Crash of a Boeing B-29A-60-BN Superfortress into the Oriental China Sea: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1952 at 2154 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-62083
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
11560
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The heavy bomber left Kadena AFB at the end of the day on a bombing mission to Korea. Around 2154LT, the last radio contact was recorded while the aircraft was cruising about 100 miles north of its departure point. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
Cpt Robert H. Adams,
1st Charles E. Allen Jr.,
2nd Lt Richard G. Bristol,
Cpt Robert R. Hebert,
Cpl James W. McLain,
1st Lt Irwin Moldafsky,
Cpl Leonard G. Owens,
2nd Lt Paul H. Reiche,
M/Sgt James Ruska,
T/Sgt Arthur H. Schuman,
Pfc Clem L. Stinnett,
Cpt William E. Threlkeld,
Cpl Merlyn K. Williams.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-95-BW Superfortress near Yokosuka

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-21822
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
13716
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, an engine caught fire and exploded. All 13 crew members decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous area located 7 km west of Yokosuka. The airplane was destroyed while all 13 crew members were found alive.
Crew:
Cpt Norman T. Abercrombie,
1st Lt Cecile C. Choato,
Sgt Bruce H. Gilbert,
2nd Lt James Guinane,
Cpt Raymond M. Lajeunesse,
Cpt Julian C. Meadows,
Sgt Jerry M. Murry,
M/Sgt Clarence C. Price,
Cpl Loyal Robinson,
Sgt Franklin E. Rynot,
Pfc Donald H. Thomas,
Col Delmore P. Wood.
Probable cause:
Engine explosion in flight.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-90-BW Superfortress off Nampo: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-87734
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12537
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
En route from Kadena Airbase and while approaching the North Korean coast, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed into the Yellow Sea few km off Nampo. No trace of the aircraft nor the 14 crew members was found.
Crew:
1st Lt James Argetis,
Cpl James L. Bell,
S/Sgt Richard B. Caldwell,
1st Lt Bartus H. Carter,
Cpl Roderick G. Conn,
1st Lt Thomas L. Eyres,
Cpt William R. Fisher,
M/Sgt Carrell T. Hodges,
Cpt Garold B. Kubicek,
S/Sgt Asa L. Law,
Pfc David Lewis,
2nd Lt Hugh K. Thomson,
Cpl George A. Wedsworth,
Cpl Travis C. Wldon.
Probable cause:
It is believed that a technical failure occurred on one engine from which the propeller blades detached in flight and hit the fuselage.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-70-BN Superfortress in Flushing: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-62215
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Griffiss
MSN:
11692
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission from Minneapolis to Griffiss AFB when an engine failed in flight. All eight occupants decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a field located one mile southeast of Flushing, Michigan. Seven crew members were evacuated while the eight occupant died as his parachute failed to open.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-97-BW Superfortress in Barksdale AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-21745
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Barksdale - Barksdale
MSN:
13639
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful training mission, the crew was returning to his base in Barksdale and completed the approach by night. On final, the heavy bomber hit the roof of a house and crashed onto it about 1,2 mile short of runway 15. Four crew members were killed while nine others were injured. The couple who was sleeping in the house at the time of the accident was evacuated safely.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-60-BN Stratofortress off Lajes: 16 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-62078
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
11555
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
16
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Lajes Airbase, while in initial climb, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed into the sea few hundred yards off shore. No survivors was found among the 16 occupants who were returning home for Christmas after a three month period of training in England. The airplane was performing a flight from UK to Florida with an intermediate stop in Lajes, Azores Islands, for refueling.
Probable cause:
Loss of control shortly after rotation due to strong winds.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-35-MO Superfortress in Kadena AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-27314
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Less than three minutes after takeoff from Kadena AFB, bound for Korea, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed in a field located 8 km east of the airbase. Nine crew members were killed while three others were injured.
Crew:
1st Lt Howard T. Coyler, †
Cpl Louis S. Dent Jr.,
S/Sgt George E. Evenskaas, †
Sgt H. J. Groves,
1st Lt David H. Hogan, †
1st Lt Ralph U. Hooper, †
S/Sgt Robert L. Kaufman, †
Cpl Charles E. Lint,
1st Lt William L. McLain Jr., †
1st Lt Raymond J. Rood, †
Maj George R. Salisbury, †
Sgt Sherrill L. Stokes. †
Probable cause:
Engine failure shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-45-BN Superfortress in Denver: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1951 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-61797
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
11274
YOM:
1944
Location:
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a liaison flight when an engine failed en route. The captain decided to divert to Lowry AFB in Denver for a safe landing. Unfortunately, on final approach, the heavy bomber stalled and smashed in flames in a residential area located few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and was destroyed by a post crash fire. Five houses were damaged and four others were destroyed. On ground, six people were injured as well as six crew members. Eight others were killed in the crash.
Crew:
Cpt James W. Shanks, pilot,
1st Lt Robert H. Snure, copilot,
T/Sgt Robert F. Jarvis, gunnery instructor, †
T/Sgt Herbert Oeser, gunnery instructor, †
Cpl Richard P. Yukob, gunnery instructor, †
Pfc James E. Snyder, gunnery instructor, †
Pfc Ronald W. Wiersma, gunnery, †
Pfc William J. Ablondi, gunnery, †
Pfc Baxter Srber, gunnery, †
Pfc John R. Servic, gunnery. †
S/Sgt William A. Zippel,
Cpl Ray E. Widner,
Pfc Teddy D. Allen,
Pfc Joe D. Wiggins.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-65-BW Superfortress near Yoakum

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-69896
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10728
YOM:
1944
Location:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed en route, forcing all crew members to bail out and to abandon the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie located about ten miles southwest of Yoakum. All occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-55-BN Superfortress near Winchester

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-61933
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
11410
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a hilly terrain located about three miles northwest of Winchester. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all 13 crew members were rescued.