1952 — Feb 7, USAF B-29A takeoff crash, 5 miles NW of Yokota US AB, Japan–13 US of 18

–18 Aviation Safety Network. Database. USAF B-29A Superfortress, Yokota Japan, 2-7-1952.
–13 Complement of the Boeing B-20A Superfortress (all).
— 5 Civilians on the ground.
–18 Bureau of Aircraft Accident Archives. “Crash…B-29…in Yokota AVB: 18 killed.”
–18 Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo. “Superfort Explosion Kills 15.” 2-8-1952, p. 1.
–13 B-29 crew.
— 2 Japanese nationals on the ground killed.
— 3 Japanese nationals on the ground missing.
–13 (Crew.) Baugher. 1945 USAAF Serial Numbers. Sep 21, 2011 revision.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Network. Database:
“Date: 07-Feb-1952
“Time: c. 2300
“Type: Boeing B-29A Superfortress
“Owner/operator: 345th BSqn /98th BGp USAF (345th BSqn /98th BGp USAF)
“Registration: 45-21721
“MSN: 13615
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 13
“Other Fatalities: 5
….
“Location: 3 mi NW of Yokota AB – Japan
“Phase: Initial climb
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Yokota AB, Japan
….
“Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources.
“Narrative:

“Boeing B-29-90-BW Superfortress 45-21721… Shortly after takeoff from Yokota AB, while climbing in snow falls, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion on several houses located about three miles (5 km) northwest of the airfield. All 13 crew members and five people on the ground were killed.”

[Blanchard note: The names of the thirteen US servicemen and three Japanese nationals can be found at the end of the Aviation Safety Network writeup.]

Baugher: “Boeing B-29-90-BW Superfortress….21721 (98th BW, 345th BS) crashed on takeoff 5 mi N of Yokota AB Feb 7, 1952. 13 killed.” (Baugher. 1945 USAAF Serial Numbers. Sep 21, 2011 rev.)

Bureau of Aircraft Accident Archives: “Circumstances:

“Shortly after takeoff from Yokota AFB, while climbing in snow falls, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion on several houses located about 5 km northwest of the airfield. All 13 crew members and five people on the ground were killed.

“Crew:

Col John Grable, pilot,
2nd Lt Richard Johnson, pilot,
Cpt Robert Belcher, navigator,
T/Sgt Robert Crutchfield, flight engineer,
1st Lt Allen Frisbee Baker, bombardier,
Sgt Edward Caron, gunner,
Cpl Edward Ebehart, gunner,
Sgt Neal Heffernan, gunner,
1st Lt Robert Henry,
Cpl Owen J. Imsdahl,
Cpl Walter Setser,
Maj Daniel D. Smith Jr.,
M/Sgt Howard Thompson.”

(Bureau of Aircraft Accident Archives. “Crash of a Boeing B-29-90-BW Superfortress in Yokota AVB: 18 killed.”)
Newspapers

Feb 7: “Tokyo, Friday, Feb. 8 – (AP) – At least eleven airmen perished late Wednesday night when a bomb-laden B-29 crashed and exploded shortly after taking off from Yokota air base near Tokyo. The air force announced that none of the crew survived.

“The Japanese Kyodo agency said one Japanese was also killed and several were injured when the plane’s bombs exploded and destroyed 10 houses in the village of Kaneko, 40 miles west of the heart of Tokyo.

“The crash occurred at 11:05 p.m., in a blinding snowstorm.

“Air Force Capt. Robert Spence, who went to the scene, said there were at least 11 men aboard the Korea-bound plane, but the exact number was not known. ‘We don’t know exactly what happened, but it looked like engine failure,’ he said. ‘The crew did not have a chance.’

“The plane clipped an electric power line and plunged into a populated hillside on the edge of the village about five miles north of Yokota. The whole area was plunged into darkness.” (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK. “Bomb Laden B-29 Crashes, Kills 11, Scatters Houses.” 2-7-1952 1.)

Feb 8: “Tokyo (Pac. S&S) – Thirteen crew members and two Japanese nationals were killed Thursday night when a bomb laden B-29 Superfort crashed and exploded five miles north of Yokota Air Base, FEAF [Far East Air Force] headquarters said Friday. Three other Japanese were listed as missing.

“A FEAF spokesman said the big bomber crashed into the hillside village of Terataki shortly after takeoff on a bombing mission to Korea. Exploding bombs and burning gasoline destroyed 12 or 15 house and leveled an area approximately 150 yards in diameter, according to the spokesman. He said part of the plane’s bomb load exploded after impact, shattering window panes and cracking several houses in the area. Cause of the crash was unknown, but the spokesman said a board of officers began an investigation Friday morning.” (Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo. “Superfort Explosion Kills 15.” 2-8-1952, p. 1.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. Database. USAF B-29A Superfortress, Yokota Japan, 2-7-1952. Accessed 6-27-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/85403

Baugher, Joseph F. 1945 USAAF Serial Numbers. 9-21-2011 revision. Accessed 1-1-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1945.html

Bureau of Aircraft Accident Archives. “Crash of a Boeing B-29-90-BW Superfortress in Yokota AVB: 18 killed.” Accessed 6-27-2023 at: https://www.baaa-acro.com/city/yokota-afb-tokyo?page=1

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK. “Bomb Laden B-29 Crashes, Kills 11, Scatters Houses.” 2-7-1952 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=67170820

Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan. “Superfort Explosion Kills 15.” 2-8-1952, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=133138374