What happened
During a training mission originating from March AFB, a B-29 Superfortress collided with a USN Vought F4U-4 Corsair, registration 81218, which was operating out of MCAS El Toro. The Corsair was part of a four-plane formation from VMA-251 participating in a GCI and Camera Gunnery flight. During the exercise, the B-29s requested that the Corsair formation perform head-on gunnery passes.
While the first three aircraft in the formation completed these maneuvers, the fourth aircraft did not execute the pass. This led to a collision between the heavy bomber and the fighter. Both aircraft subsequently crashed into the Pacific Ocean, approximately 30 miles west of Oceanside. The accident resulted in 12 fatalities, including the pilot of the Corsair and 11 crew members from the Superfortress. Six other individuals were successfully rescued following the crash.
Findings
An investigation into the event suggests that the collision occurred during a period when the fourth aircraft in the formation failed to follow the established pattern of head-on gunnery passes requested by the B-29s.