1945 — Aug 30, USAAF B-29 with POW supplies crashes, Mt. Oyajiyama, Japan       –all 12

Compiled 12-27-2023 by Wayne Blanchard for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–12  Aviation Safety Network. USAAF B-29 crash Mt. Oyaji, Japan, 30 August 1945. 

–12  Missing Air Crew Research Japan Network. “B29-#44-61554.”

Narrative Information

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 117:

“Date:                          Thursday 30 August 1945

“Time:                         morning

“Type:                         Boeing B-29 Superfortress

“Owner/operator:        United States Army Air Force (USAAF)

“Registration:              44-61554

“MSN:                         11031

“Fatalities:                   Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12

“Aircraft damage:       Written off (damaged beyond repair)

“Location:                   Mt. Oyaji, Takachiho town, Miyazaki prefecture – Japan

“Phase:                        En route

“Nature:                      Military

“Departure airport:      Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, USA

“Destination airport:   Fukuoka, Japan

“Narrative:

 

“A Boeing B-29 transporting relief supplies such as food and household items from Tinian, the Northern Mariana Islands, USA to a prisoner-of-war camp in Fukuoka Prefecture, occupied Japan, crashed into a ridge of Mt. Oyaji, Takachiho town, Miyazaki prefecture in bad weather.

 

“A part of the wreckage was found in 1987 by a climber. Thereafter, local mountaineering enthusiasts have continued for more than 30 years to mourn the deceased 12 American crew members and to retrieve the wreckage of the Superfortress. And on 26th March 2023, three US soldiers and a interpreter joined the activity.”

 

Baugher:  “….Boeing B-29A-35-BN Superfortress….61554 Delivered to USAAF 6Apr45. Assigned to 45th Bomb Squadron, 40th Bomb Group, Tinian Jun45. Crashed 30Aug45. The aircraft departed from Tinian Island to drop Prisoner of War supplies at Fukuoka #12. In dense fog and pouring rain the B-29 attempted to cross the Sobo Mountain Range, but clipped a mountain peak and crashed, bursting into flames. The wreckage of the plane was located on the southern slope of Sobozan on the boundary between Miyazki and Oita Ken. MACR 14898.”

 

Missing Air Crew Research Japan Network. “B29-#44-61554.” 8-26-1995:

“1945 8 30

“Tail Code…X36

“Black Magic

Crew

Capt.    Jack L. Riggs

Cplt.    John G. Cornwell

Bomb. Alfred F. Eiken

Nav.    Henry B. Baker

FE       George H. Williamson

RDO    Henry N. Frees

RDR    John W. Hodges Jr.

CFC     Walter R. Gustaveson

R.Gun. Solomon H. Groner

L.Gun. John D. Dangerfield

T.Gun. Bob L. Miller

Pas.      Norman E. Henninger.”

 

Sources

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 117. USAAF B-29 crash Mt. Oyaji, Japan, 30 August 1945. Accessed 12-27-2023 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/309940

 

Baugher, Joseph F. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-40049 to 44-70254). 10-9-2023 revision. Accessed 12-27-2023 at: https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_4.html

 

Missing Air Crew Research Japan Network. “B29-#44-61554.” 8-26-1995. Accessed 12-27-2023 at: https://macrj.net/b29-44-61554/