Region
Asia

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 A-26B-50-DL Invader in Iwakuni AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-34253
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
27532
YOM:
1944
Location:
Iwakuni AFB
Chūgoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Iwakuni AFB, the aircraft went out of control and crashed three km short of runway threshold, killing both crew members who were returning to Japan following a mission in Korea.
Crew:
1st Lt Karl E. Gallagher Jr.,
Maj Joseph H. Stein.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-61-DL Invader in Miho

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-34572
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
27851
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:
While taking part to a mission in the Korean War, the twin engine aircraft was hit by enemy fire. The crew was able to evacuate the target area and to return to Miho Airport, but on landing, the airplane went out of control and crashed. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

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.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-50-DL Invader off Iwakuni AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-34218
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
27497
YOM:
1944
Location:
Iwakuni AFB
Chūgoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On approach to Iwakuni AFB, while returning from the Korea War Front, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea few km off shore. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando in Iwakuni AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-78257
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Daegu - Iwakuni
MSN:
33653
YOM:
1945
Location:
Iwakuni AFB
Chūgoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Iwakuni AFB, the aircraft was too low and hit the slope of a mountain 6,5 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all three crew members were killed. They were returning to Japan following a supply mission in Daegu, South Korea.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2S Privateer in Atsugi NAS

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Registration:
66267
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
66267
YOM:
1944
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:
Swerved on landing and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-6 in Ashiya

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
17267
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14325/25770
YOM:
1944
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:
Crash landed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-65-BA Superfortress in Iruma AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-84124
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Iruma AFB (Johnson AFB), Sayama
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, both right engines number three and four failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located five km southeast of the airbase. Three crew members were killed while eight others were seriously injured. It is reported that the electrical system failed as well.
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