Introduction

B-26C #44-34542A, part of the 8th Bomb Squadron, departed its base on March 05, 1952, under call sign "Pentail 09" on a night interdiction mission.  The crew was advised by "Pentail 02" at 2152 of a live locomotive.  "Pentail 09" acknowledged incorrectly.  "Pentail 02" tried to contact to correct acknowledgment.  No answer was received and there was no further contact.  A subsequent air search for the missing plane was made with negative results. The crew remains missing in action.

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Most recent update to this page: December 29, 2022

Crew Members:

• Davies, Capt. Howard Joseph - Captain Davies was the bombardier of a B-26C with the 8th Bomber Squadron, 3rd Bomber Wing based at Kunsan Airfield (K-8), South Korea. On March 6, 1952, while on a night intruder mission, contact with aircraft was lost at target BA 89-11. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on February 28, 1954. He was from Kanawha County, West Virginia.
   
• Hoff, 1Lt. Warren Mervin "Bud" - First Lieutenant Hoff was the pilot of a B-26C with the 8th Bomber Squadron, 3rd Bomber Wing based at Kunsan Air Force Base (K-8), Korea. On March 6, 1952, while on a night intruder mission, contact with aircraft was lost at target BA8911. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on February 28, 1954. His remains were not recovered. Born November 20, 1925, he was from Portland, Oregon.
   
• Peterson, A/3c Norman Wayne - Airman First Class Peterson was the tail gunner of a B-26C with the 8th Bomber Squadron, 3rd Bomber Wing based at Kunsan Air Force Base (K-8), Korea. On March 6, 1952, while on a night intruder mission, contact with aircraft was lost at target BA8911. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on February 28, 1954. He was born October 17, 1929, and was from a family of nine boys.  He was from Waseca, Minnesota.
   
• Steele, Capt. Robert Coultas - Captain Steele was the pilot of a B-26C with the 8th Bomber Squadron, 3rd Bomber Wing based at Kunsan Air Force Base (K-8), Korea. On March 6, 1952, while on a night intruder mission, contact with aircraft was lost at target BA8911. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on February 28, 1954. His remains were not recovered.  He was from Wayne County, Michigan.

Biographies of the Four Missing Men

Davies, Howard Joseph

Howard was born February 06, 1923 in West Virginia, a son of Howard J. Davies (born 1884) and Anna Nash McClung (1887-1926).  His siblings included Eleanor McClung Davies (1917-1933) and Hueston Blaine Davies (1919-2010).

Hoff, Warren Mervin "Bud"

Warren was born November 20, 1925, a son of Henry Richard Hoff (1895-1957) and Medora Margaret Rice Hoff (1900-1988).  His siblings were Kay H. Hoff (1924-1994), Lester H. Hoff (1934-1950) and Charles A. Hoff (deceased).

Peterson, Norman Wayne

Norman was born October 19, 1929, in Waseca, Minnesota, a son of Johan Oscar Ephraim Peterson (1890-1969) and Elizabeth Augusta Peterson (1894-1947).  His siblings included Oscar (1915-1915), Richard Eugene (1919-1990), Harvey John August (1916-1989), Dorwin Russell (1923-2013), Lloyd Albert (1925-2002), Albin Harold (1927-2001), Donald Oscar (1921-2013) and Harris Ivan (1935-2012).

Steele, Robert Coultas

Robert was born December 14, 1923, in Newton Falls, Ohio, the son of Ernest Lippincott Steele (1892-1981) and Thora Lucile Coultas Steele (1894-1979).  His sibling was Dorothy J. Steele.