1954 — Feb 1, USAF C46 in-flight fire & crash, Tsugaru Strait, off Hokkaido, Japan–all 35

–36 Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). 11-6-2011 revision.
–35 ASN. Accident description. USAF Curtis C-46D-15CU Commando. S off Hokkaido.
–35 Gero. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 58.
–35 Janesville Daily Gazette, WI. “Plane Dives Into Sea; 35 Perish.” 2-1-1954, p. 1.
–35 Korean War Educator. “Topics – C-46D Crash, Japan – February 1, 1954.” Accessed 5-3-2023.
–35 Pacific Stars and Stripes. “Families Attend Services of C-46 Crash Victims.” 2-6-1954, 3.
–34 Oil City Blizzard, PA. “Local Soldier Dies in Plane Crash Near Japanese Island.” 2-2-1954.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network:
“….Crew: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants 5
“Passengers: Fatalities: 30 / Occupants: 30
“Total: Fatalities: 35 / Occupants: 35….
“Location: S off Hokkaido (Japan)….

“Narrative: The airplane reportedly suffered an in-flight fire. The pilot attempted a ditched in the Tsugaru Straits between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido, but the airplane crashed.”

“Statistics….9th worst accident involving a Curtiss C-46 (at the time)” (Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. United States Air Force Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando…1 Feb 1954.)

Baugher: “Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando….78027 (c/n 33423) caught fire and crashed off Hokkaido, Japan Feb 1, 1954. 36 killed.” (Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). 11-6-2011 rev.)

Gero:
“Date: 1 February 1954 (c.13:50)
“Location: Off Hokkaido, Japan
“Operator: US Air Force
“Aircraft type: Curtis-Wright C-46D (44-78027A)

“Operating on a scheduled internal Japanese service originating at Tachikawa Air Base [US base from end of WWII until 1973 ], near Tokyo, and carrying 35 American servicemen (30 passengers and a crew of five), the twin-engine transport had last taken off from Misawa, the second of two en-route stops, bound for its ultimate destination of Chitose Airport, located near Sapporo. It had nearly completed this last leg of the flight when the pilot reported a fire in the cargo compartment, and that he may have to ditch. Two minutes after, in his last message, he radioed, ‘…I’ve lost control of the aircraft…we’re toing in!’

“The C-46 crashed in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 20 miles (30km) south of Tomakomai, and in meteorological conditions consisting of a low overcast, with scattered clouds at 2,000ft (600m), a visibility of about 10 miles (15km) beneath them and a wind out of the north at 5 knots. Searchers recovered the bodies of two victims; there were no survivors.” (Gero. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 58.)

Korean War Educator: “….According to an Air Force spokesman, some open parachutes and an oil slick were spotted by search planes, but a big blizzard had hit Hokkaido just a couple of days before and the water was very cold. There was also light snow. The spokesman said that a man could stay alive only a few minutes in the frigid water. The disaster occurred in a very short time, and reports stated that the occupants were probably trapped in the aircraft, thus preventing escape.”

“Fatalities:

“Five crew members remain missing in action:

• Adams, A2C William Jr. – radio operator
• Morrison, 1Lt. Donald Robert – instr. pilot
• Raveling, A2C Marvin Oscar – flight engineer
• Shirley, 1Lt. Donald Boyd – pilot
• VanValkenburgh, 2Lt. Dean – co-pilot

“Twenty-eight passengers remain missing in action:
• Biconish, M/Sgt. John
• Bingham, Sgt. Daniel A. – Sta Compl, 8196yh AU
• Burkett, Col. Leo B. – HQ 1st Cav Arty
• Chandler, WOJG Edward Bailey – Hq & Hq Det, 27th Ord Bn
• Collins, M/Sgt. Glen V. – 8196 AU,1st Cav Div
• Combs, Capt. Hubert W. Jr. – SVC Co, 5th Cav Regt
• Dean, 1Lt. Thomas Edgel “Tommie” – Hv Mort Co, 7th Cav
• Deevers, Lt. Col. John Murray – 1st Cav Div/TDY W/8-16 AU
• Haley, Maj. William – 15th Med Bn
• Hultsch, Capt. Elmer H. – G-3, HQ 1st Cav Div
• Iverson, 2Lt. Donald J. – 5th Cav Rgt
• Johnston, SFC Charles H. – 7th Cav Rgt
• Jones, SFC Robert W. – Hq Co, 1st Cav Div
• Loucke, SFC Robert T.
• Lucas, Cpl. William H.
• Lumley, Capt. James A. – Hq, 2d Bn, 5th Cav
• Manos, SFC Leo E. – 27th Ord Bn
• McClellan, CWO Bennie O. – 5th Cav Rgt
• McCloskey, SFC Ranny Jarrold
• McDonald, Maj. C.I.
• Mosher, Capt. Howard D. – Hq G-2, 1st Cav Div
• Neece, SFC James W.- 82nd FA Bn
• Oppenheimer, WOJG Paul K. – Hq 1st Cav Div (G-2)
• Osborne, A/2C Harold Gene
• Record, 1Lt. Glenn Hubert
• Riesberg, WOJG F.J.
• Schimpf, Capt. T.J.
• Stewart, SFC William H. – 8th Engr “C” Bn….” [Bio’s can be located on website.]
(Korean War Educator. “Topics – C-46D Crash, Japan – February 1, 1954.”)

Newspapers — Chronological

Feb 1: “Tokyo (AP) – A U.S. Air Force plane only 10 minutes from landing plunged 34 American servicemen and an Army civilian employe to death today in icy waters off Hokkaido Island, the Air Force said. None of the 30 passengers and 5 crewmen survived the crash of the twin-engine C46 Commando, a courier plane shuttling mail and supplies to a base in northern Japan, said an Air Force spokesman. The plane crashed in the frigid 25-mile-wide strait between Hokkaido and Honshu, Japan’s main island….” (Janesville Daily Gazette, WI. “Plane Dives Into Sea; 35 Perish.” 2-1-1954, 1.)

Feb 2: “37-year-old former Oil City National Guardsman was one of 34 American servicemen who plunged to death Sunday in a plane crash off Hokkaido Island, Japan. He was Warrant Officer Benny McClellan, a veteran of two wars and a son of Mr. and Mrs. William S. McClellan of 21 Graff Street.

“His wife, the former Irene Baker, phoned relatives here today and told them of the tragedy which claimed the life of the army veteran. She informed her parents…that “I am coming home alone.” Mrs. McClellan said no survivors of the plane crash had been found. Army authorities expressed doubt that any of the bodies ever would be found.

“The twin-engine C46 Commando, a courier plane shuttling mail and supplies to a base in northern Japan, was on a regular run from Tachikawa Air Force Base, near Tokyo, to Chitose AFB, near Sapporo, principal city of the big northern Island of Hokkaido, when it plunged into the icy waters.

“An Air Force spokesman said only some open parachutes and an oil slick were spotted by search planes at the scene, about 20 miles from land.

“Three days ago Hokkaido had a big blizzard and it’s bitterly cold there.

“Passengers on such flights customarily wear life jackets and parachutes. However, a man could
stay alive only a few minutes in the icy water of the strait….

“Mrs. McClellan sailed last June 28 for Japan where she was reunited with her husband. Because of limited housing near the base where Warrant Officer McClellan was stationed, his wife has been making her home with other GIs’ wives about 350 miles from the base. On weekends, McClellan and army personnel would fly to visit with their wives. I t was from one of these weekend visits that McClellan and the other servicemen were returning at the time of the crash….” (The Blizzard, Oil City, PA. “Local Soldier Dies in Plane Crash Near Japanese Island.” 2-2-1954, 1.)

Feb 4: “Washington, Feb. 4 (UPI) — The Army has identified the victims of the crash of a C46 transport plane in Japan Sunday. The Army listed two killed and 26 missing. The Air Force previously listed seven missing…. [List of names, rank and hometown.] (European Stars and Stripes, Darmstadt, Germany. “Army Identifies 28 Victims of C46 Crash in Japan.” 2-5-1954, 7.)

Feb 6: “Sapporo, Japan, Feb. 6 — Families and friends of the 35 servicemen lost in last Monday’s C46 crash over frigid Tsugaru Strait Wednesday attended worship services in memory of the victims. Requiem High Mass and Protestant memorial services for the 28 Army passengers and seven Air Force crewmen were held at Camp Haugen and Misawa AB, short distances from the homes of the victims, 1st Cav. Div. headquarters said today.

“All but one of the 14 officers and 14 enlisted men numbered among the Army dead were 1st Cav. Div. personnel returning to Hokkaido after visiting dependents on Honshu. The exception was a corporal returning from a service school at Eta Jima.

“The Army victims, according to an Associated Press list released at Washington were:

SFC Harold S. Peterson, Mulberry, Fla.;
Sgt. William I. Van Hoesen, address not available;
Sgt. Daniel A. Bingham, Phoenix, Ariz.;
Col. Leo B. Burkett, Norman, Okla.;
M/Sgt. Glen V. Collins, Seattle, Wash.;
Lt. Col. Murray Deevers, Hagerville, Ark.;
Maj. William Haley, Yonkers, N.Y.
Capt. Elmer Hultsch, Chicago, III.;
2nd Lt. Donald J. Iverson, Avery, Idaho;
SFC Leo E. Manos, Walnut Creek, Cal.;
SFC Ranny J. MacClosky, Selma, Cal.;
1st Lt. Glen H. Record. Lawton, Okla.;
M/Sgt. John Bigonish, White Oak, N.C.;
WO Edward B. Chandler, North Charleston, S.C.;
Capt. Hubert W. Combs Jr., Kingsport, Tenn.
First Lt. Thomas E. Dean, Brooklyn, N.Y.;
SFC Charles H. Johnston, Butler, Pa.;
SFC Robert W. Jones, Anderson Ind.;
SFC Robert T. Louks. West Point, Ky.;
Cpl. William H. Lucas, Congers, N.Y.;
Capt. James A. Lumley, Durham, N.C.;
CWO Bennie O. McClellan, Junction City, Kan.;
Maj. Ceril L. MacDonald, Shelbyville, Tenn.
Capt. Howard D. Mosher, Hudson Falls, N.Y.;
SFC James W. Neece, Frederick. Md.;
WO Paul K. Oppenheimer, New York, N.Y.;
WO Frank J. Reisberg, Alexandria, Va.; and
SFC William H. Stewart, Mountain City, Tenn.”

(Pacific Stars and Stripes. “Families Attend Services of C-46 Crash Victims.” 2-6-1954, 3.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. Accident Description. United States Air Force, Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando…01 Feb 1954. Accessed at:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19540201-0

Baugher, Joseph F. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). Nov 6, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-29-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_5.html

European Stars and Stripes, Darmstadt, Germany. “Army Identifies 28 Victims of C46 Crash in Japan,” 2-5-1954, 7. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=133717154

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

Janesville Daily Gazette, WI. “Plane Dives Into Sea; 35 Perish.” 2-1-1954, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=159025345

Korean War Educator. “Topics – C-46D Crash, Japan – February 1, 1954.” Accessed 5-3-2023 at: http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/airplane_crashes/c46d_japan_19540201/p_c46d_japan.htm

Oil City Blizzard, PA. “Local Soldier Dies in Plane Crash Near Japanese Island.” 2-2-1954, p. 1. Accessed 5-3-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oil-city-blizzard-feb-02-1954-p-1/

Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan. “Families Attend Services of C-46 Crash Victims.” 2-6-1954, 3. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=141648076

Wikipedia. “Tachikawa Airfield.” 3-26-2023 edit. Accessed 5-3-2023 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachikawa_Airfield