What happened
During a bombing mission for the Korean War, a B-29 Superfortress was traveling toward Korea as part of a larger bomber formation. While in flight, the aircraft experienced an engine failure, prompting the pilot to initiate a return to their home base.
As the crew struggled to keep the plane at a safe altitude, they attempted to jettison the bomb load. During this process, a 500-pound bomb failed to release properly from the racks. The resulting attempt to clear the ordnance led to the detonation of the bomb either inside the bomb bay or directly underneath the aircraft's fuselage.
The explosion caused the plane, known as 'Hoxie's Hoax', to lose control and plummet into the Japan Sea off the coast of Dōgo Island. The accident resulted in seven fatalities among the crew members. Five survivors were eventually located and rescued from a life raft approximately two days after the crash.
Findings
- An engine failure necessitated an emergency return to base.
- A mechanical failure in the bomb racks prevented the full release of the payload.
- The detonation of the unreleased 500-pound bomb caused the loss of control and subsequent crash.