Country
Japan
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Okinawa

Crash of a Fairchild R4Q-1 Flying Boxcar off Naha: 26 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1958 at 1945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
128741
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Subic Bay – Naha
MSN:
10570
YOM:
1950
Location:
Naha
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
The crew left Subic Bay (Cubi Point NAS) bound for Naha, in formation with a reconnaissance Douglas AD-6 Skyraider registered 135350 and carrying one pilot. While approaching Naha Airport, at an altitude of 1,500 feet, both aircraft collided and crashed into the sea about 6,5 km from the airfield. All 26 occupants were killed as well as the Skyraider's pilot.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot of the Skyraider may have lost control of his aircraft following atmospheric turbulences in marginal weather conditions. Also, it is believed he failed to follow several procedures while flying in formation probably after suffering a spatial disorientation combined to an intense fatigue. Experts consider that the crew of the Flying Boxcar also have a certain part of responsibility because he failed to observe a sufficient safe distance between both aircraft and failed to prevent any possible collision. Following this accident, all crew must observe a minimum safe distance of 1,000 feet while flying in formation.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-40-BN Superfortress in Naha: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-61677
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kadena - Kadena
MSN:
11154
YOM:
1944
Location:
Naha
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training sortie out from Kadena AFB. After completing low-level maneuvers, the crew was trying to get height when, flying in clouds, the airplane struck a hill located 5 km southeast of Naha. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all ten crew members were killed.
Crew (581st Air Resupply Group):
Victor C. Marston 9.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-5 in Okinawa: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
127751
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
426-5085
Location:
Okinawa
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Engaged in a maritime patrol flight, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located on Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands). All 11 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-45-BN Stratofortress off Kadena: 11 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-61751
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kadena - Kadena
MSN:
11228
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While approaching Kadena AFB, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea about 14,5 km northwest of the airbase. Intensive SAR operations were conducted and three crew members were rescued while 11 others were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Donald L. Adams, †
2nd Lt Michael Bochnovic, †
1st Lt Gordon N. Froisness, †
Cpt Robert G. Harvey, †
2nd Lt John H. Haun, †
A2c Robert Q. Hopkins, †
1st Lt James E. Knox,
A1c Edward B. Lemaster III,
A2c Harry T. Peoples Jr., †
1st Lt Robert F. Phalen, †
A2c Charles H. Rees,
A1c Jimmy C. Sides, †
M/Sgt Marvin E. Sleppy, †
A2c Donald H. Wilson. †
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was caused by the simultaneous failure of three engine due to a fuel starvation.

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

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-27314
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
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-50-BN Superfortress off Izenajima Island: 12 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-61835
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
11312
YOM:
1944
Location:
Izenajima Island
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Kadena Airbase, bound for Korea, an explosion occurred on the engine number three. The pilot-in-command elected to return to his base when the right wing was blown off. Out of control, the aircraft crashed into the sea about 65 km north of Kadena and 15 km west of Izenajima Island. Three crew members were rescued while 12 others were killed.
Crew:
M/Sgt Flyod D. Ashcraft, †
Maj George T. Barrentine, †
S/Sgt Arthur J. Bowden, †
1st Lt Harold I. Daily,
Cpt James F. Dale, †
1st Lt Ben P. Levy, †
Cpl James B. Murray, †
S/Sgt Carl J. Panepinto, †
1st Lt James J. Parkman,
Cpl Charles O. Parr, †
Cpl Edmond M. Rohan, †
1st Lt Winfred L. Ruble, †
Cpt Harold R. Sproul, †
1st Lt Willis E. Umholtz,
2nd Lt Gene E. Wright. †
Probable cause:
Explosion of the engine number 3 in flight and right wing blown off.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-25-MO Superfortress in Kadena AFB

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-65306
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all six crew members were rescued.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-90-BW Superfortress in Naha

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
45-21725
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13619
YOM:
1945
Location:
Naha
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed in bad weather. A crew member was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
T/Sgt James H. Ammons,
Cpt F. N. U. Aurigemma,
2nd Lt Paul E. Carter,
S/Sgt Robert P. Creamer,
Cpt Peter Dempsey,
Cpl Harry A. Grainger,
S/Sgt Richard E. Hood,
1st Lt Paul J. James Jr.,
1st Lt Wager J. Krarup,
T/Sgt Roy R. Reed,
S/Sgt Malcolm R. Willson.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-30-MO Superfortress in Kadena AFB

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-65369
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
One of the main landing gear failed on touchdown. The aircraft went out of control and came to rest in flames. All 14 crew members were rescued and some of them were injured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Crew:
1st Lt Henry Anderson,
1st Lt Charles Banchiera,
Cpl Edward F. Clements,
Cpt Jack W. Frost,
Sgt Floyd T. Hobbs Jr.,
M/Sgt Owen M. King,
1st Lt Paul D. Lehman,
1st Lt Francis J. Liberatore,
1st Charles W. Matt,
1st Lt Pieere E. Nys,
S/Sgt John L. O'Flynn,
Cpt Stanley Prawdzik,
Cpl Thomas H. Protiva Jr.,
Sgt John B. Tutt.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage failure on landing.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK in Kadena AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48483
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14299/25744
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kadena AFB, while returning from Korea, the pilot in command decided to attempt a go around for unknown reason. He increased power on both engines when one of them failed. The airplane stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway. A crew member was killed while both other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
1st Lt Ezekial P. Bass Jr.,
S/Sgt William L. Coleman Jr., †
1st Lt Kenneth E. Ensign.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reason.
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