Crash of a Boeing B-29A-70-BN Superfortress in Flushing: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-62215
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Griffiss
MSN:
11692
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission from Minneapolis to Griffiss AFB when an engine failed in flight. All eight occupants decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a field located one mile southeast of Flushing, Michigan. Seven crew members were evacuated while the eight occupant died as his parachute failed to open.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-45-DT Invader in Neubiberg AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-35667
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Neubiberg - Neubiberg
MSN:
28946
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Neubiberg Airbase. A crew member was killed while two others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-66-DL Invader near Kanggye: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1951 at 2150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-34704
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
27983
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night intruder mission over North Korea. While flying between the cities of Kujang and Kanggye, the crew completed his last radio contact at 2150LT while approaching the target area. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances and no trace of it nor the crew was found.
Crew:
Cpt Jack M. Beeson,
T/Sgt John E. Grabosky,
1st Lt Martin R. Roberts.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-97-BW Superfortress in Barksdale AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-21745
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Barksdale - Barksdale
MSN:
13639
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful training mission, the crew was returning to his base in Barksdale and completed the approach by night. On final, the heavy bomber hit the roof of a house and crashed onto it about 1,2 mile short of runway 15. Four crew members were killed while nine others were injured. The couple who was sleeping in the house at the time of the accident was evacuated safely.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-61-DL Invader in Pyongyang: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1951 at 1455 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-34514
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
27793
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching the target in Pyongyang, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. Apparently, two crew members survived while the third occupant was killed. Last contact at 1455LT.
Crew:
A1c William R. Hylicord,
1st Lt Henry D. Miller, †
1st Lt Harold A. Steiner.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-13-FA Flying Boxcar off Ashiya AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1951
Operator:
Registration:
49-0130
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10367
YOM:
1949
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On final approach to Ashiya AFB, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea few km north of the airfield. A crew member was rescued while four other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-60-BN Stratofortress off Lajes: 16 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-62078
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
11555
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
16
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Lajes Airbase, while in initial climb, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed into the sea few hundred yards off shore. No survivors was found among the 16 occupants who were returning home for Christmas after a three month period of training in England. The airplane was performing a flight from UK to Florida with an intermediate stop in Lajes, Azores Islands, for refueling.
Probable cause:
Loss of control shortly after rotation due to strong winds.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL near Riboux: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1951 at 1945 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-100488
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
18951
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Sainte-Baume Mountain range, about a mile north of Riboux. The wreckage was found two days later about 30 km east of Marseille and all 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Peter Joseph Brylinski Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Bernard Shephard Strongren,
1st Lt Donald Denzil Wright,
T/Sgt James R. Gallentine,
T/Sgt William I. Lawson,
T/Sgt Fred Richard Linn,
Pvt Patric Eugene O'Riley,
Maj Merton Paul Kilgore,
Cpt Harold Edward Peterson.
Passenger:
John P. Hawkins.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in the San Gabriel Mountains: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1951 at 1945 LT
Operator:
Registration:
45-0931
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Norton - Long Beach
MSN:
16934/34193
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Norton AFB in San Bernardino at 1930LT on a short flight to Long Beach, carrying three passengers and two pilots. Fifteen minutes after takeoff, while cruising in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the San Gabriel Mountains, north of Ontario. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was eventually found on June 12, 1952 in an uninhabited area. It was reported that the aircraft was off the intended course at the time of the accident.
Crew:
1st Lt Willard H. Cooke Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Collin L. Campbell, copilot.
Passengers:
Cpt William Kaitner,
T/Sgt John S. Vallery,
S/Sgt Harry E. Gideon.
Photos: www.aircraftwrecks.com

Crash of a Boeing B-29-35-MO Superfortress in Kadena AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-27314
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Less than three minutes after takeoff from Kadena AFB, bound for Korea, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed in a field located 8 km east of the airbase. Nine crew members were killed while three others were injured.
Crew:
1st Lt Howard T. Coyler, †
Cpl Louis S. Dent Jr.,
S/Sgt George E. Evenskaas, †
Sgt H. J. Groves,
1st Lt David H. Hogan, †
1st Lt Ralph U. Hooper, †
S/Sgt Robert L. Kaufman, †
Cpl Charles E. Lint,
1st Lt William L. McLain Jr., †
1st Lt Raymond J. Rood, †
Maj George R. Salisbury, †
Sgt Sherrill L. Stokes. †
Probable cause:
Engine failure shortly after takeoff.