B26C Invader 22 July 1952

Loughery, Frank Thomas
Air Force 1st lieutenant

Frank Thomas Loughery, age 30, from San Francisco County San Francisco, California .

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Wednesday, July 23, 1952
Death details: On July 22, 1952, a B-26C Invader (tail number 44-35887A, call sign Richman 88) departed departed Pusan East Air Base with four aviators on board. The briefed mission was a night interdiction operation targeting a crossroads near Changyon, Korea. Richman 88 reached the target area without incident. After dropping their payload, the pilot radioed another Invader in the target area, Richmond 82, requesting a bomb-report. After receiving a positive report, Richmond 88 radioed that he was leaving the target area. However, “Richman 88” never returned to Pusan East Air Base. All four crew members remain unaccounted-for. First Lieutenant Frank Thomas Loughery entered the U.S. Air Force from California and was assigned to the34th Bombardment Squadron, 17th Bombardment Wing. He was the navigator aboard “Richman 88” when it was lost. No returning POWs mentioned contact with 1st Lt Loughery, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, First Lieutenant Loughery is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1954)

Cherry, Robert Lionel
Air Force Captain

Robert Lionel Cherry, age 27, from Wapello County Ottumwa, Iowa .

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, July 22, 1952
Death details: On July 22, 1952, a B-26C Invader (tail number 44-35887A, call sign Richman 88) departed departed Pusan East Air Base with four aviators on board. The briefed mission was a night interdiction operation targeting a crossroads near Changyon, Korea. Richman 88 reached the target area without incident. After dropping their payload, the pilot radioed another Invader in the target area, Richmond 82, requesting a bomb-report. After receiving a positive report, Richmond 88 radioed that he was leaving the target area. However, “Richman 88” never returned to Pusan East Air Base. All four crew members remain unaccounted-for. Captain Robert Lionel Cherry entered the U.S. Air Force from Iowa and served in the 34th Bombardment Squadron, 17th Bombardment Wing. He was the pilot of “Richman 88” when it was lost. No returning POWs mentioned contact with Capt Cherry, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Captain Cherry is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Corona, Victor Galvan
Air Force Airman 1st class

Victor Galvan Corona, age 21, from Ventura County Camarillo, California .

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, July 22, 1952
Death details: On July 22, 1952, a B-26C Invader (tail number 44-35887A, call sign Richman 88) departed departed Pusan East Air Base with four aviators on board. The briefed mission was a night interdiction operation targeting a crossroads near Changyon, Korea. Richman 88 reached the target area without incident. After dropping their payload, the pilot radioed another Invader in the target area, Richmond 82, requesting a bomb-report. After receiving a positive report, Richmond 88 radioed that he was leaving the target area. However, “Richman 88” never returned to Pusan East Air Base. All four crew members remain unaccounted-for. Airman First Class Victor Galvan Corona entered the U.S. Air Force from California and was assigned to the 34th Bombardment Squadron, 17th Bombardment Wing. He was a gunners aboard “Richman 88” when it was lost. No returning POWs mentioned contact with A1C Corona, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Airman First Class Corona is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1954)

Hart, Donald Lee
Air Force Airman 2nd class

Donald Lee Hart, age 18, from Kanawha County Ward, West Virginia .

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, July 22, 1952
Death details: On July 22, 1952, a B-26C Invader (tail number 44-35887A, call sign Richman 88) departed departed Pusan East Air Base with four aviators on board. The briefed mission was a night interdiction operation targeting a crossroads near Changyon, Korea. Richman 88 reached the target area without incident. After dropping their payload, the pilot radioed another Invader in the target area, Richmond 82, requesting a bomb-report. After receiving a positive report, Richmond 88 radioed that he was leaving the target area. However, “Richman 88” never returned to Pusan East Air Base. All four crew members remain unaccounted-for. Airman Second Class Donald Lee Hart entered the U.S. Air Force from West Virginia and served in the 34th Bombardment Squadron, 17th Bombardment Wing. He was a gunners aboard “Richman 88” when it was lost. No returning POWs mentioned contact with A2C, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Airman Second Class Hart is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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