What happened
On January 13, 1953, a B-29 Superfortress, registration 44-62217, was engaged in a leaflet dropping mission over northern Korea. The aircraft, operated by the 581st Air Resundupply and Communications Wing based at Kadena AB, Okinawa, was flying near the Yalu River, approximately 15 miles from the Chinese border near Antung, when it was intercepted by Soviet-piloted MiG-15 fighters.
During the mission, Russian radar-controlled searchlight units positioned near the Chinese border illuminated the unarmed bomber. This allowed several MiGs from the 351st and potentially the 535th Fighter Air Regiments to locate and attack the aircraft. The engagement resulted in the destruction of the plane and included 2 fatalities among the crew members.
Following the shoot-down, the surviving crew members were captured and transported into China. They were subsequently accused of espionage by Chinese authorities and held in prison for two years. During a high-profile trial in Peking in October 1954, several crew members received prison sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment. The survivors remained in custody until August 4, 1955, marking them as the longest-held American prisoners of war from the Korean War.
Findings
The destruction of the aircraft was caused by interception and attack by Soviet MiG-15 fighters that were vectored to the bomber's position using searchlights.