What happened
During a specialized training mission involving an aerial attack simulation on the city of Portland, two aircraft collided in mid-air. The operation involved a B-29 Superfortress and a Lockheed F-94 Starfire, registration 49-2574, which had departed from McChord AFB to support the bomber's mission.
While performing gunnery exercises, the fighter aircraft made a mock pass at the heavy bomber. During this maneuver, the F-94 Starfire struck the outer wing of the B-29. Following the impact, the crew of the 49-2574 managed to perform an emergency landing at Aurora Airport without further incident. However, the B-29 lost control after the structural damage, diving into a field and crashing. The accident resulted in 11 fatalities among the crews involved.
Findings
The collision occurred during a simulated combat pass, where the fighter aircraft made physical contact with the wing of the bomber.