No fatalities

Bomber Crew Abandons Aircraft Over Yellow Sea After Enemy Attack (44-61656)

Yellow Sea, WorldFlight

On October 22, 1951, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress (registration 44-61656) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Yellow Sea, World in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by enemy fighter. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A bomber on a mission over Taechon Airport was attacked by MiG fighters, resulting in engine and hydraulic failure. All 12 crew members abandoned the aircraft before it crashed into the Yellow Sea; two were wounded.

Attack and System Failures

During a bombing mission over Taechon Airport in North Korea, the bomber was engaged by two or three MiG fighter aircraft at 1517 local time. The attack caused the failure of engine number one and a loss of the hydraulic system. Despite the damage, the pilot managed to steer the aircraft away from the combat area.

Crew Abandonment and Rescue

Eventually, all 12 crew members abandoned the bomber. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the Yellow Sea. All 12 occupants were rescued, though two of them sustained wounds. The aircraft was lost in the incident.

Official Findings

The probable cause of the loss, as determined by the official investigation, was that the bomber was shot down by enemy fighter aircraft.