11 fatalities

USAF B-50 Crashes During Approach Near RAF Lakenheath, All 11 Crew Killed (49-0271)

Lakenheath AFB, United KingdomLanding (descent or approach)

On June 24, 1952, a Boeing B-50 Superfortress (registration 49-0271) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Lakenheath AFB, United Kingdom during landing or approach. 11 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the stall could be caused by a maneuver on part of the pilot-in-command to avoid a collision with another aircraft in the formation was not ruled out. 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

A USAF B-50 from RAF Lakenheath crashed in a huge explosion during approach after losing control, killing all 11 crew members, including pilot Albin F. Venskus.

Accident Description

The aircraft was participating in a combined exercise departing from RAF Lakenheath alongside ten other USAF B-50s. During the approach phase, the aircraft lost control, dove into the ground, and crashed in a massive explosion a few miles from the airfield. All 11 crew members were killed in the accident, among them the pilot, Albin F. Venskus.

Investigation Findings

The official investigation determined that the exact cause of the accident could not be established with certainty. However, investigators did not rule out the possibility that the stall may have resulted from a maneuver executed by the pilot-in-command to avoid a collision with another aircraft in the formation.

Probable cause

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the stall could be caused by a maneuver on part of the pilot-in-command to avoid a collision with another aircraft in the formation was not ruled out.