Don Paul Email
Date: Fri, 3 May 1996
Subject: Korean air war, 154th F/B Sqdn. -136th Bomb Wing
Hi Ted: Here is the story I mentioned I'd relay to you.
In early '52 our squadron was returning from a mission over North Korea. They were at high altitude, probably about 40,000 feet, when one of the F84's went into a dive. The other pilots tried to raise this particular aircraft on the radio, to no avail. Luckily, a characteristic of the F84 was that when it exceeded sound speed it would pitch up, which this aircraft did.
When it stalled and again dove the other pilots knew that this pilot was in some kind of trouble, probably a faulty oxygen system. Two of them dove down to see what they could do. After another pitch-up and dive the two decided at the next pitch-up they, one on each side of the stricken aircraft, would attempt to catch and steady the plane on their wing tips.
I don't know if they were successful on their first try but they did succeed and managed to get this plane to a lower altitude where the pilot came to and was able to fly back and land on his own.
This incident was written up in Life magazine which I have not been successful in locating. By the way, none of the aircraft wing tips were damaged because the air flow over the surfaces prevented contact.
Capt. J. Paladino was the pilot that lost conciousness and Capt. J. Miller and Lt. W. MacArthur were the pilots that rescued him.
By the way there was another guy in the 154th with a distinctive helmet. He was a navy exchange pilot and had a big gold helmet. His name was, and is, Wally Schirra of astronaut fame.
I guess that's it for now. Hope you enjoy the story,
Don.
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