Crash of a Boeing KB-29-65-BW Superfortress in Lajes: 16 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-69875
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Barksdale - Lajes
MSN:
10707
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lajes
Azores Islands
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
16
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
On approach to Lajes, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed. All 16 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Lowry AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49496
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15312/26757
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lowry AFB (Denver)
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in Lowry AFB while landing in poor weather conditions. At least one crew member was killed in the accident.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson near Volos: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
PH864
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Volos
Thessaly / Θεσσαλία
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While flying in clouds, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and crashed about 11 km northeast of Volos. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Georgetown: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1950 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-105
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rathmines – Townsville – Darwin
MSN:
1956
YOM:
1944
Location:
Georgetown
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On the leg from Townsville to Darwin, while cruising 30 km from Georgetown, the flight engineer informed the pilot about a fuel leak on the left engine. The captain decided to divert to Georgetown Airport for an emergency landing but on final, the seaplane was unstable, banking left and right. The pilot increased power on the right engine and attempted a go around when the aircraft banked right, stalled, overturned and crashed in flames in a field located about 5 km from the airport. Five crew members were killed instantly while two others were seriously injured. One of the survivors died from his injuries few hours later.
Crew:
F/Lt David Northey, pilot, †
John Gilbert Humprey Alexander, pilot, †
Leo Maurice Sattler, pilot, †
Alexander John Brown, navigator, †
Frank Slater, flight engineer,
Maurice Henry Wood, flight engineer, †
William Bedford, wireless operator. †
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine caused by a fuel leak.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Minneapolis

Date & Time: May 5, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77692
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
33088
YOM:
1945
Location:
Minneapolis
Minnesota
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Minneapolis-St Paul-Wold-Chamberlain Field Airport, while climbing in poor weather conditions, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest with the left engine on fire. All 31 occupants were able to vacate the cabin and there were no injuries. The aircraft christened 'The Haylift Express' was damaged beyond repair. All passengers were members of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) of the University of Minnesota.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK Dakota C.4 in Habbaniya AFB

Date & Time: May 3, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN543
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16399/33147
YOM:
1945
Location:
Habbaniyah AFB
Al-Anbar (الأنبار)
Country:
Iraq
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Habbaniya AFB, both engines stopped simultaneously. The aircraft stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK Dakota III in Summerside

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KG317
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12314
YOM:
1944
Location:
Summerside
Prince Edward Island
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed. No casualties.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor near Piobbico: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Piobbico
Marche
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While flying in foggy conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Nerone located 4 km south of Piobbico. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Mr. Fasano, pilot,
Col De Qual,
Cpt Matera.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in Hartsville

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1950 at 1155 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72597
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
10702
YOM:
1945
Location:
Hartsville
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An in flight fire forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a field located in Hartsville, slid for several yards and came to rest in flames. All four crew members escaped without injuries while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-10-DC Skymaster on the Mt Hirugatake: 35 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1950 at 2325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72704
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Clark – Kadena – Tachikawa
MSN:
10809
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Hirugatake
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
While approaching Tachikawa AFB, the crew reported his position over the O-Shama radio range station at an altitude of 5,000 feet. Probably due to a navigation error, the aircraft was in reality 40 km more south of this position.
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