C-46D Commando transports sit on a Korean flight line in this undated photo. (U.S. Air Force)
U.S. and South Korean recovery teams are searching waters off the Korean Peninsula for wreckage from three U.S. military aircraft that crashed during the Korean War, hoping to find evidence that could help account for troops still missing more than seven decades later.
The operation involves MAKRI — the South Korean Ministry of National Defense Agency for KIA Recovery and Identification — and DPAA — the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency — along with the South Korean navy’s 1st Fleet and the air force’s 18th Fighter Wing, the ministry announced in a press release early this month.
The teams are searching two areas off Gangwon province, about 100 miles east of Seoul, in an operation that began Aug. 3 and is expected to run through Aug. 25, the ministry said.
One of the aircraft — a C-46D Commando transport — crashed Oct. 16, 1952, after departing Gangneung Air Base for Pohang. Of the 25 passengers and crew aboard, 17 remain unaccounted for, according to a DPAA casualty profile.
A second C-46D crashed in November 1952, killing two people and leaving seven others missing, MAKRI spokesman Capt. Jeong Do-jun told Stars and Stripes by text message Monday.
The other aircraft — an F4U-4B Corsair fighter — crashed in February 1952, killing one service member, Jeong said.
About 40 personnel are participating in the search, according to the ministry’s release.
DPAA deployed an underwater planner, an underwater archaeologist, roughly 10 Navy divers and mechanics, along with a combat rubber reconnaissance craft, the ministry said.
The search is being carried out through Tuesday in Yangyang and in Gangneung between Wednesday and Aug. 25. The two countries conducted a preparatory operation in April to survey the same areas, Jeong said.
Search teams first use underwater detection equipment and unmanned maritime systems to scan the seabed, according to the ministry’s release. When they identify objects that appear man-made or resemble aircraft debris, divers or remote-sensing equipment are sent to investigate.
“We must find the debris of the aircraft and transport aircraft through this investigation,” DPAA diver Sgt. 1st Class David Craig said in the release.
MAKRI’s director, Jeon Byung-hee, said the agencies spent considerable time preparing for the mission.
“I hope we can have a positive outcome since we have prepared for this project for a long time,” he said in the release.