7 fatalities

Soviet Air Force MiG-15 Pilots Shoot Down Aircraft Near Pyongyang (44-62011)

Pyongyang, North KoreaFlight

On December 30, 1952, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress (registration 44-62011) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Pyongyang, North Korea in flight. 7 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by Soviet AF 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

Soviet MiG-15 pilots shot down an aircraft approximately 40 km north of Pyongyang. Seven crew members were killed and five became prisoners of war.

Incident

An aircraft was shot down by pilots of the Soviet Air Force flying MiG-15 fighters, crashing about 40 kilometers north of Pyongyang. The incident resulted in the deaths of seven crew members, while five others were captured and became prisoners of war.

Crew

The crew consisted of twelve members: 1st Lt Harold Copland, M/Sgt Patrick M. Differ, 1st Lt Robert R. Foster, 2nd Lt David T. Heer, A1c Rudolf Nikles, A2c Damian F. O'Toole, 1st Lt Otho A. Orr, 1st Lt Harry M. Rehm, A2c Daryl E. Rodney, A2c Donald G. Swalls, A2c Leland H. Van Slyke, and 1st Lt Paul I. Wilcox.

Probable Cause

According to official findings, the probable cause was that the aircraft was shot down by a Soviet Air Force fighter.