This Week in American History: 1961 – Sabena Flight 548 Crashes Near Brussels

By ANDY KOBER
Here is what happened this week in American History.
• Feb. 12. On this day in 1950, the Battle of Hoengsong is underway in the Korean War, having started the day before. After being pushed back to the Han River, the Chinese Peoples Volunteer Army and North Korean Peoples Army begin their “Fourth Phase Campaign” with a counterattack at Hoengseong, South Korea. The counterattack had been predicted by intelligence officer Col. Robert Fergusson, who also said the PVA and KPA would be unable to logistically sustain an extensive attack. Early in the attack, PVA forces hammered Republic of Korea Army 8th Infantry Division and overwhelmed those forces. In turn the supporting US armored and artillery forces are forced to withdraw but find themselves outflanked by the PVA. A cacophony of communication problems and questionable actions by field-grade officers led to Hoengsong being lost to the PVA and KPA, with South Korean, UN and US forces regrouping a few miles outside the city. Casualties were high with the South Korean Army suffering about 10,000 injured and killed, the US Army suffering just under 2,000 casualties, and UN forces about 100. By comparison, the PVA and KPA had less than 5,000. It would later be determined the loss of Hoengseong was attributable to the ineffectiveness of the South Korean army units. Now the PVA and KPA turn their attention to Chipyong-ni and Wonju.
• Feb. 13. In 1950, The Battle of Chipyong-ni and Third Battle of Wonju begin in the Korean War. Fresh off winning the Battle of Hoengsong, PVA and KPA units head toward Chipyong-ni where a strong defense has been established and communist forces are hammered by artillery fire and air attacks. Meanwhile, other PVA and KPA units attack toward Wonju. The attacks on Chipyong-ni were repeatedly repelled by American and French forces. Two days later, PVA and KPA units were threatening to overrun the Chipyong-ni defenders when the US 5th Calvary Regiment arrived with nearly 20 tanks and drove the communists from the scene bringing that battle to an end. UN and US casualties amounted to 51 killed and 250 wounded while the PVA and KPA suffered about 3,000 injured and about 2,000 killed. Forces in and around Wonju also knew an attack was coming and prepared their defenses as well. American Army leaders were with ROK units to help keep them from running and in addition to American Army units in and around Wonju, there were soldiers from the Royal Netherlands Battalion. Artillery fire and attacks from the air inflicted large numbers of casualties among the Chinese and North Koreas and the attack stumbled early. After considerable fighting, the PVA and KPA forces began to flee the area.
• Feb. 14. Today in 1849, while in New York City, a photograph is taken of President James Knox Polk – the first time a sitting president had been photographed.
• Feb. 15. On this day in 1961, Sabena Flight 548, a Boeing 707-329, having departed Idlewild Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport) is on approach to land at Brussels Airport, Belgium. A small airplane has not cleared the runway and Sabena Flight 548 was told to cancel the approach and land on a different runway. The second approach had to be aborted as well. At that point observers saw the pilots were having difficultly controlling the aircraft which circled the airport three times. It pitched up, had a near vertical bank angle, leveled the wings then spiraled nose-down into the ground less than two miles from the airport. There were 72 people on the aircraft and 61 died in the crash. Among the dead were the entire US figure skating team along with coaches and family members that were traveling to the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague. The cause of the crash was never determined but thought to have been a failure in a flight control system. A memorial is located at the crash site.
• Feb. 16. In 1951, William Theodore Katt is born in Los Angeles. With both his parents being actors, it was inevitable the Katt would pursue a similar career path. He was pursuing a career as a musician and attending Orange Coast College when he swerved into acting. Katt served in a variety of roles in summer stock theater, in television programs, and in some movies. Katt was seriously considered for the role of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. One of Katt’s most notable roles was in the television series The Greatest American Hero. Now 74, Katt is still active.
• Feb. 17. Today in 1969, aquanaut Berry Cannon dies of carbon dioxide poisoning attempting to repair a leak on SEALAB III. An accomplished diver and multi-sport athlete, Cannon served in both SEALAB II and SEALAB III underwater habitats. Cannon and other aquanauts were working on repairs to the habitat when he began to convulse and died. It would later be determined the carbon dioxide-scrubbing baralyme canister on Cannon’s diving gear had not been filled. It was later reported that sabotage attempts had been made on diving gear of various divers. The identity of the guilty person was never discovered.
• Feb. 18. On this day in 2001, many stock car racing fans still believe that NASCAR died with one of the sport’s most popular drivers. It was the final lap of the Daytona 500. Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr are first and second, both driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. In third place is “The Intimidator” Dale Earnhardt blocking for his drivers. Earnhardt’s car makes slight contact with Sterling Marlin’s car, which sends Earnhardt’s car up the high bank and into the path of Ken Schrader’s car. Earnhardt’s impact into the outside retaining wall did not look like a powerful hit but he had suffered a fatal basilar skull fracture. Earnhardt became the fourth NASCAR driver to die of a basilar skull fracture in an eight-month period.