3 fatalities

Disappearance of aircraft during night mission (44-34281)

Kumchon, North KoreaFlight

On February 21, 1952, a Douglas A-26 Invader (registration 44-34281) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Kumchon, North Korea in flight. 3 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft vanished during a nighttime intruder mission, leaving no trace of the plane or its three-person crew.

What happened

During a scheduled night intruder mission, an aircraft disappeared under uncertain conditions. The final communication from the pilot was received at 0015 local time, marking the last radio contact with the base before the disappearance occurred.

Following the loss of contact, extensive efforts were made to locate the vessel, but no wreckage or evidence of the flight path was recovered. There is currently no information regarding the location of the crash site or the fate of the three crew members onboard.

Findings

  • The aircraft was operating in a night mission profile at the time of the incident.
  • The disappearance occurred shortly after the last radio transmission at 0015LT.
  • No trace of the aircraft or its occupants has been found.