United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While taking off at Cape Newenham Airfield, the aircraft suffered technical problems and crashed. It was damaged beyond repair while the pilot Herbert W. Kent survived.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-55-MO Superfortress into the Japan Sea: 14 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Operator:

Registration:

44-86415

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Kadena - Kadena

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a leaflet mission when he encountered technical problems with the engine. The pilot elected to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the Japan Sea. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 14 crew members was found.

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

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1951 at 1532 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

44-34750

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

27929

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a reconnaissance mission, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Wonju. Last radio contact at 1532LT. Two crew survived while three others were killed.
Crew:
Cpt David C. Hearn, †
1st Lt William J. Lewis,
1st Frederick P. Pelser,
Sgt Frank Stefas, †
Cpt Charles F. Wright. †

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-50-DL Invader near Yangdŏk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1951 at 0055 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

44-34314

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

27593

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying at low height, the twin engine aircraft was hit by antiaircraft fire and crashed in a mountainous region located about 16 km northwest of Yangdŏk. Three crew members were killed while a fourth became POW.
Crew:
Cpt Philip W. Browning, †
M/Sgt George Morar,
1st Lt William D. Mulkins, †
Cpt John S. Walmsley Jr. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-40-MO Superfortress in Daegu: 14 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Operator:

Registration:

44-27326

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Daegu Airport in reduced visibility, the heavy bomber hit a mountain and crashed 5 km east of the airport. All 14 crew members were killed.
Crew:
M/Sgt Michael A. Bakich,
Cpl Ronald F. Brodeur,
1st Lt Donald D. Brown,
T/Sgt Donald V. Capron,
2nd Lt Jack Carrara,
Cpl Raymond L. Clayton,
Sgt Gerald K. Findel,
Pfc Wallace D. Hande,
Cpt Albert McNeeley,
1st Lt Warren L. Morgan,
Cpl Richard J. Pereira,
2nd Lt Robert D. Peterson,
2nd Lt Malcolm L. Rush,
Cpl John Spann.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-35-DL Invader near Kumchon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

41-39441

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

7154

YOM:

1941

Location:

Kumchon

North Hwanghae (황해북도)

Country:

North Korea

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While engaged in a night intruder mission, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the early hours near Kumchon. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant became a POW.
Crew:
1st LT Rolan M. Akin,
S/Sgt Norman G. Davis, †
1st Lt Albert P. Derosier. †

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan in Memphis

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan

Operator:

Registration:

43-10447

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

6521

YOM:

1943

Location:

Memphis

Tennessee

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed half a mile north of Memphis Airport shortly after takeoff. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-95-VE Flying Fortress near Talkeetna: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

44-85505

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Elmendorf – Fort Wainwright

MSN:

8414

YOM:

1944

Location:

Talkeetna

Alaska

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances ten miles northwest of Talkeetna while on a flight from Elmendorf AFB to Fort Wainwright (Ladd Army Airfield) in Fairbanks. A crew member was killed while six others were injured. The wreckage was removed by Champaign Aviation Museum in July 2011 for use on 44-85813 restoration.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D near Chuncheon

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

45-1089

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

17092/34359

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances 9 km southeast of Chuncheon.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D off Tsushima

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-49261

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

15077/26522

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, an engine failed. The crew decided to ditch the aircraft 34 km east of Tsushima. While all occupants were rescued, the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.