No fatalities

Aircraft abandonment over Wisbech with no injuries (44-62191)

Wisbech, United KingdomFlight

On July 21, 1949, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress (registration 44-62191) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Wisbech, United Kingdom in flight. No fatalities were reported. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot encountered an unexpected situation en route, prompting all 12 crew members to bail out. The aircraft crashed in a field near Wisbech and was destroyed, but everyone survived.

What happened

During the en route phase of flight, the pilot faced an unforeseen operational challenge that necessitated immediate action. In response to this unexpected situation, all 12 crew members elected to abandon the aircraft. The crew executed a bailout procedure, leaving the machine in uncontrolled descent.

The airframe subsequently impacted the ground in a field situated approximately two miles west of Wisbech. The force of the impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. Despite the severity of the crash and the loss of the airframe, all personnel on board escaped without sustaining any injuries.