Boeing B-50 Superfortress

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was engaged in a supply mission over Laos. Apparently, an engine failed en route, forcing the crew to bail out. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion about 230 km northeast of Bangkok. All six crew members were found alive while 11 people on the ground were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

The aircraft was on its way from Misawa AFB to Yokota AFB with 11 crew members on board. Following an uneventful refuelling mission, something went wrong and the airplane went out of control. Four crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area located in the region of Fukushima. The seven crew members who remained in the cabin were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

The aircraft departed Langley AFB at 1117LT bound for Lajes, Azores Islands. In the early afternoon, around 1330LT, the last radio contact was recorded with the crew. As the airplane failed to arrive at Lajes, SAR operations were conducted at the end of the day. Several aircraft were involved in the survey mission and patrol flights were conducted for few days over an area of 705,000 km2. After thousands of flying hours, all operations were suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. It is believed the airplane crashed into the ocean about 400 km east of the US coast. Crew: Cpt Robert Tawney, pilot, 1st Lt Zoltan Robert Szaloki, copilot 7.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was completing a transpacific flight from Wake Island to Biggs AAF. While descending by night under VFR mode, the pilot informed ground his fuel reserve was low. On approach, the airplane struck the ground in a desert area, slid for 300 yards and eventually crashed on a sand dune and exploded six miles from runway 21 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine crew members were killed. Crew: Maj Fred G. Padelford, pilot, Cpt Bruce E. Christian, copilot, Maj Wayne W. Holt, navigator, T/Sgt Charles C. Timmsen, flight engineer, S/Sgt Bernard F. Rivers, flight engineer, S/Sgt Harold B. Mecusen, refueling operator, A1c Clifton C. Tabor, refueling operator, S/Sgt Claude L. Early, maintenance crew chief, A2c Joseph T. Rothschopf, assistant crew chief.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was engaged in a weather mission for typhoon 'Emma' but failed to return to his base at Yokota AFB. The exact circumstances of the accident remains unknown and all 16 crew members have been killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

While conducting a training mission out from Wright-Patterson AFB, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Wilmington Pike, southeast of Dayton. All 11 occupants were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

Crashed on landing in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

United States Air Force - USAF

The heavy bomber was engaged in a training mission out from Biggs AAF in El Paso, Texas. While cruising by night in light rain conditions, the airplane went out of control and entered a dive. Three crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a field located about three miles southeast of Willows. They were found alive as well as a fourth crew member who was found seriously wounded in the wreckage. All 13 other occupants were killed. Crew: Maj John M. Wirt, † Cpt Keith B. Wright, † Maj Park B. Herrick, † M/Sgt Charles M. Ford, † A2c Daniel A. Baca, † M/Sgt Clarence Foster, † A2c Eddie L. Wynne, † M/Sgt Junior Townsend, † Cpt Otto Robinson, † 1st Lt John T. Vaughn, † M/Sgt Howard J. Hansen, † A2c Williams S. Myers, † 1st Lt John Swisher, † T/Sgt Natividad Vasquez, S/Sgt Joseph E. Wittens, A1c John B. Patton, Sgt Frank M. Imely.

United States Air Force - USAF

While performing a training flight, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The captain attempted an emergency landing in a desert area located 12 miles south of Caprock. The airplane was damaged beyond repair but there were no casualties.

United States Air Force - USAF

Few minutes after takeoff from Davis-Monthan AFB, while cruising at an altitude of 15,000 feet, the crew encountered an unexpected situation. Immediately, the captain ordered his crew to bail out and all 12 occupants abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion on the slope of the Picacho Peak, southeast of Picacho. The airplane disintegrated on impact and debris were found on a wide area. Ten crew members were injured while two others were killed. Crew: Cpt John D. Winters, pilot, 1st Lt William H. Montgomery, copilot, William Reale, flight engineer, Cpt John A. Barnes, navigator, S/Sgt David Fry, radio operator, William P. Cooke, gunner, A1c Richard W. Dickey, gunner A3c Charles R. Stewart, gunner, Cpt Charles D. Bostick, † S/Sgt Herbert G. Emberton, † Cpt Lee F. Aubechon 1.

United States Air Force - USAF

At 06:15 local time, the RB-50G 'Little Red Ass', temporarily attached to the 91st SRS, was intercepted by two MiG-15 of the 88 GvIAP in 42°38'3"N, 132°20'9"E at 20,000 feet over the Sea of Japan after it had violated the Soviet air space near Cape Gamov. What happened next is disputed, according to Soviet reports the fighter pilots instructed the aircraft to land but the gunners opened fire and hit the MiG flown by 1st Lt. Aleksandr D. Rybakov, who subsequently attacked the RB-50 together with his wingman 1st Lt. Yuri M. Yablonskiy and shot it down with cannon fire. US reports claim that the interceptors opened fire first, disabling the #1 engine and the gunners then only returned fire in self-defense, but could not prevent another attack that set #4 engine on fire. The RB-50 went in a sharp dive, but parts of the damaged right wing and tail assembly tore off and the aircraft disintegrated and crashed into the sea about two minutes after being fired upon. At least seven crew members succeeded in bailing out, but only the copilot was rescued after 22 hours by the US destroyer USS Picking (DD 685) from a liferaft that had been dropped for him by a SB-29 about 12 hours after the crash. The destroyer also recovered the body of the pilot who had died of injuries and exposure and the body of a flight engineer was later located on the coast of Japan, while the remaining 13 were reported missing in action. It was suspected that at least some of them were taken prisoner by Soviet PT boats observed to be operating in the area, but it is not known if this was actually the case. Crew: Cpt Stanley Keith O'Kelley, pilot, Cpt John Ernst Roche, copilot, Cpt John Cyrus Ward, Maj Francisco Joseph Tejeda, 1st Lt Frank Ernest Beyer, 1st Lt Edmund Joseph, navigator, 1st Lt James Gordon Keith, navigator, 1st Lt Lloyd Clayton Wiggins, navigator, 1st Lt Warren John Sanderson, 1st Lt Robert Elbon Stalnaker, M/Sgt Francis Luther Brown, flight engineer, S/Sgt Donald Wayne Gabree, S/Sgt Donald George Hill, A1c Roland Edgar Goulet, A2c Earl Wilbur Radelin Jr., A2c Charles Joseph Russall, A2c James Edwin Woods, tail gunner. Source: http://documents.blackvault.com/documents/dod/readingroom/11/384.pdf

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was performing a local training flight from Williams AFB. En route, the heavy bomber collided with a second USAF Boeing B-50 registered 47-101. Following the collision, the crew of 47-101 was able to land safely while 46-049 went into a dive. Four crew members parachuted to safety, one was killed in the parachute attempt and seven were unable to bail out and were killed when the plane crashed in the San Juan Mountains, south-east of Chandler. The exact circumstances of the collision remains unclear.

United States Air Force - USAF

Shortly after his departure from Andersen AFB, while climbing, the crew informed ground that an engine failed and elected to return for a safe landing. Four minutes later, the heavy bomber crashed in a wooded area located 1,25 mile southwest of the airfield. A crew member was killed while six others were injured, some of them seriously.

United States Air Force - USAF

Crash landed at Goose Bay-Ernest Harmon Airport for unknown reason. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

United States Air Force - USAF

Shortly after takeoff from Hunter AFB, while climbing to a height of about 50 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and four of the seven crew members were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was performing a navigational training sortie with three other similar aircraft. Three hours and a half after its departure from Castle AFB, the heavy bomber went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a grain field located eight miles west of Gridley. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 12 occupants were killed. Crew: Lt Col Gerald W. Fallon, Maj William P. McMillan, Cpt William S. Raker, Cpt Edward Y. Williams, 1st Lt George D. Griffitts, T/Sgt Curtis F. Duffy, T/Sgt Bobby G. Theuret, M/Sgt Joe L. Bradshaw, M/Sgt William H. Clarke, M/Sgt Wallace N. Schwart, AJ William B. Crutchfield, A1c Charles W. Hesse.

United States Air Force - USAF

While conducting a local training sortie from Hunter AFB, the heavy bomber collided with another USAF B-50 registered 48-073. While the crew of the second aircraft was able to make an emergency landing without further issues, the B-50 registered 48-089 crashed in a field located six miles east of Hunter AFB. All nine crew members were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was engaged in a local test flight out of the Phillips AAF. In flight, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane after an engine failed. The aircraft crashed into the Bush River off Edgewood and was lost. All four crew members were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was performing a routine training mission out of RAF Upper Heyford. En route, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a field located two miles west of Great Dunmow. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 11 crew members were killed. It was later reported that the airplane was carrying a load of ammunition that exploded for several hours, hampering the rescuers' mission.

United States Air Force - USAF

While taxiing to its parking position, the aircraft caught fire for unknown reason. The crew stopped the airplane and all occupants were able to evacuate without any injuries. Unfortunately, the aircraft was completely destroyed by fire. It was carrying film material of aerial-mosaic photography taken of the nuclear weapons test site in preparation of the 'Operation Ivy'.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was performing a combined exercice out from RAF Lakenheath with ten other USAF B-50's. During the approach, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion few miles from the airfield, killing all 11 crew members, among them Albin F. Venskus, pilot.

United States Air Force - USAF

On final approach by night, the heavy bomber was too low when it hit a mound of dirt and crashed in a fiery explosion few dozen yards short of runway threshold. Five occupants were killed while 12 others were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew (three engineers and pilots from Boeing and three USAF officers) were engaged in a local flight from Seattle-Boeing Field to test the airplane that was subject to technical modifications. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the four engine airplane encountered serious difficulties to gain height when the right wing hit the roof of a brewery located about a mile north of the airfield. Out of control, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion on the Lester Apartments building. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire fed by 4,000 gallons of fuel. All six crew members and five people in the building were killed while 11 other people on the ground were injured. The exact cause of the mishap remains unclear. Crew: Lt Lloyd G. Vanderwielen, pilot, Earl Edwards, copilot, Cpt Charles A. Dews, radar observer, M/Sgt Frank A. Dodaro, flight engineer, Kenneth C. Barrick, flight test analyst 1.

United States Air Force - USAF

Shortly after takeoff from Biggs AAF, while in initial climb, the aircraft suffered a technical issue and crashed two miles from the airfield. The navigator was killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was engaged in a local night training flight when shortly after takeoff from RAF Bassingbourn, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It hit successively two rows of trees. On the second impact, the airplane broke in two. The front part crashed in a huge explosion while the rear part detached and crashed 100 yards away from the burning wreckage. The three crew members who were seating in the rear compartment were slightly injured while the five crew members who were seating in the forward compartment were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

The four engine aircraft left Edwards AFB that day with a crew of six and two engineers of Ryan Aeronautical. After a flight of four hours and a half during which several equipment were tested, the crew started his way back to Edwards AFB. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet in clouds, the airplane crashed in the Shadow mountains located about 25 miles southeast of Edwards AFB. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed. Crew: Cpt William Alexander Bailey Jr., pilot, Maj Gordon L. Payne Jr., copilot, M/Sgt Robert E. Methusa, M/Sgt Lilburn N. Cate, T/Sgt James H. Willingham, T/Sgt Carl A. Milhoan. Passengers: Charles A. White, Wallace J. Christian.

United States Air Force - USAF

The Boeing B-50 was completing a training mission out of Davis-Monthan AFB and was carrying a crew of 13. While cruising at an assigned altitude of 9,000 feet, the aircraft collided with a USAF Boeing B-50 that was engaged in a refueling mission out of Davis-Monthan with 10 crew members on board. Both aircraft went into a dive and crashed in a desert area located in the region of Comobabi, about 50 miles west of Tucson. On board the B-29, six crew members were killed while four others were injured. On board the B-50, seven crew members were killed while six others were injured. The exact circumstances of the collision remains unclear.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was performing a training sortie from RAF Sculthorpe. En route, the engine number four failed and was windmilling. A general failure of the electric system then forced the 11 crew members to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. All occupants were rescued while the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed about 25 km northwest of Montpellier.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was performing a local training mission at RAF Mildenhall. After an engine failed and caught fire in flight, the captain Robert C. Reagle decided to return to Mildenhall for an emergency landing when the left wing dropped on touchdown. The underwing tank burst into flames when striking the ground and the aircraft went off runway before coming to rest in flames. All crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

United States Air Force - USAF

One hour after departure from Goose Bay bound for Davis-Monthan AFB, the carburetor of the engine number 2 suffered icing and the engine failed. The captain decided to return to Goose Bay for a safe landing when the same engine caught fire shortly later. As the crew was trying to extinguish the fire, the engine number four caught fire as well. In such conditions, the captain ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft. After all 16 crew members bailed out, the aircraft continued a while to the east and eventually crashed in a wooded area located about 94 miles east of Goose Bay. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 16 occupants were later rescued and evacuated.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was performing a local training flight in the vicinity of the Davis-Monthan AFB when one (or more?) engine failed. The crew decided to make an emergency landing in a desert area located two miles southeast of the airbase. The aircraft belly landed and slid for several yards before coming to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft christened 'Lucky Lady II' was damaged beyond repair. It completed the first nonstop world tour from February 26 till March 6, 1949.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was performing a navigational exercice out from Biggs AFB, Texas. While cruising at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the aircraft went into a spin and crashed in a vertical attitude in a huge explosion in a field located southwest of Lebanon. All 16 crew members, among them four officers, were killed. The impact and the blast tore a hole in the ground that was about 18 feet deep and at least 75 feet wide. Crew (97th BW): 1st Lt Harvey E. Martin, pilot, Cpt John F. Adams Jr., pilot, Apt Paul E. Anderson Jr., S/Sgt Ellis E. Smith, S/Sgt James A. Travis, S/Sgt Russell E. Moore, Sgt Alcide Danos, Pfc George L. Martin, T/Sgt Charles W. Pickett, T/Sgt Joseph Veid, T/Sgt Vernon W. Diggle, S/Sgt W. O. Timmons, S/Sgt James M. Tennille Jr., S/Sgt Thomas James Mullen 2.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was engaged in a navigational exercice from Davis-Monthan AFB. About 19 minutes after takeoff, while cruising at the assigned altitude of 12,700 feet, a propeller blade failed on the engine number three. The engine vibrated and detached from its mount. It then struck the right wing and the fuselage, causing a fire. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and six of the ten crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a desert area located about 44 miles northeast of Davis-Monthan AFB. Crew (43rd BW): Cpt Vaughn S. Lautenschlager, pilot, Lt Jerome McCarville, copilot, Cpt Patrick Montoya, navigator, Cpt Alvin Tonne, bombardier, Sgt Earl Hornbuckle, flight engineer, Lt Arthur Weisberg, observer, Sgt Robert Jones, radio operator, † Sgt Harold Martin, gunner, † Sgt Robert O'Daniel, gunner, † Cpl James Adcock, gunner. †

United States Air Force - USAF

On approach to McDill AFB, the aircraft caught fire. Five crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed into the Tampa Bay. Seven other crew members were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

The heavy bomber departed Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson at 0615LT for a routine training mission that involved navigation, aerial refueling and camera gunnery training. After transferring 870 gallons of fuel to a KB-29 over Yuma, the crew pressurized the cabin and began to climb to 20,000 feet. While climbing through 17,000 feet, at about 0815LT, the master fire warning light suddenly illuminated on the pilot's instrument panel as the right scanner simultaneously reported a fire streaming from Number 3 engine. There were three successive minor explosions that rolled the bomber onto a 45 degree angle right bank. With the right wing engulfed in flames, the ship then fell into a steep right turn and began to disintegrate. As the bomber broke apart in the sky, only two men of the crew of fourteen were able to escape, the copilot Lt William Gentry and the bombardier, Captain John Lee. The wreckage was spread over a two-mile area of remote desert terrain. Source: http://www.aircraftarchaeology.com/b50superfortress.html

United States Air Force - USAF

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. †

United States Air Force - USAF

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.

United States Air Force - USAF

The aircraft departed RAF Lakenheath at 0925LT on a training mission consisting of a climb to 25,000 feet, break up the formation then drop 16,500 pounds of high explosive bombs individually on the bombing target at Heligoland. During the initial climb, while at a height of 500 feet, the captain reported to ATC that all was OK on board. Shortly later, while climbing into clouds, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located half a mile southeast of Isleham. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and several explosions caused by the bombs and the 6,000 gallons of fuel. All 12 crew members were killed. Source: http://www.islehaminformer.org.uk/Images/Informer201110.pdf

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was completing a local training sortie at Eielson AFB. In flight, the crew lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field located six miles southweat of the airbase. All 10 occupants were killed.