Crash of a Boeing B-29A-90-BW Superfortress near Randolph AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1952 at 1350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-87774
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Randolph - Randolph
MSN:
12577
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
At 1350 CST, 12 March 1952, two B-29 aircraft, AF No. 44-87774 and No. 44-62223, both assigned to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, were involved in a mid-air collision approximately 19 miles north of Randolph Air Force Base. Results of the collision were such that the tail section of the rammed aircraft, No. 44-62223, separated from the fuselage, rendering this aircraft uncontrollable. Portions of the ramming aircraft, No. 44-87774, found along the flight path following the collision, indicated a strong possibility that all personnel in the forward section of this aircraft were incapacitated. Both aircraft crashed with all personnel aboard.
Crew on board 44-87774 were:
M/Sgt Clyde L. Arnold, instructor engineer,
Cpl Wallace L. Bertog, flight engineer,
Pfc Donald L. Jameson, student gunner,
1st Lt Lester H. Johnson, pilot,
Pvt Sanford L. "Sandy" Kerner, student gunner,
Maj Robert W. Padgett, student aircraft commander,
Pfc William E. Reynolds, student gunner,
1st Lt Dale W. Scott, instructor pilot.
Crew on board 44-62223 were:
Pfc Arthur L. Hall, student gunner,
M/Sgt Ward W. Hovis, flight engineer,
Cpl Patrick H. Martin, instructor gunner,
M/Sgt Harrell B. Meyers, instructor engineer,
1st Lt Robert D. Neu, student aircraft commander,
Cpt Donald L. Rottier, instructor pilot,
1st Lt Moses G. Seals, pilot.
Source: http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the collision.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing TB-29A-70-BN Superfortress near Randolph AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1952 at 1350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-62223
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Randolph - Randolph
MSN:
11700
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
At 1350 CST, 12 March 1952, two B-29 aircraft, AF No. 44-87774 and No. 44-62223, both assigned to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, were involved in a mid-air collision approximately 19 miles north of Randolph Air Force Base. Results of the collision were such that the tail section of the rammed aircraft, No. 44-62223, separated from the fuselage, rendering this aircraft uncontrollable. Portions of the ramming aircraft, No. 44-87774, found along the flight path following the collision, indicated a strong possibility that all personnel in the forward section of this aircraft were incapacitated. Both aircraft crashed with all personnel aboard.
Crew on board 44-87774 were:
M/Sgt Clyde L. Arnold, instructor engineer,
Cpl Wallace L. Bertog, flight engineer,
Pfc Donald L. Jameson, student gunner,
1st Lt Lester H. Johnson, pilot,
Pvt Sanford L. "Sandy" Kerner, student gunner,
Maj Robert W. Padgett, student aircraft commander,
Pfc William E. Reynolds, student gunner,
1st Lt Dale W. Scott, instructor pilot.
Crew on board 44-62223 were:
Pfc Arthur L. Hall, student gunner,
M/Sgt Ward W. Hovis, flight engineer,
Cpl Patrick H. Martin, instructor gunner,
M/Sgt Harrell B. Meyers, instructor engineer,
1st Lt Robert D. Neu, student aircraft commander,
Cpt Donald L. Rottier, instructor pilot,
1st Lt Moses G. Seals, pilot.
Source: http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the collision.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-29-60-BW Superfortress off Kaesŏng: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-69803
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10635
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route, the airplane suffered engine problems and one of them caught fire. Apparently, seven crew members were able to bail out and were later rescued while five others were killed when the heavy bomber crashed into the sea few km west of Kaesŏng.
Crew:
S/Sgt Thomas C. Baker, †
Cpt Osborne T. Carlisle, †
1st Lt James W. Carney,
A2C Willard M. Denn, †
1st Lt Carl G. Happ Jr., †
Sgt James W. Hendricks,
Sgt Theodore G. Lincoln,
Cpt Joseph R. Manion,
1st Lt William R. Mowder,
2nd Lt Lawrence A. Nelson, †
Sgt Lloyd D. Smith,
S/Sgt Herbert Vonderkall.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-90-BW Superfortress in Yokota AFB: 18 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-21721
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
13615
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Yokota AFB, while climbing in snow falls, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion on several houses located about 5 km northwest of the airfield. All 13 crew members and five people on the ground were killed.
Crew:
Col John Grable, pilot,
2nd Lt Richard Johnson, pilot,
Cpt Robert Belcher, navigator,
T/Sgt Robert Crutchfield, flight engineer,
1st Lt Allen Frisbee Baker, bombardier,
Sgt Edward Caron, gunner,
Cpl Edward Ebehart, gunner,
Sgt Neal Heffernan, gunner,
1st Lt Robert Henry,
Cpl Owen J. Imsdahl,
Cpl Walter Setser,
Maj Daniel D. Smith Jr.,
M/Sgt Howard Thompson.

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.