1954 — June 9, USN PBM 5S2 Mariner crash, Yakushima Island mt. peak, SW Japan–all 17

–17 Aviation Safety Network. USN PBM Mariner crash, Yakushima, Japan, 9 June 1954.
–17 Pacific Stars and Stripes. “Evacuation of Bodies to Take 4 More Days.” 6-19-1954, p. 6.
–17 UP. “12 Bodies Recovered From Bomber Wreck.” Nevada State Journal, Reno. 6-17-1954, p1.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Network, Database:
“Date: 09 June 1954
….
“Type: Martin PBM-5S2 Mariner
“Owner/operator: United States Navy (USN)
“Registration: 84754
….
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 17
“Other fatalities: 0
….
“Location: Yakushima [Island, southwestern Japan (Google maps).]
“Phase En route
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: NAS Iwakuni/VP-47 [A US airport.]
“Destination airport: Hong Kong [Pacific Stars and Stripes of June 19 has destination as Philippines.]
“Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
“Narrative: Twin-engined patrol bomber went missing. Last radio contact at 06:55
south of Nagasaki. Wreckage with twelve bodies found on Yakushima 16
June.”

Newspaper

June 10, UP: “Iwakuni, Japan – (U.P.) – Planes and ships ranged over the East China Sea today in a vast hunt for a U.S. Navy patrol-bomber missing since yesterday with 17 men aboard. The search was spurred by the admittedly slim hope that the twin-engined amphibious patrol bomber could still be afloat if it landed undamaged in the sea south of Japan. The plane ‘dropped out of sight’ yesterday while on a routine flight to Hong Kong from the Iwakuni air base. It made radio contact with the base an hour and a half after a dawn takeoff as it left the Japanese coastline near Nagasaki. Three hours later, a distress signal was picked up and the Navy said it believed the call came from the plane. A Far East naval command spokesman said the plane must ‘be presumed to be down’

“Aboard were seven naval officers, two marine officers and eight navy enlisted men. Two of the enlisted men are brothers, Donald and James Landon, of Pittsburgh.

“Navy and air force planes fanned out over the area yesterday but failed to sight any trace of the plane or its passengers. Naval ships also jointed in the search, criss-crossing the sea where the plane was believed to have come down.

“The missing men aboard the PBY brought to 26 the number reported in Far East military plane crashes and disappearances in the past week. Thirteen others have been definitely listed as killed.” (United Press. “Search On For Bomber 17 Aboard.” Kenosha Evening News, WI. 6-10-1954, p.1.)

June 16, UP: “Iwakuni, Japan, June 16. (U.P.) Twelve bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of an American Navy plane which crashed with 17 aboard on an island peak south of Japan, the Navy reported today. Crews searched for the other five bodies one mile up a 6,300-foot peak on Yaku-Shima Island about 50 miles south of Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island. The plane, a PBM amphibian, crashed and burned a week ago but search and rescue efforts were delayed because of bad weather.” (United Press. “12 Bodies Recovered From Bomber Wreck.” Nevada State Journal, Reno. 6-17-1954, p. 1.)

“June 19, CNFE: “Yaku Shima, Japan, June 19 (CNFE) – Evacuation of bodies from the scene of the PBM wreckage here will require at least four more days, latest reports from the seaplane tender Corson indicate. All but two bodies of the plan’s 17 crash victims have been recovered by a Navy salvage and rescue team. Approximately 100 natives, 30 of whom are in the crash vicinity now, will carry the bodies on litters to the tiny village of Ambo. The PBM crashed June 9 on a flight from Iwakuni Naval Air Station to the Philippines.” (Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo. “Evacuation of Bodies to Take 4 More Days.” 6-19-1954, p. 6.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Network, Database. USN Martin PBM Mariner crash, Yakushima, Japan, 9 June 1954. Accessed 7-3-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/174287

Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo. “Evacuation of Bodies to Take 4 More Days.” 6-19-1954, p. 6. Accessed 7-3-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pacific-stars-and-stripes-jun-19-1954-p-6/

United Press. “12 Bodies Recovered From Bomber Wreck.” Nevada State Journal, Reno. 6-17-1954, p. 1. Accessed 7-3-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/nevada-state-journal-jun-17-1954-p-1/

United Press. “Search On For Bomber 17 Aboard.” Kenosha Evening News, WI. 6-10-1954, p. 1. Accessed 7-3-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kenosha-evening-news-jun-10-1954-p-1/