Crash of a Boeing B-29A-25-BN Superfortress in Namsi: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-94045
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
7452
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While engaged in a bombing mission over the Namsi Airfield, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Soviet MiG-15 and crashed. Ten crew members were killed while three others were taken POW.
Crew:
A2C James A. Gallant, †
A3C Melvin B. Hays, †
2nd Lt John J. Horner, †
2nd Lt Laurence H. Hudson, †
Pfc Gerald E. Johnson,
T/Sgt Johnny M. Johnson,
Cpt Robert M. Krumm, †
A3C Israel Marshall Jr., †
A1C Ernest R. McAdoo, †
T/Sgt Quentin L. Newswanger, †
Cpt John M. Nutting, †
Pfc Jess A. Osborne Jr.,
1st Lt Conrad F. Poynor. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a Soviet MiG-15.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-40-BN Superfortress into the Yellow Sea

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-61656
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11133
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a bombing mission over the Taechon Airport in North Korea, the bomber was attacked by 2 or 3 MiG's at 1517LT. The engine number one failed and the hydraulic system went out. The pilot was able to leave the combat area but eventually, all 12 crew members abandoned the aircraft that crashed into the Yellow Sea. The airplane was lost while all 12 occupants were rescued. Two of them were wounded.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fighter.

Crash of a Boeing C-97A Stratofreighter in Kelly AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1951
Operator:
Registration:
48-0413
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kelly - Kelly
MSN:
16025
YOM:
1948
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
At liftoff, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames on the edge of the runway. Four crew members were killed while two others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-55-DL Invader in Gunsan AFB

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-34357
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
27636
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing and was destroyed by fire. All three crew members were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK in the Everglades

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1951
Operator:
Registration:
43-49040
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
26301
YOM:
1944
Location:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine caught fire in flight and as the crew was unable to extinguish the fire, he decided to bail out and abandon the aircraft that crashed into the Everglades National Park, about 18 miles northwest of Miami. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all five occupants were rescued 12 hours later.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Boeing C-97A Stratofreighter into the Atlantic Ocean: 12 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1951
Operator:
Registration:
49-2602
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Frankfurt – Lajes – Westover
MSN:
16224
YOM:
1949
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Frankfurt-Main Airport at 0936LT on October 14 bound for Lajes where it landed at 1603LT. After refueling, the airplane left Lajes at 1851LT bound for Westover AFB, Massachusetts. About an hour later, the crew informed ground about technical problems with radio compas and radio altimeters and decided to return to Lajes where it landed safely at 2019LT. According to duty time and rest time, the crew decided to pass the overnight in Lajes and took off on October 15 at 0843LT bound for the US. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but were eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Probable cause:
In absence of evidences, the exact cause of the accident remains unknown.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-40-MO Superfortress in Yokota AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-86273
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Following a combat mission on the Korean War front, the aircraft was returning to Yokota AFB in Tokyo with one engine inoperative. On final approach, the airplane was unstable and the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around when the aircraft stalled and crashed few dozen yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and nine crew members were killed, five others were injured.
Crew:
Maj Lawrence W. Beal, †
1st Lt Ralph L. Borum, †
Sgt Albert A. Hawkins,
1st Lt Warren L. Hildebrandt, †
Pvt Elijah Lewis,
S/Sgt Philip W. Mantor, †
1st Lt Kenneth C. Mason, †
S/Sgt William H. McNutt, †
Sgt Garnet R. Morris,
2nd Lt Marquis H. Oracion, †
1st Lt Richard R. Stimer,
1st Lt Arthur A. Trautmann, †
Sgt Joe B. Whitener Jr., †
1st Lt Wesley A. Winston.

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

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-35675
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Suwon - Suwon
MSN:
28954
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to his base at Suwon following a night reconnaissance and photo mission. On final approach in poor weather conditions, the aircraft was too low and crashed short of runway. A crew member was killed while two others were injured.
Crew:
1st Lt Britton E. Cranfill Jr.,
1st Lt John W. Miller, †
1st Lt Joseph B. Parker.

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

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-47140
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
8399
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Godman AAF, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located 2,5 miles northwest of the airport. All three crew members who were performing a local training flight were killed in the accident.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-55-DT Invader on Ōshima Island

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-35942
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
29221
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to a fuel exhaustion. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.