16 fatalities

Aircraft crash into sea near Kwajalein Atoll (44-87638)

Kwajalein, Marshall IslandsTakeoff (climb)

On April 19, 1947, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress (registration 44-87638) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Kwajalein, Marshall Islands during takeoff. 16 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into the ocean shortly after departing Kwajalein Atoll Airport, resulting in the deaths of all sixteen people on board.

What happened

The incident occurred immediately following departure from Kwajalein Atoll Airport. The aircraft lost control and impacted the sea surface shortly after takeoff. There was no opportunity for a safe landing or diversion due to the immediate nature of the failure. All 16 occupants on board were killed in the accident.

Findings

The source material does not provide specific details regarding the technical cause, maintenance history, or contributing factors leading to the loss of control. The record confirms only the location of the crash and the total number of fatalities.