Korean War Resources

The Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) developed the Korean War Aircraft Loss Database (KORWALD) to assist U.S. researchers and analysts in their efforts to account for Korean War aircraft losses. This database associates specific aircraft with individual aircrew members, circumstances of loss, status and other data. DPMO archival researchers and analysts use the database to determine which aircrew members still remain unaccounted for. It is also used when an aircraft loss is referenced in Russian, Chinese, or North Korean documents to determine if U.S. aircrew members have already been accounted for.

When DPMO began this project, a critical problem surfaced that suggested that comprehensive records on total aircraft losses could not be located. It was necessary, therefore, to work in close cooperation with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) archivists and military historians to find aircraft loss data and to incorporate this information into the database. Researchers should note that this database centers on aircraft incidents. All incidents would not necessarily result in an unaccounted-for serviceman.

Although DPMO has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information in the KORWALD, this document remains a dynamic one and any bona fide changes to the database will be made upon validation.

DPMO is especially appreciative of the assistance received from NARA, the National Personnel Records Center (St. Louis), the military historians and research assistants at the Air Force Historical Research Agency, the Marine Corps History Office, and the Office of Naval History. Without the interagency cooperation of these organizations, the compilation of this database would not have been possible.

Please direct questions or suggestions to DPMO at the address listed below.