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8 fatalities

Aircraft Lost Without Trace During Mission to Osaka (46468)

Pacific Ocean, WorldFlight

On June 2, 1945, a Consolidated PBY Catalina (registration 46468) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Pacific Ocean, World in flight. 8 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean while enroute to Osaka, resulting in the total loss of the machine and crew. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-08-25Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft disappeared without trace while on a mission to Osaka, likely crashing into the Pacific Ocean with no survivors or wreckage recovered.

What happened

The aircraft was operating on a mission destined for Osaka when it vanished from radar and communication contact. The flight path indicated that the machine was enroute over the Pacific Ocean. Despite extensive search efforts, no trace of the airframe or the crew was ever located. The disappearance is presumed to have resulted in a crash into the ocean, given the lack of any debris field or distress signals.

Findings

Investigations concluded that the aircraft likely impacted the water surface during the enroute phase. Due to the vastness of the search area and the depth of the Pacific, no physical evidence was recovered to confirm the exact point of impact or provide further technical details regarding the failure.

Probable cause

The aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean while enroute to Osaka, resulting in the total loss of the machine and crew.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2 Jun 1945 Consolidated PBY Catalina accident near Pacific Ocean, World?

An aircraft disappeared without trace while on a mission to Osaka, likely crashing into the Pacific Ocean with no survivors or wreckage recovered.

Were there any fatalities in the 2 Jun 1945 Consolidated PBY Catalina accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 8 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2 Jun 1945 involved a Consolidated PBY Catalina, registration 46468, operated by United States Navy - USN, at Pacific Ocean, World.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean while enroute to Osaka, resulting in the total loss of the machine and crew.

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