3 fatalities

Disappearance of unidentified aircraft during night reconnaissance mission (44-34570)

North Korea, North KoreaFlight

On February 23, 1953, a Douglas A-26 Invader (registration 44-34570) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near North Korea, 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 reconnaissance flight after its final radio communication was recorded.

What happened

During a scheduled night reconnaissance mission, an aircraft disappeared without a trace. The last recorded radio communication from the flight occurred at 0235LT. Following this transmission, no further contact was established, and subsequent search efforts failed to locate any wreckage or evidence of the incident.

No information regarding the specific location of the disappearance or the final flight phase has been confirmed. There were no survivors reported, as the entire crew—consisting of three members—is unaccounted for. The loss of the aircraft and its personnel remains an unsolved disappearance.

Findings

  • The mission was being conducted under night visibility conditions.
  • No trace of the aircraft or the crew was found following the final radio contact.