A number of crashes involving United States military planes and airliners occurred during the
Korean War era of 1950-1954. Visitors to the Korean War Educator are encouraged to view the text of already
existing crash reports and stories, as well as add to the page with news of other crashes associated with active
duty United States military personnel at the time. The crashes may relate to incidents large and small and will
be posted by date of crash/loss. To add information and/or photographs, contact
Lynnita@koreanwar-educator.org.
To learn more about airplane crashes worldwide, visit Richard Kebabjian's website, "Plane Crash Info.Com."
Contents:
- Accident-Report.com
- United Airlines Flight 615, August 1951
- Robinson Crusoe of Schinz-do, May 1952
- Globemaster Crash, December 1952 (Larson Air Field)
- Globemaster Crash, June 1953 (Tachikawa, Japan)
- Unknown Fate of 3 Cape Cod, January 1954
- B-29 Bomber Crash, 30 December 1952
- C-54 Skymaster Crash, September 19, 1950
- B-29s Collide - March 12, 1952
- B-29 Superfortress Bomber Crash, January 11, 1951
- B-29 Superfortress Bomber Crash, February 2, 1953
- B-29 Superfortress Bomber Crash, March 29, 1953
- Cheje-do Island Crash, May 24, 1954
- Huey crash, November 27, 1968
- Index of era airplane crashes
- Links of interest
Mike Stowe's Accident-Report.com provides information about how to purchase copies of accident reports and
photographs relating to military aviation incidents over several decades. Mike generously supplied to the
Korean War Educator a list of aircraft accidents that occurred during the Korean War era. Click below to
view the list.
Aircraft Incidents - Korean War Era (COMING SOON)
Contact information for Accident Reports is: Accident Reports, 1322 W. Main Street, Millville, NJ 08332.
E-mail: accireport@msn.com.
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United Airlines Flight 615, August 1951
View information about this crash at
www.lostbirds.com/MagWreckStory2.html.
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Robinson Crusoe of Schinz-do, May 1952
A lengthy story about the ordeal of Albert W. Schinz can be found in Volume 33, Issue No. 4, July 28, 1952,
pp. 95-96, 98, 101-102, 104, and 107 of LIFE magazine. The article is entitled, “Robinson Crusoe of Schinz-do.”
Colonel Schinz survived 37 days on a North Korean island after his F-86 Sabre jet was shot down over MIG Alley
on May 1, 1952.
Schinz ejected from the plane before it crashed into the sea. He was faced with the problems of exhaustion,
damp clothing, a broken radio, lack of food, and a 37-day lone existence on the island before he was rescued.
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Globemaster Crash, December 1952 (Larson Air Field)
View information about this crash.
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Globemaster Crash, June 1953 (Tachikawa, Japan)
View information about this crash.
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Unknown Fate of Three Cape Cod
View information about this incident.
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B-29 Bomber, 30 December 1952
Source: Rensselaer County [NY] Heroes Korean War 1950-1953: The Forgotten Remembered compiled by Ken
Page.
"Rudolph Nikles, son of Herman Nikles and Theresa Shanta, resided on 4th Avenue in Troy and attended
Lansingburgh High School. Rudolph's uncle and aunt were Rudolph J. and Freda P. Niles. He entered the Air
Force in August 1951 at 18 years of age. Airman First Class Nikles was with the 19th Bomber Group, 28th Bomber
Squadron. Airman First Class Nikles was the left Gunner on a B-29 Medium Bomber. On 30 December 1952 his
squadron attacked an ore processing plant in North Korea northwest of Pyongyang when they were attacked by
enemy fighters. Nikles' plane bombed the target and turned southward, still under enemy attack. The final
radio transmission from the plane stated "crew bailing out." Two minutes later the plane was observed crashing
about 25 miles north of Pyongyang. A Marine pilot heard the bailout order and two minutes later observed the
aircraft crash about 25 miles north of Pyongyang. Five of the twelve crew members survived and were
repatriated during "Big Switch." A1C Nikles was listed as missing in action and presumed dead on December 31,
1953. Military awards included the Air Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service, United Nations Service
Medal, Korean Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. A1C Nikles'
name appears on the Honor Court, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.
C-54 Skymaster Crash, September 19, 1950
According to KWE member Art Lajeunesse of Latham, New York, this aircraft crashed and exploded shortly after
taking off from Kwajalein to Japan on September 19, 1950, killing all 26 Naval personnel on board. Take
off at night with no moon may have been a contributing factor in this incident.
Analysis:
Plane ___ Vanderford departed Barber's Point on routine flight to Tokyo with scheduled stops at Johnston,
Kwajalein, and Guam. The flight from Barber's Point to Johnston & from Johnston to Kwajalein was
uneventful. Arriving at Kwajalein at 1016313. No discrepancies were reported by plane CDR.
After routine servicing the A/E was scheduled to depart from Kwajalein for Guam with relief crew. The
plane CDR of which was LCDR S.L. White. When the a/e departed the terminal White was in left hand pilot
seat. The positions of the remainder of his crew are unknown.
The a/e made normal takeoff with no apparent failures after takeoff. Approximately one minute after
take off the a/e crashed. The a/e exploded on impact and burned for approximately ten minutes then sank
in about 1200 fathoms of water. The location of the crash was approximately five miles of upwind and of
takeoff w/w OYO. The ___ Kwajalein tower operator reported the first transmission read from a/e before
the crash was the shift from Kwajalein tower frequency.
The fatalities were as follows:
- White, Lt. Com. Samuel Lee - Pilot
Lt. Commander White was a highly decorated veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was assigned to
Air Transport Squadron 21, Barbers Point, Hawaii. Lieutenant Commander White was awarded the Purple
Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National
Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
- Spangle, Lt. JG William Granger, II - Co-pilot
USNA Class of 1945, Lieutenant Spangle was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of
Air Transport Squadron 21, Barbers Point, Hawaii. Lt. JG Spangle was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon,
the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Republic
of Korea War Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War
II Victory Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia Clasp.
Message from Lieutenant Spangle's son:
"It is a wonderful thing you have done. I am William G. Spangle, LtCol, USAF (ret), but my father,
also of the same name, was killed in the plane crash off Kwajalein atoll, 19 Sept 1950. I found details of
the crash on this website and even after 55 years brought some closure to my father's death. My mother (my
Dad's wife) and his mother, only recently deceased, were sketchy on the details and who could blame them!
I had considered a trip to Kwajalein Atoll. I don't exactly know why--perhaps just to stand on the runway
where my Dad last stood. These details certainly helped. If any readers of this message knew my father, I
would appreciate hearing from them." - William G. Spangle,
Wgspangle@verizon.net.
- Watkins, Lt. William D.
- Best, Lt Com. Issac S.
- Sessons, CPO Robbie
- Sauer, AEM/3C Edward A.
- Johnson, AEM/3C Albert J.
- Esposito, Ens. Constance R.
- Kilthau, Lt. James J.
- Englehardt, Ens. Edward E.
- Harsh, Ens. Robert A.
- Thrall, Ens. Alvin E.
- Giroux, Lt. JG Alice J.
- Boatman, Ens. Marie M.
- Heege, Lt. JG Constance A.
Lieutenant JG Heege served as a nurse with the US Navy. She was enroute to Tokyo to aid the Korean
wounded. She was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.
- Clarke, Lt. JG Jeanmne E.
- Kennedy, Lt JG Margarte G.
- Goodwin, Lt. JG Calla V.
- Rundell, Ens. Edna J.
- Jackson, David J. Jr.
- Palmer, Lt. Francis G.
- Smith, Lt. JG Harold K.
- Beste, Ens. Eleanor C.
- Liljegreen, Lt. JG Mary E.
- Horter, Lt. William D.
- Eldridge, Ens. Jane L.
B-29s Collide - March 12, 1952
[KWE Note: The following information about this collision of B-29s came from Richard Kebabjian of
www.planecrashinfo.com. The KWE was notified about the fact
there was such a crash by Roy Emberland of Thousand Oaks, California, who told us, "Dave Streett and I
belonged to Lt. Johnson's crew (one of the crews killed) but we did not fly that training mission."]
Corpus Christi Times, Thursday, March 13, 1952
Collision of B-29s Kills 15 Crewman
San Antonio - Two B-29 Superfortresses whose pilots couldn't see where they were going while flying on
instruments collided and carried 15 crewmen to their deaths in the hills of South Texas yesterday. One
bomber plunged to earth and shattered--scattering fragments and bodies over a five-mile area. The other
glided down several miles away, exploded and burned.
Training Mission
The planes were on training flights from Randolph Air Force Base here. They were being flown
mechanically and the pilot's cabins were blacked out, according to Lt. Bill Adams, public information officer at
the base. One plane carried seven men and the other eight, the Air Force Base said. The shattered
plane crashed on a hilltop near the Gus Krause ranch. The other glided down near a small landing strip on
the ranch of J.W. Heard, San Antonio oil man.
D.D. McDonald, superintendent of a ranch, said he saw the planes flying in formation. He gave this
account: "Suddenly one crossed over and apparently clipped the tail section from the other plane.
One plane went down and the other kept on flying on a level keal, with good altitude as if undamaged. No
one jumped. The plane came in low over a windmill on the Heard ranch, just barely missing it.
Suddenly the left wing dropped and went into the ground. The right wing cut off a huge tree. The
plane plowed several hundred feet and the four motors were found on a hilltop several hundred feet away."
Heard Explosion
Chester Krause, son of the ranch owner, told this story: "I heard a big explosion and dashed out and
saw a fire going. I ran up the hill about a half a mile away where the crash occurred. There wasn't
any indication that anybody was alive. In a little while I talked to Albert Opperman who works on the
Julius Brehemer Ranch. He told me that he saw the two planes flying close together and that one of them
struck the tail end of the other, tearing off the end of the plane. This one crashed on our ranch and the
other one went on flying away, like nothing happened. It was only a matter of a couple of minutes before
we heard it hit the ground. There was a big explosion there."
Randolph first reported that a B-26 bomber sighted the wreckage of one plane. It was several hours
later before the base confirmed that two planes had collided. The crash occurred about noon 19 miles south
of here in a rugged ranch country studded with cedar and live oak trees.
A special investigating board was reported flying to Randolph from San Bernadino, California. Jack
Nolen, who lives nearby, reported finding a paper-back book with most of the pages burned away but with the
title intact. It read: "I Want a Big Funeral."
Partial List of Dead in Bomber Crash
San Antonio - March 13 (AP)
Air Force officials early today announced names and addresses of eight of 15 victims killed yesterday when
two B-29 bombers collided during training flights near here. [KWE Note: This news article was sent by
e-mail and was very difficult to read. It is possible that some name spellings and ages might be
incorrect.] Killed in one of the planes were:
- Capt. Donald L. Rottler, 36, of San Antonio
- 1st Lt. Robert D. Neu, 33, of San Antonio, student plane commander
- M-Sgt. Ward W. Havis, 35, of Shertz, Texas
- M-Sgt. Harwell B. Meyers, 29, of Randolph AFB
- Pfc. Arthur L. Hall, 22, of Shertz, Texas
- Lt. Moses O. Seals, 31, of Fresno, California
Identities of the instructor gunner and a student gunner on the plane were expected to be announced shortly.
Identified dead in the second plane included:
- 1st Lt. Lester H. Johnson, 29, of New Braunfels
- 1st Lt. Dale Scott, 32, of San Antonio
- M-Sgt. G.L. Arnold, 31, of Randolph AFB
- Maj. B.W. Padgett, 30, of Atlanta, GA
- E.J. Jameson, 39, of Pottstown, PA
Identities of the student airplane commander, instructor-gunner and two student gunners aboard the second
plane were not yet distributed. The Air Force said notification of next of kin was being made on the basis
of the list of men presumed to be onboard the plane.
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B-29 Superfortress Bomber Crash, January 11, 1951
A B-29 Superfortress bomber crashed near Seguin, Texas, on January 11, 1951. The plane was returning to
Randolph Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas. Six of the crew members were killed, while five other men
parachuted to safety. The following information from a Times Union newspaper article (January 12,
1951) about the crash was sent to the KWE by Art Lajeunesse of Latham, New York.
"A B-29 Superfortress--groping through an overcast--crashed in flames last night, killing six men.
Five other men aboard parachuted to safety. Only one of the five was injured.
Capt. Norman A. Bivens, 27, of Los Angeles, the pilot, said the plane was returning to Randolph Air Force
Base from a seven-hour training flight. He said at 8,000 feet he cut off the automatic pilot and began
flying on instrument as he started to let down through the overcast.
"Suddenly my flight instruments went out," he said. "I couldn't reach my mike so I hit the emergency
bell and released cabin pressure in the navigator's compartment enabling the men down there to get out.
I locked the emergency bell down and went out the nose wheel door."
The plane crashed 10 miles southwest of Sequin. Randolph base is some 18 miles from San
Antonio, TX."
The men killed were:
- Capt. Leonard H. Calkins, 47, navigator, San Antonio. Born 1904. Service Number AO501894.
- 1LT Robert L. Wilson, 34, co-pilot, Bellflower, CA. Born 1917. Service Number AO754453.
- 2LT James E. Shaw, 21, radio observer, San Antonio. Born 1930. Service Number AO1911515.
- S/SGT Roderick A. Howey, 25, central fire control gunner, Los Angeles. Born 1926. Service
Number AF15344219.
- CPL Ernest Bennett, 24, right gunner, survived by his mother, Mrs. Floyd Bennett, Paris, TN. Born
1927. Service Number AF14276000.
- CPL Donald J. Cameron, 22, tail gunner, survived by his mother, Mrs. Clara Cameron, Chicago. Born
1929. Service Number AF16303056.
Besides Bivens, those who parachuted safely were:
- Capt. Howard E. Arp, 32, bombardier, Albuquerque, NM
- CPL Ralph T. Schwarz, 27, radio operator, Charleston, SC
- Capt. Otho V. Kintner, 33, navigator, Fort Worth, TX, Kintner's back was slightly injured.
- S/SGT James J. Barns, 32, flight engineer, Searcy, AR
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B-29 Superfortress Bomber Crash, Tripoli, Lybia, February 2, 1953
A B-29 Superfortress bomber with the 301st Bomber Squadron, 352nd Bomber Wing based in Upper Hayford Air
Base, England, crashed after taking off from Wheelus Field, Tripoli, Lybia on February 2, 1953. The plane
was taking off on a training mission. Cause of the crash was not immediately determined. Fifteen
crew members were killed. Fourteen of them were from the 301st Bomber Wing, formerly stationed at
Barksdale AFB and temporarily assigned to duty in England. The list of crash fatalities was sent to the
KWE by Art Lajeunesse of New York.
- Capt. Charles Wayne Eley, Commander of the Aircraft. He was from Bossier City, LA. Service
Number AO760606.
- 1LT Lonzo P. Armstrong, Pilot - Bossier City, LA. Born April 21, 1926. Service Number 21552A.
- 1LT Daniel D. Corvelli, Navigator - Bossier City, LA
- 1LT John T. Hackbarth, Bombardier - Bossier City, LA
- M/SGT William H. Grant, Medical/specialist - Bossier City, LA
The addresses of the following casualties were unavailable:
- 2LT Frederick Young, Radio observer
- T/SGT David W. Bolstad, Aero/Medical Specialist
- Airman Frank J. Lovvorn, Radio operator
- A/1C Donald V. Wilson, Gunner
- A/1C Talmadge L. Kloster, Gunner
- A/1C James A. Yuvan, Gunner
- A/1C James C. McDowell, Passenger
- S/SGT Frederick J. Jones, Passenger
- Airman Harold D. Bellette, Passenger
- Airman Ray Ogden Willis, Passenger
B-29 Superfortress Bomber Crash, Terceira Island, Azores, March 29, 1953
This B-29 was with the 375th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Wing stationed at Hunter AFB, Georgia. On
March 29, 1953, the B-29 departed from Lajes Field, Azores en route to Hunter AFB. Shortly after take off
it crashed near Praia, Terceira Island, Azores, killing six airmen. Listed below are the six that died in
the crash.
- Abcock, Major Hugh S. Jr. - CO of the 375th Bomber Squadron. Major Abcock was from St. Petersburg,
Florida. Born in 1916, he was a veteran of World War II. Service Number AO-433443.
- Bowen, Capt. Louis Carl - CO of B-29. He was from Atlanta, Georgia. Service Number AO-817622.
- Cherry, A/1C Jimmie R. - radio operator. He was from Blue Lake, California. Service Number
AF19364210.
- Daniel, T/Sgt. Issac M. - flight engineer. He was from Macon, Georgia. Service Number
AF14254655.
- Devlin, S/Sgt. Wilmer R. - passenger. He was from Stanaford, West Virginia. Service Number
AF14364613.
- Wallace, 1LT Roy Wesley - navigator. He was from Portland, Oregon. Service Number AO-1912300.
According to the Times Union newspaper (March 3, 1953), the seriously injured crew members were as
follows:
- 1LT William R. Sundermann, Philadelphia, PA
- 1LT William J. Pederson, Oakland, CA
- A2C Fred W. Maschner, Evansville, IN
- A1C Charles M. Caillouett Jr., San Antonio, TX
- A2C Daniel lL. Browder, Sibley, IA
The newspaper listed the not-seriously-injured as:
- 1LT Thomas W. Minter, Chicago, IL
- SSgt. Yulee Mickler, Jacksonville, FL
- A2C Arthur L. Turk, Jr., Tifton, GA
- A2C James F. Locklin, Franklin, MA
Information submitted to the KWE by Art Lajeunesse of Latham, NY.
Cheje-Do Island Crash, May 24, 1954
The KWE is seeking information about this crash. The crash occurred on 24 May 1954 and involved a plane
from the 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron from Kimpo.
Huey Crash, November 27, 1968
CWO2 Julius Harold "Harry" Ingram was in the 6th Aviation Platoon in Korea. On November 27, 1968 while
on a mission and commander of a Huey helicopter, the copter and its crew disappeared off the coast of Kangnung.
He was first listed as 'missing' for several weeks. In early January 1969, he was 'declared dead.' Apparently
this was based on the recovery by Korean fisherman of a helicopter part with a matching number. I have no idea
if other people's next of kin were given the same info as me or if any remains of their loved one were recovered
or not. No remains of Harry were ever recovered, or if they were, I was not told (and I was his widow).
One concern I have is that apparently they are making some effort to recover and identify remains of our
servicemen who died now. Harry's brother, Randy Ingram, has agreed to give a sample of blood for the DNA test
project. I know it is a real long shot, but without it remains probably could not be identified at this point.
They apparently did crash in the Sea of Japan.
Another concern is the cause of the crash. Was it ever established? Hostilities were going on,
weather was described as 'marginal', and I think Harry was training a new pilot to the country (Lt Griggs), who
was actually flying. Harry was due to come home in about three weeks.
Also, I would like to contact Marsha E. Brown, who posted on the Korean War Project website in March 2001
about this crash. She is the sister of Gary A. Holz, who died in the crash also. She seemed to know even less
than me. Her phone number and email are no longer good.
Another thing I have noticed is that this crash is not listed in the defense site on missing planes, etc.
http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/family_support_info/file_reviews.htm. I thought, well, maybe because they
were believed to have gone down in the Sea of Japan. But then I see several others who went down in the
Sea of Japan. So, I wonder, do they know more than they told me? I saw on the site where you can request a
'file review' and wonder if I should.
We had a house fire six years ago while in the middle of a move. A lot of the Korean papers connected with
this--telegrams, letters, tapes--burned. However, I just plowed through several old boxes that were in the other
house, and found a bunch of his letters and a lot of slides.
I mainly want to know a cause if it is known, any details really, and equally important is to be able to
identify and have returned any remains they may be found. Harry has a 'in memory of' marker in Greenwood
Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama. I also want to know if any remains of any of the five people onboard have been
recovered and identified.
My research shows those who died:
- Terence D. Miller, b 1948 d Nov 27, 1968 Korea of Non-Hostile reasons. Spec 4th class, US Army. Likely the
one in the SS Index as last living in Virginia, applied for SS # in MN SS # 474-56-1389.
- Gary A. Holz, b 1949 d Nov 27, 1968, Spec 4, Door Gunner, listed as PFC one place and Spec 4 another. From
Madison, Alabama. Sister Marsha E. Brown. Not listed on SS Index.
- Julius Harold Ingram, CWO 6th Aviation Platoon, I Corps, US Army, b Jan 13, 1948, d Nov 27, 1968 Korea.
Listed as Commander. Died from Non-Hostile reasons.
- William L. Smith, Lt. Col. Field Artillery, Active Duty Army, b. 1921, d Nov 27, 1968, Korea, Passenger.
SS Index probable last lived Kentucky, SS 406-20-3855. Died non-hostile causes.
- Richard J. Griggs, Lt., listed as "Battle Dead" no place listed d Nov 27, 1968, pilot/operator
This information came from ancestry.com's US Army Personnel and Dependent Casualties, 1961-1081 Record.
It is also real interesting that this data base has them listed as non-hostile (except for one--Lt Griggs,
listed as battle dead). I was never told that they knew whether it was or not.
I never thought about all this info being on the internet. My husband is searching his Army buddies and kept
telling me Harry isn't listed here, he isn't listed there, etc. So, I started looking around and realized that I
really should know more than I do.
Thanks for any help or advice.
Submitted by Mary Ann Tatum Ingram Nichols. E-mail
nichols5555@aol.com,
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Index of Era Airplane Crashes
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Links of Interest
The following links to websites that provide information about airplane crashes, wrecks, casualties, and
fatalities was supplied to the KWE courtesy of Ed Moynagh and Ray Sestak.
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