Korean War Vet. serving from 1951-1955

Comments: I am the daughter of Roy Melvin Clark, who served as a Russian Linguist in the Korean War from 1951-1955. We are planning a surprise 80th birthday party for him and I am trying to have some of his veterans he served with write/e-mail a Happy Birthday letter to him and we will compile the letters into a book. Thank You, in advance, for any who can contribute.

Debra (Clark) DeMoe

Keywords: Russian Linguist

F86 Tail section emblem

Comments: My son has located the person who makes the emblem with a large 4 and 2 dice and a spade. If interested let me know at my email address.

Keywords: 47th FIS Niagara Falls, NY

335th FIS patch

Comments: I am disabled Air Force vet who collects group and squadrons patches as a hobby.Hopefully, someone has a 335th FIS patch that you would be willing to send for my collection.Thanks.Jim Perry/MSgt.USAF Ret 5028 Hidden Forest Lane Charleston South Carolina 29420

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member 335th Sqd

Comments: Kimpo Sept 1951= November 1951

Keywords: POP Porter

member 335th Sqd

Comments: Kimpo Sept 1951= November 1951

Keywords: POP Porter

335TH FIGHTER SQD SEOUL HOKKIDO TIME

Comments: WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE THAT WAS THERE WHEN WE WERE ON HOKKIDO I WAS A CREW CHIEF THEN SERVED WITH A BUNCH OF REAL MEN . I HAD FRIENDS THERE THAT I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN. A/1CLASS ROBERT HONAKER

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Gerry Merser 4th Fighter Wing

Comments: My Uncle Gerry Merser fought in the 4th Fighter Wing of the 335th Squadron. He has recently started to talk about his experiences, and I was wondering if anyone knows of a reunion in the near future. We'd love to send him a surprise ticket to attend.

If you knew him or know of a reunion, I'd so appreciate getting the information.

Christine

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335th fighter sqd. 4th fighter interceptor wing

Comments: I was in Korea in part of 52 & 53 in the 335th fighter sqd. and would like to hear from anyone that was in the Squagron at the same time...

Keywords: K-14 Kempo, Korea

SSgt Blackmon

Comments: Hello: I am sorry to report that SSgt Royce Blackman, a/c mechanic of the 335th FIS, passed away this past November 2006. We had been emailing messages and photos for the past 5 years. Suddenly it all stopped, and around Christmas I got the email from his daughter, Rebecca, that Royce was gone, just about a month before his 77th birthday. Come to think of it, I am about a month from my 77th. Whitt

Keywords: Engineering Office

Crew Chief Harley Laflin looking for others

Comments: My Grandfather, Harley Laflin, was the crew chief for the 4th group, 335th fighter interceptor squadron in Korea. He asked me to look online (he doesn't have a computer) to see if I could find any others from his squadron. Please email me and I will pass a message on to him, or I can give you his address to send a letter or picture to. Thank You all!

Jonathan Laflin

Keywords: crew chief, harley laflin, 335th

Mig Pilot at Kimpo

Comments: I was at K-14 Sept 21, 1953, when I saw a plane land at the wrong end of the runway. Funny, but it wasn't for me to question officers. Turned out it was a Mig 15, and the Pilot was 21 year old No Cum Sok, or Cum Sok No. Today he is a retired College Professor and lives in Florida and his name is Kenneth Rowe. He has had a very interesting life. M. Whitt.

Keywords: 335th Fighter Interceptor Sq. 1953

looking for 335th friends 54--57 chitose

Comments: WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANY OF MY OLD FRIENDS THAT LIVED IN BARRACKS 248A MSG DAVIS A1 CLASS FRAZIER A1CLASS FOWLER PRATHER KETCHUM

Keywords: 976 RED HOT SARA 626 VIRGINIA REBEL

Korea (K-14) 1954

Comments: Need to know who was the CO of the 335th in 1954

Keywords: Sabre Mechanic

Gunval Project Pilots

Comments: Looking for pilots that flew the gunval project, possibly F-86F-2 51-2826. She's sitting in a hanger waiting to be restored.

Keywords: F-86F-2 51-2826

Looking for a friend

Comments: I've been asking for information on an old friend and tent-mate, A1C Hubert E. Crow. I remember he was from Virginia or W. VA, and assured me he would contact me once we were back in the states.

We went on R&R together to see his brother stationed at the base in Fukuoka and I have some photos he has never seen of him and his brother. Thanks.

Keywords: 335th Engineering Office was my only assignment.

Looking for information on Bill Naylor-Foote

Comments: I am Albert William Naylor-Foote's sister and am seeking information about his service in the Korean War.

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Major Lonnie Moore 335th FIS

Comments: Looking for info on Major Lonnie Moore 335th FIS Korea Dec. 52-Oct 53

Keywords: Major Lonnie Moore 335th FIS

Major Lonnie Moore 52-53

Comments: Looking for info on Major Lonnie Moore. Flew with 335th Dec. 52-Oct. 53 Thank you

Keywords: 335 th Fighter Inteceptor Squadron

Korean War Service

Comments: Captured and held as MIA/POW for 20 Months. Held with Harry Ettinger, Duane Thorin, Bill Naylor-Foote, and eventually 20 others including several F-84, F-86, B-26, B-29 aircrews, other captured Army, Navy, and Marines at Paks Palace Interrogation Center north of Pyongyang. All were turned over to the Chinese in May of 52 at POW Camps up on the Yalu River. Underwent 14 months of interrogation, solitary confinement, and other abuses by Chinese interrogators in attempts to force written confession of Germ Warfare participation by UN Forces against North Korean and Chinese Forces. I and 13 others did not confess and were held as "War Criminals" until 2 months after termination of hortilities. Awarded the Medal of Military Merit Chung Mu by the South Korean Minister of National Defense for my service as a POW and refusal to capitulate to Chinese interrogators. The "Chung Mu" is the highest award for Military Service awarded by the South Korean Military and is the equivalent of our CMH. I have read all of the above reports on the capture of Duane Thorin, Harry Ettinger, and Bill Naylor-Foote and of course heard them first hand from all three of them. Harry and I were Classmates in Navy Flight Training in '45-'47 time frame and "ran into one another" again for the first time in about 5 years at Pak's Palace after Harry had been "re-captured" upon the failed rescue attempt by Duane Thorin. Harry had remained in the Navy and I got out of the Navy in '47 and went Air Force in '50. One runs into old friends in odd places. A book is being/will be written about all of this, if I have my say, "one of these days". I retired from the Hq Pacific Air Forces as a Lt Colonel in 1970 after a diverse flying carreer including a 2.5 year tour as an Exchange Pilot with a Marine Squadron (VMCJ-2)at Cherry Point, NC. Got carrier qualified in F9F-8P aboard Saratoga in '57 and served on Forestall, Vallye Forge, and FDR. Served as RB-57 Test Pilot with Flight Test Division of Rome Air Development Center. Fun life to look back upon.

Keywords: "Duke" Duquette served with the 15th TacReconSqdn at Kimpo from August 51-Jan 52. Flew the RF-80 on 87 Combat Missions. Shot down by AAA on 26 Jan 52 Northwest of Hungnam. 4th Fighter Squadron escorted many of my Reconnaissance Missions into Mig Alley and photographs of Mig Bases in Southern China along the Yalu River.

Would enjoy communicating with other Korean Sabre jocks

Comments: F=86 ,credited with 2 Mig 15 kills

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1955-1956 335TH

Comments: 1955-1956 335TH

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SOVIET HELICOPTER CAPTURE REDUX

Comments: Unfortunately, AMC Thorin's irascable comments have not been much help in sorting out what amounts to a 50-year-old puzzle. So far this is what I have.

13 Dec 51 -- LT(JG) Ettinger and his crew are shot down while flying a night attack mission in AD-4NL BuAer No. 124743. Somehow he winds up requesting rescue via local friendly guerrilas.

2 Feb 52 -- Flying what is listed as HO3S type helicopter, BuAer unknown (other reports indicate a smaller type)AMC Thorin, guided by US Army Lieutenant Naylor-Foote, attempts to rescue Ettinger but the helo crashes and both are captured.

3 Feb 52 -- LT Spath is shot down.

8 Feb 52 == according to DPMO records, another attempt is made to rescue Ettinger and this time another Navy helo, again listed as an HO3S BuAer unknown, but again the helo crashes. This time the crew is a Marine 1st LT Kenneth Henry and a Navy LT Edwin Moore, both of whom then become POWs.

22 May 52 -- LT Spath warns off an H-19 type helo trying to rescue him, probably saving the crew and the helo from capture in a ambush.

If the Russians did get their dates mixed up -- their records often mix up days by one digit, e.g. 7 February may have been 8 February -- then the other machine may be the one the Soviet advisors got their medals for and not Chief Thorin's. But it appears that after snagging the wreckage of a small helo the Soviets still wanted a large cargo type, hence the move to get an H-19.

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Locating MiG killers

Comments: Am doing an article on the Korean War and am trying to locate Otis Gordon and Bobbie Smith, both of whom have at least one MiG-15 credit. Would like to interview for details on shootdowns.

Keywords: Otis Gordon and Bobbie Smith

RE: Shootdown 2 February 1952 #2

Comments: Response from Cookie Sewell: Thanks, Lynn and Earl. Sure appreciate seeing his version.

My problem is that while I am a retired Army intel warrant (SIGINT -- none of that sneaky Pete stuff) I am pretty much reliant on what is published by official sources. Chief Thorin is down as having two helos knocked out from under him -- one on 11 September 1950 and the other on 2 February 1952. That came from US Navy sources and the DPMO web site.

Putting that together with the last actions cited to USAF F-86 pilot Lieutenant Charles Spath sure made it sound as if the Soviets were able to snag a helo.

As for the Russian historians, they are being relatively honest as they want the current crop of leaders to learn the lessons of history, not repeat them. The two guys cited -- Glukhov and Smirnov -- were apparently either VVS (Air Force) or GRU officers, but of such relatively low level they would not get "ticket punch" awards for very little. The awards they got were quite high, and ergo they must have done something right. Now the question is -- what, and with whose helo?

Curiouser and curiouser. Thanks for taking the time to put your thoughts down and sent them along.

Believe me, I'm as befuddled as you are!

Cookie Sewell -------------- Duane Thorin's response: Urgent message for Cookie Sewell, retired US Army Russian Linquist When you've already made up your mind about something contrary facts can be bothersome. Since you apparently had already decided that Glukhov and Smirnov successfully lured me into Korea on 7 February 1952 and captured my helicopter, you really shouldn't have asked if anyone had information as to whether or not they actually did so. Now I fear that if you gave only just a little thought to the few factualities which I sent to you it might disrupt your fantasy that by reading various accounts about something that happened 50 years ago you would know more about it than a person who was actually involved in the event. And the whole truth of the matter would be devastating. So better not ask for more Amugustedly, Duane Thorin, retired US Navy Helicopter Pilot.

Keywords: Duane Thorin; Helicopter Pilot