Date:	Monday 31 March 1952
Time:
Type:	Boeing B-29A Superfortress
Owner/operator:	344th BSqn /98th BWg USAF
Registration:	44-86400
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 11
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Saimon, 6 miles North West of Yokota AB, Kantō, Tokyo -   Japan
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Yokota AB, Fussa, Tama Area, Western Tokyo, Japan (RJTY)
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
Martin-Omaha B-29-55-MO Superfortress 44-86400: Built under licence by Glenn L. Martin Company, Omaha, Nebraska. Assigned to 344th Bomb Squadron, 98th Bomb Group, Spokane AFB, Washington. Deployed to Yokota AB, Fussa, Tama Area, Western Tokyo, Japan. Named "Big Gass Bird". Named "Heart's Desire". Named "Chotto Matte". In combat operations with the 98th BW, when damaged by AAA Mar 1, 1951. Repaired and returned to service.

Four minutes after takeoff from Yokota AB, while climbing, the heavy bomber hit the slope of a mountain located near the village of Saimon, Kantō, Tokyo, about six miles (10 km) northwest of the airbase. Two crew members were rescued while nine others were killed.

Crew of 44-86400:
Cpl Sherley B. Ardoin, KIA (body recovered)
Cpl Norman F. Cline, survived
2nd Lt William F. Evert, KIA (body recovered)
T/Sgt Charles R. Fitzwater, KIA
1st Lt Earl H. Lemons, KIA
S/Sgt Wayne L. Marchand, KIA
Cpl Carrol L. Rackley, KIA
2nd Lt Harold G. Richards, KIA
1st Lt Norbert L. Robie, KIA
Sgt James H. Sample, survived
1st Lt John G. Stevens. KIA

1. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_6.htm]l
2. http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/b29s/p_b29s_losses_damage.htm
3. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.baaa-acro.com/1952/archives/crash-of-a-boeing-b-29-55-mo-superfortress-near-yokota-afb-9-killed/]
4. http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/b29s/p_b29s_losses_personnel.htm

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
09-Jan-2015 17:47	TB	Updated [Country]
09-Jun-2017 06:04	l1011tristar	Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source]
13-Jun-2017 23:28	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Operator, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
07-Apr-2020 10:14	Reno Raines	Updated [Operator, Operator]