14 dead– 15

lornajarrettblanchard February 22, 1952

–15 Aviation Safety Network. F-84E Thunderjet crash into Tsu Bu village, So. Korea, 2-22-1952.
–15 AP. “Jet Crashes, Kills Pilot, 14 Koreans.” El Paso Herald-Post, TX. 2-23-1952, p. 3.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network:
“Date: 22-Feb-1952
“Time: day
“Type: Republic F-84E Thunderjet
“Owner/Operator: …Texas ANG, USAF…United States Air Force
“Registration: 51-556 ….
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
“Other fatalities: 14 ….
“Location: Tsu Bu, 1M North Gimhae Air Base…Pusan West, Busan – South Korea
“Phase: En route
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: K-2 Taegu AB [US airbase ], Dong District, Daegu, South Korea
….
“Narrative:

“Republic F-84E-25-RE Thunderjet 51-556, 182nd FBS, 136th FBW, Texas ANG (Air National Guard), USAF: Written off (destroyed) February 22 1952. Leading 3-ship training flight, flying at high-speed, low altitude, hit power lines, crashed onto power plant, hospital and four houses into the South Korean village of Tsu Bu, 1 mile North of Gimhae Air Base (K-1) Gangseo District, Busan, South Korea. 15 people were killed – 14 civilians on the ground, plus the pilot: 1st Lt John E Pound, USAF. (plus 20 civilian casualties injured)”

Newspaper

Feb 23, AP: “By Associated Press. Pusan, Korea, Feb. 23. – A U.S. F-84 Thunderjet today crashed into a power plant, a hospital and four Korean homes, killing 5 persons and injuring 20. Col. T. C. Green of Austin, who visited the crash scene, said the dead included the American pilot and 14 Korean civilians. The crash was at Sadukni, near Kumhae, about 12 miles northwest of this southeast Korea port city. The plane hit the power plant first, knifed through the hospital then catapulted 90 yards and hit the four dwellings. All the structures were destroyed. (Associated Press. “Jet Crashes, Kills Pilot, 14 Koreans.” El Paso Herald-Post, TX. 2-23-1952, p. 3.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Jet Crashes, Kills Pilot, 14 Koreans.” El Paso Herald-Post, TX. 2-23-1952, p. 3. Accessed 6-28-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/el-paso-herald-post-feb-23-1952-p-3/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. F-84E Thunderjet crash into Tsu Bu village, South Korea, 2-22-1952. Accessed 6-28-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/85437

National Museum of the United States Air Force. K-Bases in Korea. Accessed 6-28-2023 at: https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196394/k-bases-in-korea/