5 fatalities

Night Intruder Mission Aircraft Disappears Near Sunan Airport (44-34601)

Pyongyang-Sunan, North KoreaFlight

On April 7, 1952, a Douglas A-26 Invader (registration 44-34601) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Pyongyang-Sunan, North Korea in flight. 5 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

A twin-engine aircraft on a night intruder mission between Pyongyang and Sinanju disappeared after its last radio transmission on April 6. No trace of the aircraft or its five crew members was found.

Incident Details

On a night intruder mission operating between Pyongyang and Sinanju, the crew of a twin-engine aircraft made their last radio transmission at 2353 local time on April 6. Shortly after midnight, the aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances in the region of Sunan Airport. Despite search efforts, no trace of the aircraft or its crew was recovered.

Crew

The aircraft carried five crew members: Airman First Class Spencer R. Cooper Jr., Captain Cornelius P. Guilfoyle, First Lieutenant Scott A. Holz, First Lieutenant Joseph S. Long Jr., and First Lieutenant Gilbert J. Schauer.

Aftermath

Following the crash, an extensive search was conducted in the area around Sunan Airport. However, neither the wreckage nor any signs of the crew were ever located. The exact circumstances surrounding the loss remain unknown.