7 fatalities

Aircraft Shot Down by Soviet MiG-15 During Namsi Airfield Bombing Mission (44-61940)

Nampo, North KoreaFlight

On October 23, 1951, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress (registration 44-61940) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Nampo, North Korea in flight. 7 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by the pilot of a Soviet MiG-15. 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

An aircraft on a bombing mission over Namsi Airfield was shot down by a Soviet MiG-15, crashing into the Yellow Sea west of Nampo. One crew member was rescued, five were taken prisoner, and seven were considered deceased.

Incident

During a bombing mission targeting Namsi Airfield, an aircraft was shot down by a Soviet MiG-15. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the Yellow Sea approximately 10 km west of Nampo. One crew member was rescued from the crash site, while five others were taken as prisoners of war. The remaining seven occupants were considered deceased, as no trace of them was ever found.

Crew

The crew manifest included: 1st Lt Fred L. Beissner Jr., 1st Lt Wayne F. Black, S/Sgt William J. Botter, Sgt Arthur G. Coffey, Cpt Robert W. Cogswell, Cpt James A. Foulks Jr., Sgt Alois A. Fuehrer, Sgt James H. Jones, S/Sgt Kenneth E. Kisser, Lt Col Gerald C. MacClean, 1st Lt Ara Mooradian, S/Sgt John T. Strine, and 1st Lt Lloyd G. Wentworth Jr. All were listed as occupants of the aircraft.

Probable cause

Shot down by the pilot of a Soviet MiG-15.