1957 — March 22, USAF MATS C-97C, Travis AFB CA to Tokyo, lost ~200M from Tokyo– 67

–67 Aviation Safety Network. 22March1957, USAF Boeing C-97C Stratofreighter missing Pacific.
–67 Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 68.
–10 USAF flight crew
–54 US service members
— 3 civilians, including one female dependent
–67 Pacific Stars and Stripes. “67 on MATS Plane Missing Over Pacific.” 3-22-1957, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Gero:
“Date: 22 March 1957 (c.01:00)
“Location: North Pacific Ocean
“Operator: US Air Force
“Aircraft type: Boeing C-97C (50-702A)

“The aircraft was on a scheduled Military Air Transport Service flight from Travis Air Force Base, in California, US, to Tokyo, Japan, with three en-route stops, the last of these on Wake Island, when it vanished during the final segment of the transpacific crossing. Except for three civilians, including a female dependent, the 67 persons aboard were American servicemen, including the crew of 10.

“Operating under an instrument flight rules clearance, with a cruising altitude of 8,000ft (2,500m), the four-engine transport was last heard from around 00:40 local time, or about 20 minutes before the unexplained disaster was believed to have occurred, at an approximate location of 200 miles (320km) south-east of its intended destination.

“Search was abandoned eight days later, with no trace of it having been found. The pilot of a commercial airliner, who had flown the Wake Island-to-Tokyo route some 30 minutes ahead of the C-97, reported cloudy weather in the area where the latter was believed lost, with bases of 5,000ft (1,500m) and tops at 10,000ft (3,000m), light icing and light-to-moderate turbulence. He also observed lightning in the night sky some distance to the north of his position.” (Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, pp. 68-69.)

Newspaper

March 22, Stars and Stripes: “Tokyo (S&S) – A MATS C-97 Stratocruiser with 67 aboard was reported missing early Friday [22nd]. The huge four-engine transport was last heard from shortly after midnight while bucking heavy winds 250 miles southeast of Tokyo over the Pacific Ocean. Ten aboard were crewmen and the rest passengers.

“MATS said the Stratocruiser was on a routine flight from Wake Island and was due at Tokyo International Airport at 2:15 a.m. Friday. It left Wake Island at 4:55 p.m. Thursday.

“A vast air-sea search, involving U.S. and Japanese planes and ships, began at dawn over churning seas. Air Force and Navy search aircraft scanned the area where the C-97 was last reported. At least 15 AF planes were dispatched from Tokyo and from Johnson, Misawa, Ashiya and Tachikawa Air Bases. The search is being coordinated by the 36th ARS, Johnson AB. The Naby sent out six planes and at least two ships, the submarine rescue ship Florikan and the fleet tug Cree. Two JASDF planes also were reported taking part in the search….

“A MATS spokesman said last contact with the missing flight was made by the Tokyo Air Route Traffic Control ‘shortly after midnight.’

“The flight started at Travis AFB, Cal., and stopped off at Hickam Field in Hawaii before proceeding westward.” (Pacific Stars and Stripes. “67 on MATS Plane Missing Over Pacific.” 3-22-1957, pp. 1-2.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. 22 March 1957, USAF Boeing C-97C Stratofreighter missing over Pacific. Accessed 3-22-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19570322-0

Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. UK and Newbury Park, CA: Patrick Stephens Limited, an imprint of Hayes Publishing, 1999.

Pacific Stars and Stripes. “67 on MATS Plane Missing Over Pacific.” 3-22-1957, p. 1. Accessed 3-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pacific-stars-and-stripes-mar-22-1957-p-1/