Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando off Gangneung: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-78114
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gangneung – Pohang
MSN:
33510
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Gangneung Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane crashed into the sea. Seven occupants were rescued while eleven other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Roy Anthony, †
Pfc Leroy Crowell,
1st Lt Charles W. Difalco,
2nd Lt John B. Emerson,
S/Sgt Sigurd L. Erlandsen,
A3c Alonzo J. Haugh Jr., †
A1c Lewis J. Holmes,
T/Sgt Raymond H. Johnson, †
W/O Jung Pyun Kim, †
A2c Duane W. Larson, †
A2c James C. Newell, †
A2c William H. Pate, †
1st Lt Vaughn D. Prunier, †
A2c Gary Richard,
A3c Terumi Shoda,
A2c Luke J. Tucker Jr., †
A2c Clifton N. Watson, †
Maj William P. Windus Jr. †

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-22-FA Flying Boxcar near Seongnam AFB: 44 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1952 at 1445 LT
Operator:
Registration:
51-2551
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ashiya - Seongnam
MSN:
10509
YOM:
1950
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Circumstances:
While descending to Seongnam AFB in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area located in a mountainous area, about 30 km east of Seoul. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 44 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions consisted of an horizontal visibility of 11 km with a cloud base at 3,000 feet.
Crew:
Cwo Alfred H. Auger,
Pfc Robert J. Beachy,
A1c Leroy J. Beer,
Sgt Francis C. Berger,
Pfc Gilberto A. Berrios,
Cpl Antonio Calaustro,
Cpl William E. Clark,
Pfc C. Concepcion-Esquilio,
Cpl Patrick E. Connolly,
Pfc Delbert Coulam,
Cpl Donald D. Drinnen,
Sfc Albert W. Dzinwkowski,
Cpl James A. Flory,
Pfc Lloyd O. Fogt,
A2c Marvin L. Gainey,
Cpl Frank. Gfroerer,
Cpl Thomas E. Giglio,
Cpl John W. Hanlon,
M/Sgt Arthur J. Holland,
Sgt Robert W. Irwin,
Pfc Robert H. Koehler,
Pfc Leon Letts Jr.,
S/Sgt Ray W. Mansholt,
Pfc Bronson J. Mastne,
Sgt Richard L. Menninger,
Pfc Erling P. Miller,
2nd Lt John C. Mortensen,
Cpt William C. Moskosky Sr.,
Pfc Billy G. Mouney,
Sgt Donald R. Northrup,
Pfc Byron H. Pittman,
Pfc Lovell E. Prater,
Pvt Juan Rivera-Gonzales,
Pfc Juan Rivera-Gonzales,
Pfc Raul Rosalez,
Cpt Robert L. Schenck,
SGt Arthur J. Scowcraft,
Pfc Eugene R. Serra,
Sgt Ray A. Shepherd,
Pfc Freelan Shrewsbury,
S/Sgt Thaddeus L. Smith Jr.,
Sgt John C. Stauch Sr.,
Sgt Harry N. Tsuruoka,
Cpl John H. Williams.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. No deficiencies on instruments or engines were reported and the reason why the airplane was flying at an insufficient altitude remains unclear.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-40-DT Invader in Gimhae: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-35589
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
28868
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Gimhae, the pilot-in-command decided to attempt a go around when the aircraft went out of control and crashed 6 km northwest of the airbase. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Gary E. Frase,
A1c Joseph S. Gliniak,
1st Lt James N. Valentine.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando off Gangneung: 25 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-77538
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gangneung – Pohang
MSN:
32934
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 08, while in initial climb, the Commando went out of control and crashed into the sea few km off shore. SAR operations were immediately dispatched on the scene but two dead bodies were found two days later and no trace of the aircraft that sank. The exact circumstances and caused of this accident remains unknown. USAF reported that both dead bodies they found were wearing a life jacket.
Crew:
A1c Alfred W. Arrington,
S/Sgt Vincent J. Bevilacqua,
A2c Billy R. Bishop,
Aoan Carnell E. Booth,
1st Lt Robert C. Bowerman,
Lt Fred V. Bryan,
A3c Lemon Butts Jr.,
1st Lt Thomas L. Davidson,
Sgt Robert A. Deeter Jr.,
Ad3 Oliver P. Dehart,
A3c George A. Freeman,
A2c Harry C. Gammage,
Cpt Victor B. Graper,
A3c Norman C. Harmon,
T/Sgt Paul J. Hicks,
Ad3 James P. King,
A3c James A. Kyle,
A2c Daniel G. Ruby Jr.,
1st Lt Richard G. L. Rusk,
A3c Walter K. Rutledge,
T/Sgt Melvin E. Sarkilahti,
A2c John E. Thurman,
A3c Valerian Ulinski,
Ae3 Bobby R. Wilson,
A1c William H. Wimbish.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-60-BW Superfortress near Gangneung: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-69802
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Kadena - Kadena
MSN:
10634
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The heavy bomber left Kadena AFB on a bombing mission over North Korea. En route, the crew encountered severe icing conditions and the aircraft went of control and crashed in a mountainous area located about 34 km southwest of Gangneung. A crew member was rescued while 11 other were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Merle T. Ayers, †
1st Lt John L. Dreese, †
M/Sgt Alphonse Gerrato Jr.,
M/Sgt Ralph R. Heath, †
1st Lt Raymond B. Houston, †
A2c George D. Jones Jr., †
A2c Jimmie L. Kahanek, †
A2c James McCormick, †
A1c Richard T. Michel, †
Cpt John L. Roberts, †
Maj Earl J. Sanders Jr., †
A2c Amos C. Temples. †
Probable cause:
It was reported that the loss of control was caused by an excessive accumulation of ice on wings in flight.

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver near Chuncheon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
51-16470
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
223
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into a mountainous area located about 10 km south of Chuncheon. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
Cpt Clyde J. Behney.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-65-BN Stratofortress in Daegu: 12 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-62167
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
11644
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
On final approach to Daegu Airport, the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around when the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed in a mountainous area located 6 km northeast of the airfield. All 12 crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Bernard E. Barnes,
1st Lt John H. Buckley,
A2c Donald H. Buss,
2nd Lt William F. Hill,
M/Sgt William D. King,
1st Lt Victor A. Koehler,
A2c John W. Maslin,
Cpt Robert W. McAnelly,
A2c John G. McMann,
A2c James C. Prasnikar,
Maj Hilliard M. Roper,
A1c Glen L. Slavicek.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Seoul

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-87210
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
8469
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing on a wet runway, the twin engine aircraft slipped, went out of control and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Suwon

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
43-48077
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13893/25338
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the aircraft suffered a double engine failure. All occupants bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed near Suwon. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5S2 Mariner on Paengyong-do Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59277
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
59277
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While performing a maritime patrol flight over the Yellow Sea, the aircraft was attacked by the pilots of two Chinese AF MiG-15. The pilot-in-command was able to evacuate the combat zone and completed an emergency landing on the Paengyong-do Island. Two crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Attacked by two Chinese AF MiG-15.