Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan in Colima

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1950 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan
Operator:
Registration:
BHB-1517
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3970
YOM:
1943
Location:
Colima
Colima
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the left main gear hit a rock and was torn off. The left wing dropped, causing the left propeller to hit the ground. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest. While all five occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner into the South China Sea: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
84769
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
84769
Location:
South China Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The seaplane was returning to its base following a maritime patrol flight off the Korean coast. While overflying the South China Sea, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances about 250 km east of Hong Kong. The aircraft sank and was lost and all 12 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax Met.6 on Achill Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1950 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
RG843
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Belfast - Belfast
Location:
Achill Island
Connacht
Country:
Ireland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Belfast-Aldergrove Airport following an uneventful meteorological mission over the Atlantic Ocean. While approaching the Achill Island, the crew informed ground that the mission was over. Shortly later, the crew encountered poor visibility with foggy conditions when the aircraft hit the slope of the Mt Croaghan located on Achill Island. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (202nd Squadron):
Ernest George Hopgood, pilot,
Michael William Horsley, copilot,
Joseph Kevin Brown, navigator,
Harold Shaw, flight engineer,
Cornelius Joseph Rogan, signaler,
Martin Gilmartin, air gunner,
James Charles Lister, observer,
Bernard Francis McKenna, airman.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was flying at an insufficient altitude at the time of the accident, maybe because the crew was unaware of his real position. Poor visibility due to fog was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-10-BN Superfortress into the East China Sea

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-93903
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kadena - Kadena
MSN:
7310
YOM:
1942
Location:
East China Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
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.

Crash of a Boeing RB-29A-30-BN Superfortress into the North Sea: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-94081
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Sculthorpe - Sculthorpe
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Sea, about 100 km northeast of RAF Sculthorpe, Norfolk, while on a maritime patrol flight. Two crew members were rescued while 11 others were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer off Liepaja: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Registration:
59645
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Wiesbaden - Wiesbaden
MSN:
59645
YOM:
1943
Location:
Liepaja
Courland (Kurzeme)
Country:
Latvia
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane left Wiesbaden Airport in Germany for an electronic surveillance mission over the Baltic Sea to localize Soviet submarines. While cruising over the Baltic Sea, the aircraft was intercepted and shot down by the pilots of four Soviet Air Force Lavochkin La-11. Out of control, it crashed into the sea about 16 km off Liepaja, Latvia. All 10 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by four pilots of the Soviet Air Force.

Ground explosion of a Short S.25 Sunderland GR.5 in Singapore: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
SZ573
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Singapore - Singapore
Location:
Singapore-Seletar
Singapore
Country:
Singapore
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While parked in the harbor in Singapore-Seletar Airport, ready for departure, the aircraft was destroyed by the explosion of a bomb and sank in 30 feet. A crew member and a passenger were killed while nine other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off Galveston: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
84704
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Galveston
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While performing a maritime patrol flight over the Gulf of Mexico, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances off the Texas coasts. Debris were found few days later on a beach near Galveston. All nine crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D near Whitehorse

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1950 at 1245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
45-1037
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
17040/34306
YOM:
1945
Location:
Whitehorse
Yukon
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
3558
Circumstances:
The aircraft and its crew were involved in a SAR mission after a USAF C-54 was missing in the region of Snag, Yukon, since last January 26. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and while flying near a mountain slope, the aircraft was caught by downdrafts and crashed on a snowy and rocky ground. All 10 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned on site.
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Crash of a Fairchild C-82A-5-FA Packet in Selfridge AFB

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-82 Packet
Operator:
Registration:
44-22986
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10030
YOM:
1944
Location:
Selfridge ANGB (Mt Clemens)
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was returning to Selfridge AFB after taking part to a SAR mission following the USAF C-54 missing since January 26 over Yukon. Upon landing, an undercarriage failed. The aircraft slid on its belly and came to rest. There were no casualties.
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