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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAF 3rd BW 13th BS |
Pilot Captain James Alward Van Fleet Jr., 17852A (MIA / KIA) Auburndale, FL Navigator Captain John Albert McAllaster Jr., AO-757831 (MIA / KIA) Portland, OR Tail Gunner SSgt Ralph Lawrence Phelps, AF17291247 (MIA / KIA) Bemidji, MN Crashed April 4, 1952 Aircraft History Built by Douglas. Manufacture Number 27579. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-26B-50-DL Invader serial number 44-34300. On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and redesignated B-26B-50-DT Invader serial number 44-34300. Assigned to the 3rd Bombardment Wing (3rd BW), 13th Bombardment Squadron (13th BS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On April 4, 1952 took off piloted by Captain Van Fleet on a night intruder mission. Last contact was at 3:30am before this Intruder crashed near Haeju in North Korea. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. All three were officially presumed dead March 31, 1954. All three remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). The crew are memorialized in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at the courts of the missing. Van Fleet and McAllaster on court 8. Phelps court unknown. The crew are also listed on the Korean War Memorial Cenotaph in Dayton, Ohio. Van Fleet on panel 7. McAllaster on panel 2. Van Fleet also has a memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery at section 7. McAllaster also has a memorial marker at Willamette National Cemetery at plot MN, 0, 211 References USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-26B-50-DL Invader 44-34300 "34300 (13th BS, 3rd BG) MIA Apr 4, 1952 after night mission in Korea." Corpus Christi Caller Times "Van Fleet's Son Reported Missing" April 6 1952 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James Alward Van Fleet Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John Albert McAllaster Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ralph Lawrence Phelps FindAGrave - James Alward Van Fleet, Jr (news, Arlington National Cemetery) FindAGrave - Capt James Alward "Jim" Van Fleet, Jr (Korean War Memorial cenotaph photo) FindAGrave - James Alward Van Fleet, Jr (news, Arlington National Cemetery) FindAGrave - Capt John Albert McAllaster, Jr (photo, Korean War Memorial cenotaph photo) FindAGrave - John A McAllaster, Jr (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Ralph Lawrence Phelps (photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Ralph Lawrence Phelps (photo, Korean War Memorial cenotaph photo) Aviation Safety Network - ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 85538 Douglas B-26B Invader 44-34300 DPMO Korean War Aircraft Loss Database (KORWALD) April 4, 1952 via Wayback Machine August 6, 2014 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 22, 2024 |
 B-26 / A-26  MIA 3 Missing |
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