Crash of a Boeing B-29A-60-BN Superfortress near Pyongyang: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-62011
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11488
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shot down by the pilots of Soviet AF MiG-15 and crashed about 40 km north of Pyongyang. It is believed that seven crew members were killed while five others became POW.
Crew:
1st Lt Harold Copland,
M/Sgt Patrick M. Differ, †
1st Lt Robert R. Foster, †
2nd Lt David T. Heer, †
A1c Rudolf Nikles, †
A2c Damian F. O'Toole, †
1st Lt Otho A. Orr,
1st Lt Harry M. Rehm, †
A2c Daryl E. Rodney, †
A2c Donald G. Swalls,
A2c Leland H. Van Slyke,
1st Lt Paul I. Wilcox.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Soviet AF fighter.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-50-DL Invader in North Korea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1952 at 1835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-34317
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
27596
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Last radio contact at 1835LT then disappeared without trace.
Crew:
1st Lt Norman E. Bowen,
1st Lt Howard A. Hayes,
A1c Daniel Jack,
Cpt Ernest C. Swanson.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D into the Tokyo Bay

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
43-49084
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
14900/26345
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Inbound from Korea, the crew was descending to Tachikawa AFB when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Tokyo Bay. The aircraft was lost and all four crew members were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas C-124A-DL Globemaster II in Larson AFB: 87 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1952 at 0627 LT
Operator:
Registration:
50-0100
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Larson - Kelly
MSN:
43238
YOM:
1950
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
105
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
87
Captain / Total flying hours:
2775
Captain / Total hours on type:
137.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2007
Copilot / Total hours on type:
388
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Korea with veterans on board flying back home for Christmas holidays. On behalf of the Tactical Air Command, the four engine airplane was scheduled to make enroute stops in Larson AFB, Washington, Kelly AFB, Texas, Tennessee and South Carolina with Florida as its final destination. The takeoff from Larson AFB was started in light snow conditions. After liftoff, while climbing to a height of 100 feet, the aircraft banked left, causing the left wing to hit the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion in a field located past the runway end. Five crew members and 82 passengers were killed while 28 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed. At the time it occurred, this accident was the deadliest in aviation history.
Crew list and details:
http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/airplane_crashes/globemaster_larson/p_globemaster.htm
Probable cause:
It was determined that the cause of the accident was the failure of the pilot to remove the rudder and elevator locking pin prior to take off. For undetermined reason, the crew failed to follow the pre-departure checklist.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-50-DT Invader in Gunsan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-35869
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gunsan - Gunsan
MSN:
29148
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The takeoff roll was abandoned for unknown reason. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was injured.
Crew:
A1c Thomas J. Condron, †
1st Lt Abner L. Wilkerson.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D near Wells: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
43-49553
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Peterson - Reno
MSN:
15369/26814
YOM:
1944
Location:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While overflying a mountainous area located south of Wells, the crew encountered extreme turbulences and severe downdrafts. The aircraft lost height and eventually hit the east slope of Mt East Humbold, about 13 miles southwest of Wells. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
While flying under IFR, the pilot did not maintain sufficient drift correction to stay within the airway, and extreme downdrafts caused the aircraft to descend approximately 1,300 feet below the assigned altitude.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-15-DT Invader in North Korea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1952 at 2134 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
43-22390
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
18537
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shot down by antiaircraft fire and crashed. No trace of the three crew members was found. Last radio contact at 2134LT.
Crew:
Mike B. Alexander,
Maj Theodore H. Kuch Jr.,
Clarence Mosley.
Probable cause:
Shot down by antiaircraft fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D on Mt San Gorgonio: 13 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
45-1124
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Offutt - March
MSN:
17127/34394
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions on a flight from Offutt AFB to March AFB, the airplane hit the slope of Mt San Gorgonio located about 29 miles northeast of March AFB. The wreckage was spotted few hours later and all 13 occupants have been killed. Four days later, a US Marine Corps' Sikorsky crashed in the same area while taking part to the rescue operations, killing two of its three crew members.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47D in Harrisburg

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
44-76344
Flight Type:
MSN:
15928/32676
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed.