Region
Asia

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-55-DT Invader on Ōshima Island

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-35942
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
29221
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ōshima Island
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to a fuel exhaustion. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

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 Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando on Mt Tanazawa: 14 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77713
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Atsuji – Tachikawa
MSN:
33109
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Tanazawa
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
While approaching Tachikawa AFB runway 19, the airplane hit the slope of Mt Tanazawa located 28 km northwest of the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed and all 14 crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Gordon G. Bell,
S/Sgt Paul Bettman,
2nd Lt Charles A. Brewer,
Cpt John W. Brown,
Maj Wallace E. Crawford,
M/Sgt Michael A. Doherty,
T/Sgt James T. Lilley,
Cpt William E. Maher,
Lt Gerald A. Martin,
Pfc Cruz J. Martinez,
Cpl Dario C. Monza,
T/Sgt Donovan C. Morrison,
Sgt Thomas A. Mulhern,
2nd Lt Lawrence J. Sassu.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-15-FA Flying Boxcar in Tachikawa AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
49-0169
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ashiya – Tachikawa
MSN:
10406
YOM:
1949
Location:
Tachikawa AFB (Tokyo)
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tachikawa AFB, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located about 6 km from the runway 19 threshold. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Lynuel Bevers,
2nd Lt Joseph E. Binns,
Sgt Ernest D. Carrara,
2nd Lt Eugene H. Class,
T/Sgt Jack Davis.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D off Tsushima

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49261
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
15077/26522
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tsushima
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, an engine failed. The crew decided to ditch the aircraft 34 km east of Tsushima. While all occupants were rescued, the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2S Privateer on Atata Island: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Registration:
59992
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
59992
YOM:
1943
Location:
Iwakuni AFB
Chūgoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Iwakuni Airbase, while climbing, the aircraft hit the top of a hill located on the Atata Island, about 6 km northeast of the airbase. All nine crew members were killed.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5S Mariner on Okurokami Island: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
84691
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
84691
Location:
Okurokami Island
Chūgoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While descending to Iwakuni AFB in poor weather conditions, the seaplane hit the slope of a mountain and crashed on the Okurokami Island located about 15 km east of the airfield. All 12 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-14-FA Flying Boxcar near Atsugi

Date & Time: May 24, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
49-0153
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
10390
YOM:
1949
Location:
Atsugi NAS
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A structural failure occurred in flight, forcing the crew to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. All occupants survived while the aircraft dove into the ground and was destroyed upon impact.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off Iwakuni AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
84663
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Iwakuni - Iwakuni
MSN:
84663
Location:
Iwakuni AFB
Chūgoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training sortie at Iwakuni AFB. While over the Aki-nada Sea, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot in command lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea few km off the airbase. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

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.
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