Kadena AFB

Crashed in unknown circumstances five miles off Kadena AFB, Okinawa, and sank by 200 feet. Three crew members were rescued while eight others were killed.

On landing, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

The crew left Kadena AFB on a mission over South Korea. While cruising in the region of Seoul, the heavy bomber was attacked by the pilots of three North Korean AF (KPAFAC) Yakovlev Yak-9. The crew was able to leave the area and while over the Yellow Sea, was forced to abandon the airplane that dove into the sea and crashed. All 13 occupants were rescued. This was the first B-29 Superfortress shot down by enemy fire during the Korean War.

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Pacific Ocean about 140 miles southeast of Guam Island. Three crew members were killed while eight others were rescued.

Following an uneventful mission, the crew was returning to Kadena AFB, Okinawa, when on approach, he was unable to lower the undercarriage. After several trials, the crew decided to leave the area and went over the East China Sea to abandon the aircraft. After all crew members bailed out, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star and crashed into the sea. All occupants were rescued.

The crew was performing a flight from Clark AFB in Manila to Tachikawa AFB in Tokyo with an intermediate stop in Kadena AFB, Okinawa. On the second leg, while approaching Tachikawa AFB by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain falls. While descending to an altitude of 5,000 feet, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of the Mt Hirugatake (1,279 meters high) located 34 km southwest of the Tachikawa AFB. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 35 occupants were killed.

While cruising over the Pacific Ocean on a flight from Kadena to Spokane, the crew encountered technical problems and informed ATC he would attempt an emergency landing. The pilot ditched the aircraft about 1,206 miles southwest of Hawaii. SAR operations were conducted and rescuers arrived on site about forty hours later. Thirty-three people were evacuated while four others were killed.

The aircraft left Tachikawa AFB in Tokyo at 1212LT on a ferry flight to Kadena AFB, Okinawa. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended one week later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
Cpl Wesley L. Connett Jr.,
1st Lt Floyd G. Levy,
Cpl Harry L. Proctor,
F/Lt Samuel J. Valerio.