On April 3, 1945, Stein was escorting bombers to Kiel, Germany when his scouting flight was engaged and fired on by friendly P-51s of the 359th Fighter Group. Stein's aircraft was hit and went into a flat spin at 14,000 feet. The right wing came off, and the aircraft continued its spin. Stein's wingman urged him to bail out, but when last seen, there was no fire and the canopy was intact, indicating no bail out. The aircraft crashed into Gamborg Fjord.

The wreckage was located by Danish fisher men but no recovery was made. An effort was made by Grave Registration in May, 1945 after the liberation of Denmark to pull the aircraft from the water, but this attempt failed. On May 6, 1948, another effort attempted a recovery, but also failed. Finally, in October, 1948, human remains were recovered, and buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery where Lt. Stein now lies in Plot C, Row 6, Grave 38.

Killed in Action (KIA) 3 April 1945 in AC 44-12152. At time of death, Lt. Stein was with the 3rd Scouting Force flying out of Wormingford, He crashed near Rendsburg