3 fatalities

Reconnaissance Aircraft Crash in Wonju Region (44-34750)

Wonju, South KoreaFlight

On September 17, 1951, a Douglas A-26 Invader (registration 44-34750) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Wonju, South 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

A reconnaissance aircraft crashed near Wonju under unknown circumstances. Last radio contact was at 1532LT. Two crew members survived, while three others were killed.

Incident Overview

During a scheduled reconnaissance mission, an aircraft experienced a fatal accident in the region of Wonju. The specific circumstances leading to the crash remain undetermined based on available records.

Timeline and Communication

The final known radio contact with the flight was recorded at 1532 Local Time (LT). Following this transmission, no further communication was established before the aircraft crashed.

Casualties and Crew Manifest

The accident resulted in significant loss of life. Of the five crew members on board, two individuals survived the impact, while three others were killed in the incident.

The following personnel were listed as part of the crew complement:

  • Captain David C. Hearn (Survived)
  • First Lieutenant William J. Lewis (Killed)
  • First Sergeant Frederick P. Pelser (Survived)
  • Sergeant Frank Stefas (Survived)
  • Captain Charles F. Wright (Killed)