Region
Asia

Crash of a Boeing B-29-50-MO Superfortress in Kadena AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-86328
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:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reasons. A crew member was killed while ten others were rescued. Two rescuers also died during the rescue operations.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-14-FA Flying Boxcar in Ashiya

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
49-0145
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10382
YOM:
1949
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119B Flying Boxcar in Ashiya

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
48-0353
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10335
YOM:
1948
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-25-BN Superfortress off Kadena AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-94072
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
7479
YOM:
1942
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
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.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in Osaka: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72583
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10688
YOM:
1945
Location:
Osaka-Itami
Kansai
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Osaka-Itami Airport, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed 7 km from the airport. All 11 occupants were killed, among them three journalists from the American News Agency INS (International News Service). They were en route to South Korea.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-50-DL Invader in Miho

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-34279
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
27558
YOM:
1944
Location:
Miho
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Iwakuni AFB on a flight from Korea. In the region of Miho, the airplane ran out of fuel and the crew was forced to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed on a beach and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D off Oshima Island: 25 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1950 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-76439
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tokyo – Kagoshima – Okinawa
MSN:
16023/32771
YOM:
1945
Location:
Ōshima Island
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Twenty minutes after its departure from Tokyo-Haneda Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 3,500 feet in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control, went into a dive and crashed into the sea about 10 miles south of the Oshima Island. A passenger was rescued while all 25 other occupants were killed when the aircraft sank to a depth of 1,500 meters. According to the testimony of the only survivor, the aircraft encountered turbulences while flying into adverse weather conditions and thunderstorm activity. Several electrical problems occurred with the light coming on and off in the cabin shortly before the aircraft became out of control.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-15-DC Skymaster in Kadena AFB

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
43-17221
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
22171
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
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.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-55-BN Superfortress off Dōgo Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-61923
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
11400
YOM:
1944
Location:
Dōgo Island
Chūgoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to a bombing mission in the Korean War and was enroute to Korea with a load of bomb on board. While cruising in a formation of several B-29 bombers, the crew encountered an engine failure and the captain decided to return to his base. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, it was decided to jettison the bombs. A 500 pounds bomb hung up in the racks and while attempting to release the bomb, it detonated either within the bomb bay or immediately beneath the belly of the plane. Out of control, the aircraft christened 'Hoxie's Hoax' crashed into the Japan Sea off the Dōgo Island. Seven crew members were killed while five others were rescued in their dinghy about two days later.
Crew (325th BS):
S/Sgt Gilbert Bear,
1st Lt Neil A. Chapman, †
S/Sgt Claude M. Engler Jr., †
Cpt Thomas Hoxie,
S/Sgt Jesse M. Hughes, †
Cpt Leo F. McGeough, †
1st Lt Donald D. Miller,
S/Sgt Robert R. O'Daniel Jr., †
Cpt Allan Thomas,
Cpl Jerry Ursini, †
Sgt Harrison Utz,
S/Sgt Kenneth P. Wallan. †
Probable cause:
Detonation of a bomb.

Crash of a Douglas A26B-61-DL Invader off Ashiya AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-34478
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
27757
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Ashiya AFB following a bombing mission of a railroad located 20 miles north of Seoul, South Korea. On final approach in bad weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea, killing both crew members.
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