Entry: 10304
Subject: YES SIR'S,' WE WERE FORGOTTEN
George Edward (Red) Reder II wrote on July 12, 2000
Deceased
City and State: SAN ANTONIO TX
Unit:
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: Guess this would be an adendum to my last insert. And, I wish some of the members could expound a little more than just a few brief words. Mates, comrades, fellow past 19th veteran's, this is your chance to say what your thoughts were and are about duty with the 19th Bombardment Group (Medium), B-29's, from Okinawa-Shima, Ryukus, Kadena Air Base - Pacific, during the Korean War. Get your thoughts together and speak up. Hey guy's, do you remember Typhoon Agnes? What a bitch she was. Do you recall that Larry Davis of Houston, Texas was the senior announcer at RYCOM Armed Forces Radio Station, and all the hours of good stuff he gave us on the radio [and that I did a little part time work there too]. For those who cannot remember the squadrons, they were the 28th, 30th, and 93rd. And of course Headquarters Squadron, which yes, I was in. I guess all of any photographs I have are in storage someplace up north, and, I will [that's an order, from me to me] round them up [unless I expire first] and make them available somehow on the net for all who may want same. And I repeat, put your thoughts forth here friends, you want the world to know.....(?), this is the place to do it......, for from the desk of this web site......, the universe can read it. Hope you all had a friendly 4th of July, and some fun among friends. I did, gave a tour of Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Texas, to a fellow disabled veteran who had never been there, and we watched the fire works display from the end of IH-37 with good ole CV-16 Lexington in full view. Then there was South Sea Sinner, the guys refused to fly her back to the U.S., and the 20th Air Force Commanding Generel said, "If you don't fly it back, you will all be court martialed" She was all rotted out from fungus and metal stress. Well, they flew it out, to HI, the bird fell apart and the crew ditched, and all their christmas gifts in the fly away crates in the bombay went deep six too. Well guys and gals, have a good fun summer [my personal wish for you all], and "Keep the speed up!"
Georgie "Akabu"
Keywords: Doc [Red] Reder. He who had baby face, cute curly red hair, and a bull frog voice.
Entry: 9973
Subject: JOE LAPHAM, TAIL-GUNNER
Bill Lapham wrote on June 30, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State: PSC 1003 BOX 2
Unit: USN-4-24YRS
Service or Relationship: Family Member
Comments: Dad, Joe Lapham, Farmington, MI, flew 25 combat missions as a tail-gunner in a B-29 over North Korea. Was it Operation Strangle? Feb-Jul '53. 19th BG from Kadena. Plane name unknown. Squadron commander was Lt. Col. Melvin H. Slate, who awarded Dad the Air Medal, picture in Farmington Enterprise newspaper. Not sure which squadrons were assigned to 19th BG. A/C was Donald O. Paulsell; Pilot was 2nd LT Hugo Schmidt; Radar was Cpt. Frank McDonald; Bombadier was 1st LT Bruce White; Radio was Bill Brown; Right gunner was Bill Rogers, Ozarks. Any information about tour of duty would be greatly appreciated by his oldest son on this 50th anniversary of this great struggle. Dad passed away 2Jul96, a VFW.
Keywords: Joe, tail-gunner, B-29, Bill Rogers, Don Paulsell, 19th Bomb Group, Yalu river
Entry: 9854
Subject: BG A.H. GILKESON
David H. Gilkeson wrote on June 27, 2000
City and State:
Unit:
Service or Relationship: Family Member
Comments: I would like to hear from anyone who may have served with my Grandfather BG A.H. Gilkeson. Specifically I would like to hear from anyone who may have worked directly for him or flew with him. I am trying to piece together the specifics of his career. All of his records were destroyed in the "Great Fire" in St Louis.
Keywords: 19th Bomb Wing (Group)
Entry: 8419
Subject: STRAFING/BOMBING BY N.K MIG 15'S
George Meloche wrote on May 4, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State: CHAMPLAIN NY
Unit: 19TH SUPRON, 63-32ND SUPRON
Service or Relationship: Family Member
Comments: I would like anyone who witnessed strafing and bombing by N.K. MIG 15's at Kimpo Airforce Base.
K-2 - Seoul Korea on dates between October,1952 - July 1953
Also, Bombing of Taegu K-16 by "washing maching Charlie" in the same period.
Need dates and witnesses who can place me in these areas.
(records burned in fire of 1973 at St. Louis, MO.)
My memory is very bad. Can recall actions but having problems remembering exactly when and where they happened.
If anyone reading this can place me there
Please contact me via e-mail at :
mmeloche@compuserve.com
or
Snail mail:
George D. Meloche
P.O. Box 1561
Champlain, NY
12919
Keywords: C-47
Sam- from Syracuse, Ny(I believe)
Hecht-from Chicago, Ill (I believe)
Entry: 8306
Subject: COMMAND DECISION
Howard Burkhart wrote on April 28, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State:
Unit:
Service or Relationship: -
Comments: A picture and caption is in the June 2000 issue of
"Flight Journal" of the B-29 Command Decision (page 78). I was in the Aviation Cadet program
in 1954 at Lackland AFB. A Staff Sgt was in my
squadron who was a gunner on Command Decision. I would like to corrospond with him. I do not remember his name.
Keywords:
Entry: 8187
Subject: KIMPO STRAFING AND BOMBING
George Meloche wrote on April 23, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State: CHAMPLAIN NY
Unit: 19TH BOMBER GRP/22 BOMBER SQDN
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: I, George Meloche, belong to the 19th bomber group, 22nd bomber squadron, I am looking for information about Kimpo Air Base between October 1952 - July 1953. I would like to know if anyone can recall the North Korean MIG's strafing and bombing Kimpo between the above dates, and if anyone can place me there? I would appreciate any information.
Keywords: I, George Meloche, flew in the B-29 called Koza Kid, with a Geisha girl was painted on the side of the plane.
The other plane I flew was called the Old Ugly...
October 1952- July 1953
Entry: 7773
Subject: LOOKING FOR INFORMATION
Rob Roche wrote on April 2, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State:
Unit:
Service or Relationship: Interested Person
Comments: Hello
I'm looking for information on a B-29 called "HERE'S HOPIN' " No serial number found yet, still scrape'n the crud off! Has 5 missions (bomb symbols)faintly visible and the number "30" under the pilots window.
Thanks in advance
Rob
Keywords:
Entry: 7297
Subject: RYUKUS TOMODACHI 'COMMAND DECISION'
George Edward (Red) Reder II wrote on March 1, 2000
Deceased
City and State: SAN ANTONIO TX
Unit: HQ 19TH BOMB GP (M), APO 239-1 SFC
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: Yep, pretty much what appears here in web/net/print about 'COMMAND DECISION' is true. Me, I was a "DOC," Air Man Last Class, GEORGE EDWARD REDER, II., From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I was assigned detached duty from 19th Bomb Wing, Anderson AB Guam, to Hq 19th Bomb Group, Kadena, with duty at the 19th Bomb Group Dispensary, right smack dab in the middile of two taxi ways of the 19th and 307 Bomb wings. I was a Senior Aero Medical Specialist [Physicians Assistant], with Maj. Alfred E. Leiser, USAF, MD of Madison, Wisconson {and Daily, Hunt, Robles, Cavasos, Tabor, Tyler, Smith (never could remember "Mac's" full name, he was an Irishman from Paducka, Kentucky}). Anyway, we ["Doc's"] met every single swinging uh-huh in the Group [if not the whole island]. Even if only for one very important function, after every mission. They all had to come see us and sign for their one ounce of 100 proof OLD GRAND DAD [or whatever else we were supplied with at the time] prior to S-2 [intelligence] de briefing, to loosen them up. (No fun trucking along at 42 k feet for ten hours, even having folks on the ground trying to knock you out of the sky) Army Master Sergeant Butch Greene was the island Provost Sgt with the RYCOM MP'S, and it so happened he had lived in my neighborhood in Pittsburgh. Sure, we had some great fun. Well, that's beside the point. Yes, Command Decision set records, that, we hope in the future, will never have to again be addressed. May the good spirits of the cosmic universe give blessings upon all of my ole comrades, from the most beautiful island in the pacific, OKINAWA-SHIMA.
Keywords: Called by the Okinawan's, "AKABU". (because I had flame red curly hair)
Entry: 6988
Subject: LOOKING FOR B-29 CREW 'BROKEN HEART'
Harold Johnson wrote on February 15, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State:
Unit: 20TH AF 19TH BOMB GRP
Service or Relationship: -
Comments: Would appreciate information on crew of B-29 Serial #3777 "Broken Heart"
Keywords: B-29 3777 "Broken Heart"
Entry: 5963
Subject: 19TH BG RESEARCH
Al Turner wrote on January 1, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State: SCUNTHORPE NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE
Unit: NON
Service or Relationship: Interested Person
Comments: I'm researching material for a novel set around a B-29 crew during the Korean War. I would be intrested in hearing from anyone who would like to share their experiences and memories. In particular anyone attached to the 19th BG stationed at Kadena.
Keywords: B-29 Superfortresses
Entry: 5715
Subject: ISLAND QUEEN
Milton (Milt) Hall wrote on December 19, 1999
Email Update Needed
City and State: ROCKPORT TX
Unit: 28TH BM SQUADRON,19TH BM GROUP
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: I flew on the "Island Queen" commanded by Capt. John Shipley as CFC Gunner in 1952
Keywords:
Entry: 5631
Subject: WILL GIVE TO MY DAD, WAS IN 19TH BG
Peter Smith wrote on December 13, 1999
Email Update Needed
City and State: MIDDLETOWN CT
Unit: 19TH BOMB GROUP
Service or Relationship: Friend of Veteran
Comments: I think I got this info correct, will verify with my dad...
Keywords: B29 "Katie Ann" 19th BG WWII and Korea.
Entry: 4028
Subject: FATHERS PLANE?
Gregory Secor wrote on November 5, 1999
Email Update Needed
City and State: FALLBROOK CA
Unit:
Service or Relationship: Family Member
Comments: I'm trying to find the plane and it's crew that my father flew with. He says he was on the Command Decision, and that the last flight they took heavy fire to the wing. When they landed and the plane stopped, the wing fell off on the strip. The entire crew was sent home because of the episode.
My father was in an auto accident in '62-'63 and the information may or maynot be correct.
Please.. If there is anyone who remembers my father, let me know. Gregory Secor (760)728-4553
Thank You.
Keywords: Norman W. Secor, 19th Bomb Group, Forward Fire Control,
Entry: 4010
Subject: FRANK FARRELL
Frank (Bud) Farrell wrote on November 5, 1999
City and State: GEORGETOWN TX
Unit: 19TH BOMB GROUP U.S.A.F.
Service or Relationship: Air Force
Comments: B-29 Gunner in 93rd Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group 6/21/52 thru 12/21/52, 25 Combat missions N.Korealater Air Refueling Operator in KB-29's in 43rd Air Refueling Squadron, 43rd Bomb Wing at Davis-Monthan A.F.B.
Keywords: Member: Korean War Project
Entry: 2735
Subject: GLENN BALDWIN - 19TH BOMB WING
Glenn Baldwin wrote on March 28, 1999
City and State: QUITMAN TX
Unit: 19TH BOMB WING
Service or Relationship:
Comments: Kadena AFB Okinawa, March 1952- Feb 1954
Keywords: