Crash of a Douglas VC-47A-25-DK in Ankara

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1950
Operator:
Registration:
42-93509
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13429
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff following an engine failure. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-50A-10-BO Superfortress into the Choctawhatchee Bay: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
46-021
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Eglin - Eglin
MSN:
15741
YOM:
1947
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training sortie from Eglin AFB, Florida. En route, an engine failed, causing the aircraft to stall and crash into the Choctawhatchee Bay, about 2 miles northeast of the Okaloosa Island. Nine crew members were rescued while two other were killed.
Crew (3,200th BTS):
1st Lt Park R. Bidwell Jr, pilot,
1st Lt Vere Short, pilot,
1st Lt James S. Wigg, copilot,
Maj William C. McLaughlin, bombardier,
S/Sgt Clifford J. Gallipo,
M/Sgt Alton Howard,
M/Sgt William J. Almand,
T/Sgt Samuel G. Broke,
Cpl William F. Fitzpatrick,
M/Sgt Claude Dorman, †
S/Sgt William Thomas Bell. †
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-50A-30-BO Superfortress in Savannah: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1949 at 2117 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
47-110
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chatham – Biggs
MSN:
15794
YOM:
1947
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Five minutes after its takeoff from Chatham AFB, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a swampy area located along the Savannah River. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt George V. Scaringen, pilot,
Cpt. Andrew G. Walker, pilot,
Lt Rogers Hornsby Jr.,
1st Lt Robert W. Beckman, bombardier,
Cpt Anthony C. Colandro, radar navigator,
1st Lt James W. Johnson Jr., flight engineer,
T/Sgt Leonard B. Hughes, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Fred W. Cunningham, radio operator and gunner,
S/Sgt Manson L. Gregg, gunner,
S/Sgt Garnell W. Myers, gunner,
S/Sgt Billy C. Bristol, gunner.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-90-BW Superfortress in Walker AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-87735
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12538
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
On final approach to Walker AFB, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed in flames two miles south of the airbase. Seven crew members were killed while five others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-1-DC Skymaster near Mt Saint Helens: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-72474
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
McChord – Portland
MSN:
10579
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While flying by night, the four engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a hilly terrain located near the Mt Saint Helens, about 30 miles east of Kelso. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-70-BW Superfortress near Stockton: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-69939
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10771
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The Boeing B-29-70-BW Superfortress registered 44-69939 was carrying a crew of 11 and was flying at an altitude of 26,000 feet. A second Boeing B-29-50-MO Superfortress registered 44-86364 was carrying a crew of 10 and was flying about 1,000 feet above when one of its engine failed. The aircraft lost height, cut the path of the first B-29 and both aircraft collided at FL260. Out of control, both aircraft dove into the ground and during the dive, two crew members in the first B-29 and one crewman in the second B-29 were able to bail out before both aircraft crashed in a prairie located some 11 miles northwest of Stockton. The three crewmen who were able to bail out were found unhurt while all 18 other occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-50-MO Superfortress near Stockton: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-86364
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The Boeing B-29-70-BW Superfortress registered 44-69939 was carrying a crew of 11 and was flying at an altitude of 26,000 feet. A second Boeing B-29-50-MO Superfortress registered 44-86364 was carrying a crew of 10 and was flying about 1,000 feet above when one of its engine failed. The aircraft lost height, cut the path of the first B-29 and both aircraft collided at FL260. Out of control, both aircraft dove into the ground and during the dive, two crew members in the first B-29 and one crewman in the second B-29 were able to bail out before both aircraft crashed in a prairie located some 11 miles northwest of Stockton. The three crewmen who were able to bail out were found unhurt while all 18 other occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-25-MO Superfortress into the Atlantic Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-65289
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
20
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Riverside, California, to the UK. En route over the Atlantic Ocean, the crew encountered engine problems and the captain decided to ditch the aircraft 385 miles northeast of Bermuda. Following the accident, 18 crewmen took refuge in dinghies while two others were drowned. About two days later, the crew of a USAF B-17 spotted the survivors who were eventually rescued and evacuated by the crew of the Canadian destroyer christened 'Haida' 72 hours after the accident. The aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A Packet near Barksdale AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-22996
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Barksdale - Barksdale
MSN:
10039
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Barksdale AFB, while in initial climb, the crew encountered engine problems. The captain elected to make an emergency landing and reduced his altitude. The airplane crash landed in a field and hit a cotton picker before coming to rest. While all nine crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was written off and the cotton picker was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Boeing RB-29A-90-BW Superfortress off Saint George: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-87750
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hamilton - Hamilton
MSN:
12553
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a reconnaissance mission from Hamilton-Kindley Field. While flying about 25 miles west of St George's Island, the aircraft christened 'Hurricane Hattie' suffered an engine failure. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea, killing all 11 crew members.
Crew (373rd Reconnaissance Squadron):
Maj Roy H. Bruns
Cpt Cleo S. Maddox,
Cpt John C. Mays,
1st Lt James E. Shewey,
1st Lt Andrew J. Rooks,
T/Sgt Clarence J. Hyatt,
S/Sgt Harry N. Barker,
S/Sgt Preston S. Treadway,
Sgt James A. Sapp,
Cpl Harry N. Carden,
Cpl Robert D. Myrman.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.