25 fatalities

1945 B-24 Liberator Crash in Taiwan (44-42052)

Taitung, TaiwanFlight

On September 10, 1945, a Consolidated B-24 Liberator (registration 44-42052) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Taitung, Taiwan in flight. 25 people were killed. 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 four-engine aircraft crashed into a mountain slope near Taitung, Taiwan, while navigating around a cyclone. All 25 people on board were killed.

What happened

The incident occurred during a flight originating from Naha, Okinawa, with the intended destination being the Nichols airbase in the Manila suburbs. While en route, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and was attempting to navigate away from an active cyclone. During this maneuver, the four-engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain within the Seaboard Mountain Range, located northeast of Taitung, Taiwan.

The impact resulted in the immediate loss of all lives on board. A total of 25 occupants perished in the accident. The passenger manifest included personnel who had been recently released as prisoners of war by Japanese forces.