgt Frank A. Dodaro, flight engineer,
Kenneth C. Barrick, flight test analyst 1.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-110-BO Superfortress in Biggs AAF: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
49-0279
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
16055
YOM:
1949
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Biggs AAF, while in initial climb, the aircraft suffered a technical issue and crashed two miles from the airfield. The navigator was killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-110-BO Superfortress in RAF Bassingbourn: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1951 at 2235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
49-0270
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bassingbourn - Bassingbourn
MSN:
16046
YOM:
1949
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local night training flight when shortly after takeoff from RAF Bassingbourn, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It hit successively two rows of trees. On the second impact, the airplane broke in two. The front part crashed in a huge explosion while the rear part detached and crashed 100 yards away from the burning wreckage. The three crew members who were seating in the rear compartment were slightly injured while the five crew members who were seating in the forward compartment were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-80-BO Superfortress near Edwards AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48-070
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Edwards - Edwards
MSN:
15879
YOM:
1948
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Edwards AFB that day with a crew of six and two engineers of Ryan Aeronautical. After a flight of four hours and a half during which several equipment were tested, the crew started his way back to Edwards AFB. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet in clouds, the airplane crashed in the Shadow mountains located about 25 miles southeast of Edwards AFB. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt William Alexander Bailey Jr., pilot,
Maj Gordon L. Payne Jr., copilot,
M/Sgt Robert E. Methusa,
M/Sgt Lilburn N. Cate,
T/Sgt James H. Willingham,
T/Sgt Carl A. Milhoan.
Passengers:
Charles A. White,
Wallace J. Christian.

Crash of a Boeing B-50A-25-BO Superfortress near Comobabi: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
46-047
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Davis-Monthan - Davis-Monthan
MSN:
15767
YOM:
1947
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The Boeing B-50 was completing a training mission out of Davis-Monthan AFB and was carrying a crew of 13. While cruising at an assigned altitude of 9,000 feet, the aircraft collided with a USAF Boeing B-50 that was engaged in a refueling mission out of Davis-Monthan with 10 crew members on board. Both aircraft went into a dive and crashed in a desert area located in the region of Comobabi, about 50 miles west of Tucson. On board the B-29, six crew members were killed while four others were injured. On board the B-50, seven crew members were killed while six others were injured. The exact circumstances of the collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-110-BO Superfortress near Montpellier

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
49-0277
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sculthorpe - Sculthorpe
MSN:
16053
YOM:
1949
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie from RAF Sculthorpe. En route, the engine number four failed and was windmilling. A general failure of the electric system then forced the 11 crew members to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. All occupants were rescued while the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed about 25 km northwest of Montpellier.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine number four.