Mid afternoon on October 7, 1952, a B-26 Invader (tail number 44-35407A, call sign "Pacify 71") with a crew of four took off from Pusan West Air Base. Pacify 71 was the lead aircraft in flight of six B-26s. The briefed mission was daylight bombing operation near the village of Singye. About 30 seconds before the "bombs away," the invader was hit by flak creating a hole in the left wing and a fire behind the engine. After salvoing its payload, the aircraft veered to the left and descended into mountainous terrain. The aircraft crashed northwest of Ichon, North Korea, exploding on impact. Although no parachutes were observed, witnesses temporally lost sight of the aircraft as it was leaving the formation. All four members of the aircraft’s crew remain unaccounted for.

First Lieutenant William John Bell, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Virginia, was a member of 34th Bombardment Squadron, 17th Bombardment Wing. He was the navigator aboard this B-26 when it went down, and was lost with the aircraft. No returning POWs mentioned contact with 1st Lt Bell, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted for. Today, 1st Lt Bell is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Deferred.

If you are a family member of this serviceman, DPAA can provide you with additional information and analysis of your case. Please contact your casualty office representative.