1961 — Apr 18, USAF C47, circling takeoff climb, foggy weather crash, Mt Parker, Hong Kong– 15

–15 Blanchard estimated fatalities. We are inclined, from a reading of the material below, to accept a death toll of 15, but we are unwilling to discount the statements then and since of 14 fatalities.

We know, from newspaper sources cited below, that the only survivor, Richard Ferron, though in critical condition, survived, was visited by his mother and one of his brothers two weeks later, was released from service November 15, 1961 and married December 11, 1961 in his hometown of Westbrook, Maine. More than one newspaper report at the time noted either 16 on the plane with 15 fatalities, or simply noted 15 fatalities. Thus it would appear that there were 15 fatalities.

–15 Associated Press. “Crash Survivor Clings to Life.” San Mateo Times, CA. 4-20-1961, p. 16.
–15 Pacific Stars and Stripes. “Hong Kong Crash Dead Identified.” 4-21-1961, p. 1.
–15 Pacific Stars and Stripes. “Mother to See Survivor-Son.” 4-29-1961, p. 35.
–15 South China Morning Post, Hong Kong. “When a US Air Force plane crashed…in 1961.”
–15 UPI. “Plane Crash Victims.” The Daily Times, New Philadelphia, OH, 4-22-1961, p. 13.
–14 Aviation Safety Network. USAF C-47 crash, takeoff climb, Mt. Parker, Hong Kong, 4-18-1961.
–14 Baugher, Joseph. 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437). 5-14-2023 edit.
–14 Fairbanks…News-Miner, AK. “Son of Fairbanks Woman Dies in Hong Kong Crash.” 4-24-1961, 3.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database:
“Date: Tuesday 18 April 1961
“Time: 18:10
“Type: Douglas C-47D (DC-3)
“Operator: United States Air Force – USAF
“Registration: 43-49014
“MSN: 26275 / 14830
“First Flight: 1944 ….
“Total: Fatalities: 14 – Occupants: 15 …. [Several accounts note 16 aboard.]
“Location: Mount Parker (Hong Kong)
“Phase: Initial climb (ICL)
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Hong Kong-Kai Tak International Airport…Hong Kong
“Destination airport: ? [The servicemen were returning to their base station in Taiwan.]
“Narrative: The Douglas C-47D impacted Mount Parker in foggy weather conditions
after circling Hong Kong Harbour in an effort to climb, shortly after
departure from Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport. The aircraft carried U.S.
servicemen and family members back to Taiwan from a holiday at Hong
Kong.”

South China Morning Post, Hong Kong, April 20, 2018: “A holiday in Hong Kong ended in tragedy when 15 people – servicemen, their family members and aircrew – were killed after the Douglas DC-3 they were flying in crashed into Mount Parker.

“ ‘USAF Plane Crashes into Shaukiwan Hill,’ ran the headline in the South China Morning Post on April 20, 1961. ‘An American Air Force plane crashed and burned on a hillside near Aldrich Village in the Shaukiwan area yester¬day evening, a few minutes after it had taken off from Kai Tak airport,’ the report read….” (South China Morning Post, Hong Kong (Mercedes Hutton). “When a US Air Force plane crashed in Hong Kong, killing all but one on board, in 1961.” 4-20-2018.)

Newspapers at the time

Apr 19, Star-News, Pasadena, CA: “Hong Kong – A two-engine U.S. military plane with 16 persons aboard crashed into a mountain tonight shortly after takeoff from Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport. Only one survivor had been found seven hours later. Five bodies were discovered a half mile from the wreckage. Passengers had been on a sightseeing holiday in Hong Kong. Several women and children were reported to be aboard the plane headed for Formosa [Taiwan].

“The C-47, military version of the DC-3, took off into low hanging clouds. The airport control tower reported that it disappeared from radar tracking screens just before the crash.” (Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “U.S. Aircraft With 16 in China Crash. Rams Hill Out of Hong Kong.” 4-19-1961, p. 1.)

April 20, AP: “Hong Kong (AP) – A U.S. serviceman, survivor of an Air Force plane crash that killed 15 others, was in critical condition today. The U.S. command on Formosa identified him as Airman Richard W. Ferron, 24…of Westbrook, Maine. The plane, a twin-engine C47, was returning service personnel and dependents to Formosa from a vacation in Hong Kong when it struck a fog-shrouded mountain Wednesday in this British crown colony. Passengers included three women and a child.” (Associated Press. “Crash Survivor Clings to Life.” San Mateo Times, CA. 4-20-1961, p. 16.

April 21, Pacific Stars and Stripes: “S&S Taiwan Bureau. Taipei, Taiwan – The bodies of 15 Americans who died Wednesday in the crash of a U.S. Air Force plane at Hong Kong will be flown to Clark AB, P.I., a Tainan AB spokesman said Friday. The 15, based in Taiwan, had gone to Hong Kong for a vacation. The plane hit a fog-shrouded mountain….[A spokesman] said all persons aboard the flight were attached to the 8214th Tactical Missile Group at Tainan and were vacationing in Hong Kong….He said names are being withheld until next of kin are notified.

“The twin-engine plane slammed into fog-shrouded Mt. Parker after taking off into low-hanging clouds, from Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport at 6:07 p.m. Mt. Parker is 1,728 feet high.

“The TDC spokesman said the group had gone to Hong Kong under the isolated area leave program allowing Taiwan-based servicemen one plane ride to Hong Kong during their tour.” (Pacific Stars and Stripes. “Hong Kong Crash Dead Identified.” 4-21-1961, p. 1.)

April 22, UPI: “Washington (UPI) – The Air Force Thursday identified 15 persons believed killed when an American DC3 plane crashed into a fog-blanketed hill at Hog Kong Wednesday. Among them was Ensign Donald L. Jones, of Toronto, Ohio. He had been serving as a Navy representative on Formosa.” (UPI. “Plane Crash Victims.” Daily Times, New Philadelphia, OH, 4-22-1961, p.13.)

April 24, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK: “Two Pacific Northwest men were killed in the crash of a U.S. Air Force C-47 last week in the British crown colony of Hong Kong. One of them was Lt. Col. Clyde H. Smith, 42, navigator of the Formosa-bound plane and son of Peggy Murphy of 523 Third Ave., Fairbanks. The other was Cliff H. Harrison, 34, son of Cliff Harrison, outdoor editor of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

“Fourteen persons perished in the crash of the ill-fated plane into a fog-shrouded 1,400-foot mountain last Wednesday. One serviceman survived….

“British mountaineers scaled the slippery peak to bring th bodies down from the wreckage. Eleven bodies were identified. Four others were charred and were to be flown to the U.S. for identification….” (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK. “Son of Fairbanks Woman Dies in Hong Kong Crash.” 4-24-1961, p. 3.)

April 29, Pacific Stars and Stripes: “Westbrook, Me. (AP) – The mother of the only survivor of the Hong Kong plane crash Apr. 19 is on her way there to see her injured son. Mrs. Ernest E. Ferron of Westbrook and her oldest son, Edward of Portland, left Tuesday to visit A/1C Richard W. Ferron. Ferron was found amidst the wreckage of the C-47 by two Roman Catholic priests. Fifteen persons returning from a sightseeing and shopping trip died in the crash….” (Pacific Stars and Stripes. “Mother to See Survivor-Son.” 4-29-1961, p. 35.)

Dec 9, The Register News, Mt. Vernon, IL. “Miss Elaine Hatfield, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Hatfield of Chicago Heights, Ill., and Richard Ferron, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Ferron of Westbrook, Maine, were married Saturday morning, November 11…in Westbrook….Robert Ferron was best man….The bridegroom, a graduate of the Westbrook High School, served seven years with the United States Air Force and was release from service November 15….” (The Register-News, Mt. Vernon, IL. “Married in Maine, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ferron.” 12-9-1961, p3.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database. USAF C-47 crash, circling takeoff climb, Mount Parker, Hong Kong, 4-18-1961. Accessed 7-9-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19610418-2

Associated Press. “Crash Survivor Clings to Life.” San Mateo Times, CA. 4-20-1961, p. 16. Accessed 7-9-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-mateo-times-apr-20-1961-p-19/

Baugher, Joseph. 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437). 5-14-2023 edit. Accessed 7-10-2023 at: https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1943_2.html

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK. “Son of Fairbanks Woman Dies in Hong Kong Crash.” 4-24-1961, p. 3. Accessed 7-10-2023 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/fairbanks-daily-news-miner-apr-24-1961-p-3/

Pacific Stars and Stripes. “Hong Kong Crash Dead Identified.” 4-21-1961, p. 1. Accessed 7-9-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pacific-stars-and-stripes-apr-21-1961-p-1/

Pacific Stars and Stripes. “Mother to See Survivor-Son.” 4-29-1961, p. 35. Accessed 7-10-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pacific-stars-and-stripes-apr-29-1961-p-35/

South China Morning Post, Hong Kong (Mercedes Hutton). “When a US Air Force plane crashed in Hong Kong, killing all but one on board, in 1961.” 4-20-2018. Accessed 7-9-2023 at: https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/2142416/when-us-air-force-plane-crashed-hong-kong

Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “U.S. Aircraft With 16 in China Crash. Rams Hill Out of Hong Kong.” 4-19-1961, p.1. Accessed 7-9-2023: https://newspaperarchive.com/star-news-apr-19-1961-p-1/

The Register-News, Mt. Vernon, IL. “Married in Maine, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ferron.” 12-9-1961, p3. Accessed 7-10-2023: https://newspaperarchive.com/mt-vernon-register-news-dec-09-1961-p-3/

UPI. “Plane Crash Victims.” The Daily Times, New Philadelphia, OH, 4-22-1961, p. 13. Accessed 7-9-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-philadelphia-daily-times-apr-22-1961-p-13/