Region
Asia

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in the Tokyo Bay: 13 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Registration:
59497
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tinian - Tinian
MSN:
59497
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tokyo
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The crew left Tinian Island bound for Tokyo to perform aerial photography of the Japanese Imperial fleet based in the Tokyo Bay. While overflying the Tokyo Bay at a height of 500 feet, the seaplane was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire and crashed into the bay. Two crew members were rescued while 13 others were killed
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-50-BW Superfortress in Takashima: 12 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-24784
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
MSN:
4445
YOM:
1942
Location:
Takashima
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While on an operation to the Nakajima Aircraft Factory in Ōta, the bomber collided with a second USAAF Boeing B-29 Superfortress registered 42-24815 that was carrying 11 crew members. Following the collision, both airplane dove into the ground and crashed in Takashima. All 23 crew members in both airplanes were killed.
Crew:
Col Birrell Walsh,
Cpt Carmel McC. Slaughter Jr.,
1st Lt Kenneth E. Swanson,
2nd Lt Dan E. Godsy,
2nd Lt Joseph F. Jarosz,
2nd Lt Herbert Weiner,
S/Sgt Nick Carbo,
S/Sgt Robert K. Yonce,
S/Sgt Kenneth F. Mago,
S/Sgt Ralph J. McClellan,
Sgt James E. Melvin,
Sgt Frank R. Katzenmeier.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-50-BW Superfortress in Takashima: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-24815
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
MSN:
4476
YOM:
1942
Location:
Takashima
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While on an operation to the Nakajima Aircraft Factory in Ōta, the bomber collided with a second USAAF Boeing B-29 Superfortress registered 42-24784 that was carrying 12 crew members. Following the collision, both airplane dove into the ground and crashed in Takashima. All 23 crew members in both airplanes were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Owen O. Barnhart Jr.,
1st Lt Hugh Donald Burner,
2nd Lt Harley H. Hazelwood,
2nd Lt Cornelius R. Kerns,
2nd Lt Donald Mac Auley Morrison,
S/Sgt Norman Edward Smith,
Sgt Harvey J. Fitzpatrick,
Sgt James F. Greup,
Sgt Harry J. Hartz Jr.,
Sgt Donald A. W. Kissinger,
Sgt George B. Wilbur III.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MC-20-1 off Chiba: 13 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Mitsubishi MC-20
Operator:
Registration:
J-BGON
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tokyo - Tokyo
MSN:
104
Location:
Chiba
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Tokyo on a local test flight on behalf of the Japan Civil Aviation Authority. While flying off Chiba, it went out of control and crashed into the Bay of Tokyo. All 13 occupants were killed, among them Shikasaburo Yamakawa, Chief of Inspectors of the Bureau of Civil Aviation.

Crash of a Nakajima AT-2 on Uotsuri Island

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Nakajima Ki-34 (AT-2)
Operator:
Registration:
J-BBOT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Fukuoka – Naha – Taipei
MSN:
6
YOM:
1936
Location:
Uotsuri Island
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Naha to Taipei, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and made an emergency landing on Uotsuri Island, in the Pacific. All 13 occupants were rescued the following day.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WG3B Super Electra in Fukuoka: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
J-BCOZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fukuoka – Seoul
Location:
Fukuoka
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff from Fukuoka Airport, the twin engine airplane collided with the perimeter fence and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot, the mechanic and four passengers were killed while five other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Nakajima AT-2 off Kuba Island: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1938 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Nakajima Ki-34 (AT-2)
Operator:
Registration:
J-BDOH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Fukuoka – Taipeh
MSN:
1418.1
Location:
Kuba Island
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While cruising over the East China Sea, the crew encountered technical problems with an engine. The pilot elected to divert to Naha but eventually ditched the airplane off Kuba Island, Okinawa. Two passengers were rescued while 10 others occupants were killed. The aircraft named 'Fuji' was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas DF-151 on Mt Sefuri: 15 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DF-151
Operator:
Registration:
J-ANET
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2
YOM:
1936
Location:
Mt Sefuri
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The float plane crash on Mt Sefuri located 20 km south of Fukuoka. All 15 occupants were killed. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in September 1938.
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