On July 10, 1952, the 58th FBW activated and absorbed the personnel and equipment
of the 136th FBW. The 58th had some assets in Japan and some in South Korea until August,
when the entire wing moved to Korea. The 58th FBW tested a "reinforced wing" concept in the
spring of 1953, taking on the support and administrative functions of the 49th FBW while
exercising direct control of both the 58th and 49th FBGs. In three-months, the reinforced
wing flew 10,422 combat sorties and delivered more firepower than two separate wings with a
full complement of personnel.
Itazuke AB, Japan, July 10, 1952; Taegu AB, South Korea, August 1952-.
Wing Operations
On Sat, 7 Dec 1996 HBaker1432@aol.com wrote:
I was in the 49th, and 58th Fighter Bomber Wing.
I spent most of my time at K-2 in Wing Operations.
Pilots were flying F-84's over targets on the Yalu River, Long time
ago!!
Hal Baker--Cary
Background on Wing
Regarding your request - I was assigned to the 69th Fighter Bomber
Squadron, 58th Fighter Bomber Group, based at K-2, Tageu, (sp?),
Korea. I arrived there in the first week of July 1952. The 58th
had just been reactivated, replacing the 136th, a National Guard
outfit.
On my 71st combat mission, I was hit and downed by an anti-aircraft
gun on January 15, 1953.
We were part of a max effort, three or four day series of raids
against the bridges at Sinanju. I ditched in the Chongchon river
and was caught less than a half hour after I went down.
On September 5, 1953, after 235 days in Communist hands,
I was repatriated at Freedom Village.
I attended the dedication ceremonies for the Korean War Memorial. The
memorial is a very, very impressive sight - a must see for anyone visiting
D.C. Being an '84 pilot, I was a little disappointed to see only a few '84
etchings on the wall. While I was there, there were 2 F-86 outfits, 1 F-80
outfit and 3 F-84 outfits. The '84s were doing the lions share of the
interdiction and close air support. As the Korean War is often termed the
Forgotten War, the F-84 is the forgotten airplane.
Roger Warren wrote:
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