What happened
The four-engine airplane, operating under the Air Transport Command, was conducting a transatlantic flight from the United States to Casablanca via South America. The aircraft carried a delegation traveling to Morocco for a conference. During the journey, reports of a potential bomb on board prompted the crew to divert to Port of Spain. Upon inspection, a screwdriver was discovered in the hatch housing the Identification Friend or Foe device, but no explosive material was located.
While flying over Suriname, the aircraft suffered a catastrophic failure. It exploded in mid-air and disintegrated before crashing into an isolated area approximately 40 km northeast of Paramaribo. All 35 occupants were killed in the accident. Among the deceased was a Major in the US Army Special Services, known for his literary work involving a fictional collie. Two other identical C-54 aircraft flying shortly before and after this incident reported observing anti-aircraft fire originating from what appeared to be an enemy submarine.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the exact cause of the mid-air explosion could not be determined. Despite the initial diversion due to security concerns and the discovery of a tool in the IFF hatch, no conclusive evidence linked these factors directly to the catastrophic disintegration.