Missing Korean War Corsair May Have Been Found After 74 Years

Missing Korean War Corsair May Have Been Found After 74 Years

A US Navy F4U Corsair that disappeared during the Korean War in 1952 may have finally been located beneath the waters off South Korea, potentially solving a mystery that has remained unsolved for more than seven decades. The aircraft was one of hundreds of Corsairs lost during the Korean War. The rugged fighter earned the nickname “The Widowmaker” among some US Navy and Marine Corps pilots because of the dangers associated with its powerful engine and handling characteristics. On February 21, 1952, an F4U-4B Corsair from Fighter Squadron 53 aboard the USS Essex was escorting a damaged aircraft through a snowstorm toward Sokcho-ri Airfield in North Korea.The pilot, Lt. j.g. Francis Gene Gergen, became disoriented in the poor weather. His aircraft suddenly swerved and crashed into the sea.Gergen was never recovered and was listed among those missing. Historical records confirm that his name remains on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. More than 70 years later, South Korean scuba diver Kim Kyung-soo encountered a mysterious object while diving off Yangyang, South Korea, in May 2025. Kim, who has spent about 25 years diving in Korean waters, initially thought the object might be a small submarine because of its long, cylindrical appearance. The object was sitting at a depth of around 52 metres (171 feet). Because the conditions were difficult and some members of his diving group were inexperienced, Kim did not immediately investigate further. When divers later returned and photographed the wreck, they discovered features consistent with an F4U Corsair.The wreck is missing its tail, propeller and cockpit canopy, but its distinctive inverted-gull wings and long nose are characteristic of the Corsair. South Korean authorities received the divers’ documentation and subsequently shared detailed information about the wreck with the US Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). The agency was already aware of the 1952 disappearance of the Corsair from the Essex, making the discovery particularly significant. However, the available evidence has not yet publicly established with certainty that the wreck is Gergen’s aircraft. The US Navy’s historical records document the Essex’s Korean War operations, including combat activity by its Carrier Air Group 5 during the period surrounding the disappearance. If the wreck is confirmed as the missing Corsair, it could provide a long-awaited location for an aircraft and pilot whose final fate has remained unresolved since 1952. For now, investigators face the difficult task of matching the underwater wreck to historical records and determining whether it can be conclusively linked to Available next action: Create a downloadable PDF file here in this chat containing the finalized decisions and immediate actions above