On September 17, 1951, a B-26C Invader (tail number 44-34750) with three crew members and one passenger took off from Pusan East Air Base, South Korea, landed at Taegu Air Base to pick up a second passenger. The aircraft then embarked on an aerial observation mission to reconnoiter potential drop zones near the port city of Wonsan, North Korea, and around Ha-ri, northeast of Pyongyang. The target areas were reconnoitered successfully, but partway through the mission, the pilot spotted an enemy anti-aircraft position and attacked it as a target of opportunity. During the strafing run, the Invader took several hits to the cockpit from anti-aircraft fire and shortly after the pilot ordered a bail out.. Two of the men aboard the Invader successfully parachuted to the ground, were captured by enemy forces, and were eventually returned to U.S. custody. The other three men remain unaccounted for. Attempts to locate the Invader's crash site were unsuccessful. 

Staff Sergeant Frank Stefas, who entered the U.S. Air Force from California, served with the 729th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 452nd Bombardment Group, and was the gunner on this Invader at the time of its loss. After returning to U.S. custody, one of the two survivors from the plane reported that SSgt Stefas managed to bail out but later died of injuries sustained from the low altitude jump. His remains have not been recovered and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Staff Sergeant Stefas 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.