1955 — Sep 8, USAF B29 Superfortress crash, ocean so. of Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan–13

–13 Associated Press. “B29 Search Finds Debris.” Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. 9-9-1955, p. 1.
–13 Aviation Safety Network. USAF B29 crash into Pacific off so. Ishigaki Isl., Okinawa.
–13 Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-40049 to 44-70254). 6-10-2023 revision.
–13 UP. “Air Force Says Chute in Ocean From Lost B29.” Bakersfield Californian, 9-10-1955, 1.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database:
“Date: 09 Sep 1955
“Time: 03:00 LT
“Type: Boeing B-29 Superfortress
“Owner/operator: ….United States Air Force
“Registration: 44-62264
“MSN: 11741
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 13
“Other fatalities: 0
….
“Location: Pacific Ocean, 35 km south of Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture – Japan
“Phase: En route
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan [A US air base.]
“Destination airport: Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan
“Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
“Narrative:

“….crashed into the Pacific Ocean, 9 September 1955, 35 km south of Ishigaki Island, west of Okinawa Hontō , Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, at approximate co-ordinates 24.44°N 124.22°E. All thirteen crew on board killed….

“Some sources…give the crash location as “55 miles SW of Miyako-jima, Okinawa”. The crash date is also stated as being September 8 1955 (that is, the previous day). The B-29 took off from Kadena AB, Okinawa, on September 8, 1955, and was declared “missing/overdue” at 03:00 local time of September 9, 1955, so it is possible to have crashed before midnight (which would make it September 8) or after midnight (which would be September 9). Also, the crash location of “35 km South of Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture” is where wreckage was found, and not necessarily the actual crash location (wreckage could have drifted on the ocean).”

Baugher: “….62264 Delivered to USAAF [US Army Air Force] 14Dec45
“Assigned to 581st Air Resupply and Communications Wing, Kadena AB, Okinawa.
“Crashed 8Sep55 55 miles SW of Miyako-jima, Okinawa. 13 on board lost….”

Newspapers

Sep 9, AP: “Naha, Okinawa – (AP) – Planes searching the ocean 200 miles southwest of Okinawa for a missing U.S. B29 – reported carrying a crew of 13 – sighted wreckage and debris near an oil slick today. Associated Press Correspondent Robert Prosser said seven unopened seat rafts, oxygen bottles and flight lunch boxes had been found.

“The Air Force in Tokyo reported the Superfortress disappeared while on a proficiency flight. It was last heard from at 8 o’clock last night [8th] when 275 miles southeast of Okinawa. The aircraft was due to land at 10 p.m. Its fuel would have been exhausted at 3 a.m.

“Prosser said the plane was from the 581st air resupply group from nearby Kadena air base. He fixed the crew at 13, but the air force did not confirm the figure.

“Two destroyers and three Japanese fishing boats were reported picking up the debris near the oil slick.” (Associated Press. “B29 Search Finds Debris.” Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. 9-9-1955, p. 1.)

Sep 10, UP: “Naha, Okinawa (U.P.) – The U.S. Air Force today identified an unopened parachute fished from the East China Sea as belonging to a B29 bomber missing with 13 men aboard. It announced the superfortress had ‘crashed’ Thursday evening [Thursday evening in Japan was Sep 8] in the waters off Okinawa.

“The chest-type parachute, which its owner never got to use, was the first mute testimony accepted by the Air Force as to the fate of the plane. It was picked up by the U.S. Navy destroyer Thomason, one of an aerial and sea search armada of three nations. A spokesman for the Far East Air Force said the parachute was definitely established as part of the equipment of the B29 by its serial number.

“No survivors have been spotted during the extensive two-day search by 25 aircraft and surface vessels of the United States, Japan and Britain….” (UP. “Air Force Says Chute in Ocean From Lost B29.” Bakersfield Californian, 9-10-1955, 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “B29 Search Finds Debris.” Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. 9-9-1955, p. 1. Accessed 7-4-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/tucson-daily-citizen-sep-09-1955-p-1/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database. USAF Boeing B-29 crash into Pacific 35 km off south Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan, 9 Sep 1955. Accessed 7-4-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/182753

Baugher, Joseph. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-40049 to 44-70254). 6-10-2023 revision.
Accessed 7-4-2023 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_4.html

United Press. “Air Force Says Chute in Ocean From Lost B29.” Bakersfield Californian, 9-10-1955, 1. Accessed 7-4-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-californian-sep-10-1955-p-1/