1956 — Dec 28, USAF B-50 weather recon. plane crash, Yokota AB approach, Japan–(9 US)10

— 10 Baugher. 1946-1948 USAAF Serial Numbers. 10-15-2011 rev.
— 9 Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo. “AF Lists Dead in Yokota Crash.” 12-30-1956, 11.

Narrative Information

Baugher: “Boeing B-50D-95-BO Superfortress….098 converted to KB-50J. I have it as a WB-50D with 56 WRS which crashed during night approach at Yokota AB, Japan Dec 28, 2956 [1956]. 10 killed, 2 survived.” (Baugher. 1946-1948 USAAF Serial Numbers. 10-15-2011 rev.)

Newspapers

Dec 29: “Hanno, Japan (AP) – A U.S. Air Force weather reconnaissance plane carrying 11 men hurtled into a densely timbered forest-slope near here tonight. Police said five persons were killed.

“Bodies of four crewmen were dragged from the flaming wreckage. A Japanese farmer was fatally crushed by a tree felled in the crash, police said. Two other crewmen were injured. Fate of the other five was not immediately known….The Air Force identified the craft as from the 56th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron situated at Yokota, 15 miles south of the crash scene.”
(Hope Star, AR. “Five Killed in Plane Crash.” 12-29-1956, p. 5.)

Dec 30: “Washington (AP) – The Defense Department Saturday night released the names of nine men killed in the crash of an Air Force weather reconnaissance plane Friday 15 miles from Yokota AB in Japan. They are:

A/2C Gerald R. Arnn, Alicia, Ark.
Capt. Raymond A. Durr, Greenville, Tex.
A/2C John E. Hollis, Greenfield, Ind.
Capt. Dewey A. Keithley, San Diego, Cal.
Capt. Leonard. A. Klawa. Portland, Ore.
Capt. Lawrence E. Monies, Beverly, Mass.
2nd Lt. Waylon H. Moseley, Waco, Tex.
S/Sgt. William A. Taylor. Charlotte Court House, Va.
A/20 Mose Franklin Thomas Jr., Gresham, Ore.

“Two men were injured but their names were not yet available.” (Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo. “AF Lists Dead in Yokota Crash.” 12-30-1956, 11.)

Sources

Baugher, Joseph F. 1946-1948 USAAF Serial Numbers. Oct 15, 2011 revision. Accessed 1-3-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1946.html

Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan. “AF Lists Dead in Yokota Crash.” 12-30-1956, 11. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=141659802