My Dad - Capt. Matthew G Hoenes

Comments: My Dad served as a Blackbird A-26 driver and was awarded a DFC for his and his crew's bravery.

Keywords: Blackbirds, Night Photo Recon

Claude Hall

Comments: I just ran across the web site. ! I served as a NWS meteorologist for 37 tears and also worked in radio. I was at patcick afb in cocoa fl for NEARLY 2 YEARS AFTER RETURNING TO THE STATES IN 1953-54.

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6166th AWRF

Comments: Wish people could get it right:

They were WB-26s,not RB-26s and not from the 12th TRS

It was a flight not a squadron.

It was a seperate flight uder the 30th Weather Squadron.

In Sept 53 we merged with the ECM part of the 12th to become the 11th TRS.

Note new email - gccgrad@comcast,net

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Air Weather Recon

Comments: The Air Weather Recon Association has started a Yahoo! Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AWRA/ and would welcome any of you Korean War Vets in Weather Recon to join...Joey

Joseph Tabaco TSgt, USAF (Ret) http://www.tabacofamily.com/jtabaco/jtlinks.asp

Keywords: WC-130

Weather Observer

Comments: My dad was a Weather Observer in Korea and I'm not certain of the dates he was there. His name was Bob (Robt.) B. Johnson and he was a SSgt I believe. I may have a couple of photos and if there is a gallery I can post links to the images I will scan them and put 'em on line. He loved to tell us funny stories about the stuff he got into over there. Its a shame this whole computer thing wasn't as easy to "google" up before he died. He would have loved this.

Keywords: A-26

looking for William McKenzie (Pa.)

Comments: My father didn't get your phone number in the message you left for him when you recently tried to contact him. Please feel free to e-mail me your phone number and I'll give to my dad. Thanks.

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Corections

Comments: The 6166th birds were WB-26s and were not from the 12th TAC. We had a complete unit abit small with a CO and all the trimmings including a patch "Weather around the clock" which can be found on the Web. The A-26 was history after the Martin B-26 was retired. After that the A-26 became the B-26 sometime before 1950 - see AF Museum for correct times. We also flew the mission down off Shanghai(SP?)which also counted as a mission even though it didn't go into North Korea.

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Re: Bill MacMonagle 6166 TRS

Comments: I am still interested in information, pictures, missions, planes etc. about my father, William MacMonagle. Yes I did move. This message updates my email address.

Keywords: Bill MacMonagle, 6166 TRS, Weather Recon.

6166th Air Weather Recon Flight, 67th TRW, USAF

Comments: I attempted contact with Peter McMonagle re his father's service in the 6166th. Both his email and phone are not active now. I have at least a couple of Kodachromes of his father at Kimpo, as I was there at same time.

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6166thAir Weather Recon Flight Reunion

Comments: I was a radio operator as part of a four man crew on A-26 (Called RB-26 in Korea) at Kimpo AFB (K14.) The other crewmembers were a Pilot, Navigator and Weather Observer. We flew missions over North Korea (mainly at night)for the Weather Observer to gather weather data. The weather info was put in five number groups and called back to me, and I then sent the groups back to the ground station by morse code. I flew fifty credited combat mssions over North Korea. After the conflict in Korea ended in 1953, the 6166th was eventually merged into the 11th TAC and moved to Japan. When in Korea, the 6166th was attached to the 12th Tactical Recon Squadron and used 12th TAC's airplanes.

The 6166th. and 11th just held a reunion in San Antonio. Next year, the reunion will be held in either Orlando or Melbourne, Florida.

I am still working full time in my job as General Manager of WLRH Public Radio in Huntsville, Alabama. I have held this job for 28 years and have no immediate plans to retire. If anyone would like to contact me for more info on the 6166th reunions, I can be reached at my work phone which is toll free: 1-800239-9574.

Keywords: 6166th Air Weather Recon Flight, Kimpo (K-14) Korea, February 1952--August 1952.

6166 AWRF @ Kimpo AB

Comments: Just found this site via a Google search. Bob Etter is correct. This was a Flight - not a Squadron. It was under the 30th Weather Squadron.

I seem to pre-date those whose messages I have seen. I was there from about Jan 1953 until May 1953 as the weather observer. (Will have to check the file I still have of my orders for dates and other records I may have for specific names.) Went there from Taegu where I was assigned in November 1952 after arriving in Japan via the USNS Nelson M. Walker.

Our RB-26Cs were "borrowed" from the 12th Photo Recon Sqdn. They were the Blackbirds and had the slogan "Alone, Unarmed, Unafraid?" One of their tent doors was adorned with the Playboy photo of Marilyn Monroe, but in black and white and enlarged to life size.

Recall one flight in which there was what we assumed to be a photo-flash bomb still in the bomb bay. Tail numbers we flew included 247, 555 and 625. Maybe one or two others.

At Taegu weather office I remember seeing a ROK LT studying Petterssen's meteorology text with an English-Korean dictionary at hand. An impressive effort. Also saw Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg arrive there.

Have a variety of slides both surface and from the air taken on these flights. May try scanning some if anyone's interested.

Bob de Violini

Keywords: 6166 AWRF, Kimpo AB, Taegu AB weather office.

Looking for 6166 Vets

Comments: The Air Force Weather History Office is compiling a history of Weather Reconnaissance and we are interested in contacting veterans who flew in weather recce units and weather observers or forecasters who may have flown with bomber or other units as well in Korea. We are looking for 1st person information such as letters or memoirs (written then or after the fact), pictures and other documentation including news articles as well as personal memorabilia for display here at the Air Force Weather Heritage Center. Weather observing and forecasting has been a key part of nearly every operation and conflict but little is known even in military circles, much less by the general public. We need your help to change that. Thank you.

Keywords: Weather Reconnaissance 6166th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron 30th Weather Squadron

6166TH Air Weather Reconnaissance Flight

Comments: The 6166th was a Flight not a squadron. In the falll of 1953 we were combined with the ECM part of the 12th TRS and became the 11th TRS. I was assigned to both in the late spring with a number of my fellow classmate NAVs through December of 1953. I have many sets of orders showing the people assigned during that time. Our only loss came after the armistice when some 20mm from a 77 Sqd Meteor accidently came through our Ops Shack and cut one of our ROs in half.

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6166th. air weather rercon.1951/52

Comments: I HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO FIND SSGT. CHARLES 'CHUCK' CAHN A REAL GREAT GUY WHO FOUGHT WITH ARMY AT 'KUNURI' AND ELSEWHERE AT THE KOREAN WAR FRONT AS A FORWARD OBSERVER ALONG WITH SSGT FRED GENTRY, SGT. GEORGE BARNETT, SSGT. ROBERT GLEASON, CPL. STAN WINNER. 'CHUCK' CAHN AND FRED GENTRY BROKE ME IN AS A NEW RADIO OPERATOR ON B-26 LIGHT RECON BOMBERS THAT WERE CONVERTED FOR NIGHT PHOTO AND WEATHER RECON. WE WERE KNOWN AS THJE "BLACKBIRDS' AND EVEN MADE UP LYRICS TO GO ALONG WITH THE SONG. I REMEMBER BED CHECK CHARLIE ON NEW YEARS EVE 1951 AS I STUMBLED WHILE RUNNING FOR THE BOMB REVETMENTS AND BROKE A COUPLE OF RIBS WHEN I FELL INTO THE HOLE! I DONT REMEEMBER WHICH HURT THE MOST THE 'FALL' OR THE ''HANGOVER' WHICH RESULTED FROM TOO MUCH 'SOUTHERN COMFORT' WHICH THE PILOTS USE TO BRING BACK FROM JAPAN. WE KEPT IT COLD IN THE SNOW AND IT WENT DOWN LIKE WATER BUT WITH DEADLY EFFECT (AT LEAST FOR ME)!! GREAT BUNCH OF GUYS THAT I WILL NEVER FOREGET!

Keywords: remember only ; CHUCK CAHN, FRED GENTRY, CLAUDE E. POOLE (texas). COLONEL COMETH, CAPTAIN HARRY, CAPTAIN JOHN MORIN, CAPTAIN GEORGE WRIGHT,LT. FLIPPO, LT. ARANT,LT. RANGER CEVELIN, LT. ERNEST FLIPPO, LTR. CHJARLES ZAUZIG, 2LT. CALHOUN, 2ND. LT.CHARLES FEE, 2ND.LT.JAMES G. PATTERSON, MASTER SGT. HARVEY RUPP,JR. , TECHJ/ SGTR/ GERALD MCCRIGHT, STAFF SGT.ADRIAN ARENS, SSGT. ROBERT GLEASON, SSGT BERNARD MCCRAFFERY, SSGT MORRIS SMITH, SSGT CLETUS ROBINSON, SSGTSGT GEORGE BARNETT, CPL FRANCIS LEBLANC, CPL. LONNIE R. SIDES, CPL. STANLEY J. WINNER . ALL FROM 6166TH. AIR WEATHER SQDN. ATTACHED TO 67TH. TAC. RECON GROUP.

Searching for Family or Friends of MIAs

Comments: I would like to make contact with any family or friends of 1st Lt. Russell J. Wolfgram, Washington, D.C., who was assigned to the 6166th Air Weather. If you have any information on Robert McKee, please e-mail me at the address provided. Thank you very much. Ray Sestak

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Any info from Members of 67th Tac Recon 6166th sqdn 1953-54

Comments: I remember five airmen going to Itazuke AB in Japan for 3 months then being sent back to Korea about Thanksgiving. I remember Philip Bouthlette, Andy Anderson, and Robert Norton. I would love to hear from anyone who served during that time.

Keywords: Would like to correspond with anyone with memories from that time.

Looking for John Graham Boyd

Comments: His wife, Sheila Walker Boyd was an Army Nurse in Korea. I knew them in 1956-57 in Yokota Air Base Japan.

I"ve been searching for the couple several years. They had been good friends at Yokota, and a great help while living there.

Thanks for any guidance. Suz. Voltz

Keywords: John Graham Boyd flew Air Recon in Korea, and later out of Yokota Japan in 1956