44-61727

While cruising at an altitude of 7,200 meters, the heavy bomber was attacked by the pilot of a Soviet AF MiG-15. The airplane went out of control and dove into the ground. During the dive, the aircraft partially disintegrated in the air and lost its four engines before crashing in a field. Two crew members were killed while 11 others were injured and taken POW. Crew killed were: A1c Richard L. Albright, A1c Clifford H. Mast.

Flight / Schedule

44-61727

Registration

44-61727

MSN

11204

Year of Manufacture

1944

Date

July 4, 1952 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Bombing

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Crash Location

Sinanju South Pyongan (<U+D3C9><U+C548><U+B0A8><U+B3C4>)

Region

Asia • North Korea

Crash Cause

Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Narrative Report

On July 4, 1952 at 12:00 AM, 44-61727 experienced a crash involving Boeing B-29 Superfortress, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Sinanju South Pyongan (<U+D3C9><U+C548><U+B0A8><U+B3C4>).

The flight was categorized as bombing and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

13 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 11 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 15.4%.

Crew on board: 13, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. While cruising at an altitude of 7,200 meters, the heavy bomber was attacked by the pilot of a Soviet AF MiG-15. The airplane went out of control and dove into the ground. During the dive, the aircraft partially disintegrated in the air and lost its four engines before crashing in a field. Two crew members were killed while 11 others were injured and taken POW. Crew killed were: A1c Richard L. Albright, A1c Clifford H. Mast.

Aircraft reference details include registration 44-61727, MSN 11204, year of manufacture 1944.

Fatalities

Total

2

Crew

2

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

While cruising at an altitude of 7,200 meters, the heavy bomber was attacked by the pilot of a Soviet AF MiG-15. The airplane went out of control and dove into the ground. During the dive, the aircraft partially disintegrated in the air and lost its four engines before crashing in a field. Two crew members were killed while 11 others were injured and taken POW. Crew killed were: A1c Richard L. Albright, A1c Clifford H. Mast.

Cause: Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

13

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

11

Fatality Rate

15.4%

Known people on board: 13

Operational Details

Flight Type

Bombing

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Region / Country

Asia • North Korea

Aircraft Details

Registration

44-61727

MSN

11204

Year of Manufacture

1944

Similar Plane Crashes

February 18, 1943 at 12:26 PM34 Fatalities

Boeing Airplane Company

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

The crew was performing a test flight on this second prototype. Ten minutes after departure from Seattle-Boeing Field, the crew informed ATC that engine number one caught fire and attempted to return. At an altitude of 2,400 feet, pilot feathered the propeller and notified ATC that the fire was spreading quickly. One minute later, as it was about to land, the bomber struck a power line and crashed on an industrial butchery. Extensive emergency resources were dispatched to the scene where rescuers did not find any survivors among the debris scattered over a wide area. The building was destroyed as well and 34 dead bodies were found: all 11 occupants on board the airplane and 23 people on ground. Thirty others people were injured as well. Crew: Eddie Allen, Chief test pilot by Boeing, Bob Dansfield, captain.

April 18, 1944 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Crash landed in Cairo-Payne AFB for unknown reason. No casualties.

April 21, 1944 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

The crew was performing a ferry flight from the US to Karachi when he encountered dust storm over Pakistan and was forced to abandon the aircraft that crashed 20 miles southeast of Karachi. The aircraft was destroyed as all occupants were rescued.

June 17, 1944 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

The crew was performing a ferry flight from the US to India when flying off the Liberian coast, the pilot was forced to ditch the aircraft due to a fuel exhaustion. The four engine aircraft came to rest off Greenville coast and was lost. All crew members were rescued.

February 12, 1945 at 12:00 AM12 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Forty-five minutes after its departure from North Field AFB (Tinian Island), while cruising, the engine number four caught fire. The aircraft dove into the sea and exploded as it struck the water surface. Only few debris were found on site and all 12 crew members were killed. Crew (39th Squadron): Sgt Robert J. Beller, radio operator, Cpl Harold M. Brown, air gunner, 1st Lt Bernard A. Casaurang, pilot, Cpl Ralph R. Cima, radar officer, Cpl Flavio M. Duca, air gunner, Cpl Charles N. Gentry, 2nd Lt Edward A. Josephson, pilot, F/O Louis T. Kestner Jr., navigator, Cpl Joseph J. Kuebler, air gunner, Cpl Richard V. Leland, T/Sgt Fred B. Robbins, flight engineer, 2nd Lt Richard J. Scarisbrick, bombardier.

April 13, 1945 at 06:00 AM10 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

On final approach to Agana-Harmon Field AFB, following a night flight started last evening from Andersen AFB, the pilot was instructed to go around due to poor visibility caused by heavy rain falls. The aircraft hit tree tops, the engine number one was damaged as well as left wingtip and flaps. The aircraft then stalled and crashed in a huge explosion short of runway. Ten crew members were killed and one was seriously injured. Crew: 1st Lt Dave R. Anderson, Cpl Nicholas G. Brando, M/Sgt Ray M. Cline, Sgt Clifton E. Coker, 1st Lt Charles E. Cooper, S/Sgt Arthur S. Johnson Jr., 2nd Lt Willard W. Larech, 2nd Lt George R. Longsdorf, Pfc Victor N. Wright, 1st Lt Robert R. Ziegele.