1946 — Dec 10, USAAF C-46 takeoff crash near Itami US Air Base, Osaka, Japan–all 23-24

Last edit 11-3-2023 by Wayne Blanchard for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–23-24  Blanchard: The newspaper reports we note below indicate 22 immediate deaths. We are informed by Gero that a survivor died “nearly a week later” bringing the death toll to 23, providing that the newspaper reports were accurate. We cite three sources specializing on aviation, all noting 24 fatalities. We conclude there were either 23 or 24 deaths and that there were no survivors.

–28  San Mateo Times, CA. “28 Feared Dead in Tokyo Plane Crash.” 12-10-1946, p. 1.

–24  Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885).  11-6-2011 revision.

–24  Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando…”

–24  Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 42. 

–22  Dixon Evening Telegraph, IL. “Osaka Plane Crash is Fatal to 3 Illinoisans.” 12-14-1946, 7.*

–22  Lubbock Morning Avalanche, TX. “Army Reveals Names of Plane Crash Dead.” 12-14-46

–22  Marysville Tribune, OH. “Two Ohioans Die in Crash.”  12-14-1946, p. 1.

–22  New Castle News, PA. “Twenty-Two Killed in Plane Crash.” 12-14-1946, p. 8.

–22  Oakland Tribune, CA. “Names of Osaka Crash Dead Listed.” 12-13-1946, p. 11.

–22  Salt Lake Tribune, UT. 12-11-1946, p. 1.

 

* This newspaper report of 22 deaths, as well as the others noted below the Dixon Evening Telegraph report would have been printed before the death of the only surviving member of the flight, which, according to Gero, was “nearly a week later.”

 

Narrative Information

 

Baugher: “Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando….78604 crashed on takeoff near Osaka, Japan Dec 10, 1946.  24 killed.” (Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885).  11-6-2011 revision.)

 

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives: “

“Date & Time:                         Dec 10, 1946 at 1310 LT [local time]

….

“Flight Phase:              Takeoff (climb)

“Flight Type:               Postal (mail)

“Survivors:                  No

….

“MSN:                         22427

….

“Crew on board:         5

“Crew fatalities:          5

“Pax on board:                        19

“Pax fatalities:             19

“Other fatalities:         0

“Total fatalities:          24

“Circumstances:          Shortly after takeoff from runway 32, while in initial climb, the aircraft

banked left and right, then nosed down and crashed in a paddy field. The

aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 24 occupants, among them

3 civilians, were killed. The crew was completing a mail flight from

Tachikawa AFB to Fukuoka with an intermediate stop in Osaka-Itami

Airport. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were considered as

marginal and it is believed that the left engine was not running at impact for

reason that could not be determined with certainty.”

 

(Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Osaka: 24 Killed.” Accessed 11-3-2023.)

 

Gero:

“Date:              10 December 1946 (c.13:10)

“Location:       Near Osaka, Japan

“Operator:       US Army Air Forces

“Aircraft type: Curtis-Wright C-46F (44-78604)

 

“The twin-engine transport crashed and burned approximately 3 miles (5km) south-west of Itami Air Base, from where it had taken off about two minutes earlier, killing all 24 persons aboard. Except for three American civilians travelling as passengers, the victims were US service personnel, including the crew of five. One of the victims was found alive in the wreckage but died nearly a week later

 

“Having lifted off from Runway 28 on an internal Japanese courier flight that had originated at Tachikawa Air Base, near Tokyo, and ultimately destined for Konaya Air Base, the aircraft yawed to starboard, and after a shallow turn to the left, stalled, rolled back to the right and finally slammed into a rice field, coming to rest inverted.

 

“The local weather at the time consisted of scattered clouds at 3,000ft (1,000m), a visibility of 15 miles (25km) and a westerly wind of around 20 knots. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left propeller appeared to have been feathered at the moment of impact, but the cause of the power loss, if known, was not divulged in the report on the accident.” (Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 42.) 

 

Newspapers

 

Dec 10, San Mateo Times, CA: “Tokyo, Dec. 10. – (UP) – A C46 transport plane crashed shortly after taking off from Itami airbase[1] near Osaka today, and all but one of the persons aboard were killed.  Earlier and unofficial reports placed the number of dead, at 28. The plane was en route from Tokyo to Fukuoka on Northwest Kyushu island.  It took off from Itami at 1 p. m. and crashed two minutes later.”  (San Mateo Times, CA. “28 Feared Dead in Tokyo Plane Crash.” 12-10-1946, p. 1.)

 

Dec 11, Salt Lake Tribune: “Tokyo, Wednesday, Dec. 11 (UP) – Twenty-two of 23 Americans aboard a C-46 Army transport plane of the Fifth air forces, died in a crash Tuesday into a field three miles south of the Inami [Itami] air base near Osaka two minutes after the takeoff, unofficial but reliable sources revealed Wednesday.”  (Salt Lake Tribune, UT. 12-11-1946, p. 1.)

 

Dec 13, Oakland Tribune: “Washington, Dec. 13. – (AP) — Twenty-two Americans who died Tuesday in the crash of an Army transport plane shortly after leaving Osaka, Japan, were identified today by the Air Forces. They were the pilot, First Lieut. John E. Mullin, Chicago. III., four other crew men. And 17 military arid civilian passengers. The crew list included

 

Gilbert N. Staley…Sacramento, Calif.

Warrant Officer Shigeru Mori…Sandy, Utah;

Master Sgt. Frederick M. Hirano, Mamche [Amache Relocation Camp?], Colo.;

Tech. Sgt. Thomas A. Yamazaki, Boulder, Colo.;

Tech. Sgt. Daniel C. Ota, Topaz, Utah;

Staff Sgt. Raymond V. Worthley, Nevada City, Calif.;

Warner I. Weil, whose brother, David H. Weil lives in Burbank, Calif.”

 

(Oakland Tribune, CA.  “Names of Osaka Crash Dead Listed.” 12-13-1946, p. 11.)

 

Dec 14, Marysville Tribune, OH: “Tokyo, Dec. 14. – Names of twenty-two persons killed in the crash of a C-46 transport plane near Osaka Tuesday were released today by the U. S. Fifth Air Force.  The dead included one woman identified as Miss Fay Givelman of Brooklyn, N. Y.  Other, victims included two from Ohio, T/Sgt. Thomas Yamaziki, Cleveland, and Cpl. Leonard A. Crumrine, Lafayette.  Charles E. Miller of Philadelphia, a civilian employe of the Philco Radio Corp., survived the crash.  He was pulled from the wreckage by a Japanese.” (Marysville Tribune, OH.  “Two Ohioans Die in Crash.”  12-14-1946, p. 1.)

 

Dec 14, Associated Press: “Tokyo, Dec. 14. – (AP) – Three army officers whose families live in Illinois were among 22 persons killed Tuesday in the crash of a transport plane shortly after its takeoff from Osaka, the army has announce.  They were

 

Capt. Terry A. Redding, Springfield;

Lt. Peter B. Crum, whose wife lives at Harvey, and

Lt. Harry D. Fitzgerald, navigator, son or Mrs. Oma Fitzgerald, O’Fallon….”

 

(Dixon Evening Telegraph, IL. “Osaka Plane Crash is Fatal to 3 Illinoisans.” 12-14-1946, 7.)

 

Dec 14, Associated Press: “Tokyo, Saturday, Dec. 14. (AP) – The Army announced today the names of 22 persons including one woman who were killed Tuesday in the crash of a transport plane shortly after its takeoff from Osaka. 

 

Charles E. Miller, Philadelphia, a civilian employed of Philco Radio corporation [died later]

 

“Other passenger deaths included:

 

Lt. Col. James L. Porter, Richmond, Ind., and Englewood Farms, Paris, Tex.” 

 

(Lubbock Morning Avalanche, TX. “Army Reveals Names of Plane Crash Dead.” 12-14-1946, 1)

 

Dec 14, International News Service: “Tokyo, Dec. 14. – (INS) – Names of 22 persons killed in the crash of a C-46 troop transport plane near Osaka Tuesday were released today…The dead included…

 

Thomas Yamaziki, Cleveland, O.’

T-Sgt. Daniel F. Ola, address unknown;

Cpl. Leonard A Crumrine, Lafayette, O.;

Warner I. Weil, Buffalo, N.Y., and

Sgt. Robert L. Hutchinson, Wheeling, W. Va….”

 

(New Castle News, PA. “Twenty-Two Killed in Plane Crash.” 12-14-1946, p. 8.)

 

Fatalities Noted in Newspaper Accounts

 

  1. Crum, Lt. Peter B., Harvey, OH
  2. Crumrine, Cpl. Leonard A., Lafayette, OH
  3. Fitzgerald, Lt. Harry D., O’Fallon, OH
  4. Givelman, Miss Fay, Brooklyn, NY
  5. Hutchinson, Sgt. Robert L., Wheeling, WV
  6. Hirano, Master Sgt. Frederick M., Mamche [Amache Relocation Camp?], CO
  7. Mori, Warrant Officer Shigeru, Sandy, UT
  8. Miller, Charles E., Philadelphia, civilian employee of Philco Radio Corp. [died later]
  9. Mullin, 1st John E., Pilot, Chicago, IL
  10. Ota, Tech. Sgt. Daniel C., Topaz, UT
  11. Porter, Lt. Col. James L., Richmond, IN and Englewood Farms, Paris, TX
  12. Redding, Capt. Terry A., Springfield, OH
  13. Staley, Gilbert N., Sacramento, CA
  14. Weil, Warner I., Buffalo, NY
  15. Worthley, Staff Sgt. Raymond V., Nevada City, CA
  16. Yamazaki, Tech. Sgt., Thomas A., Boulder, CO
  17. Yamaziki [or Yamazuki], T/Sgt. Thomas, Cleveland, OH

 

Sources

 

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

 

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Osaka: 24 Killed.” Accessed 11-3-2023 at:

https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-curtiss-c-46f-1-cu-commando-osaka-24-killed

 

Dixon Evening Telegraph, IL. “Osaka Plane Crash is Fatal to 3 Illinoisans.” 12-14-1946, 7. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=2403832

 

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

 

Lubbock Morning Avalanche, TX. “Army Reveals Names of Plane Crash Dead.” 12-14-1946, p. 1.  Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=107878098

 

Marysville Tribune, OH. “Two Ohioans Die in Crash.” 12-14-1946, p. 1. Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=114368378

 

New Castle News, PA. “Twenty-Two Killed in Plane Crash.” 12-14-1946, p. 8. Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=57176715

 

Oakland Tribune, CA. “Names of Osaka Crash Dead Listed.” 12-13-1946, p. 11. Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=32441591

 

Salt Lake Tribune, UT. [USAAF C-46 Plane Crash near Osaka, Japan] 12-11-1946, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=93956453

 

San Mateo Times, CA. “28 Feared Dead in [USAAF] Tokyo Plane Crash.” 12-10-1946, p. 1. Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=37286317

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] At the time a U.S. Air Base.