Entry: 14807
Subject:
Harold Ingraham wrote on February 4, 2001
Email Update Needed
City and State: TOLEDO OH
Unit: 6147 - 45 TAC RECON GROUPS
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: 6147 and 45 TAC RECON GROUPS
Keywords:
Entry: 14004
Subject: UPDATE
Donald W. (Duck) Eliason wrote on January 2, 2001
Email Update Needed
City and State: CHESTERTOWN MD
Unit: 45TH TAC. RECON. SQD.
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: I was one of first camera repairman in 45th. We were asigned in Oct. 1950, at Komaki. When RF51's came to us,we checked out K-22's and made ready for our eventual deployment to K-2 in Dec. 1950. Our Sqd. Comander was a great guy Maj. Paul A Pettigrew, our Camera repair officer was Capt Norris Maxey, another great officer. Wehad some terrific pilots, some who never made. it back,like Lt. James Dolan, Capt. C. Brown and others,including our Wing Comander Col. Karl Polifka.We had a great club ,thanks to Cpt. Melbourn, untill 5th A F made us close it. Oh what a party we had for a couple of days. We also were visited a number times by Charlie and his 40 lb fragment bombs. We had a gret squadron and terrific bunch of guys. I rotated back to the states with a number of others from the sqd. in Feb.1952on the Gen Walker. Would enjoy hearing from any of the guys again. Harry Pratt and I tried to get a reunion started back in 1970,but had only a few respones, of which Col Pettigrew was one.I recently heard from Henry Shamblin one of the radio repairmen. I'll be looking to hear from other "Puddycats". Don
Keywords: Duck, Sgt. Camera Repair
Entry: 12916
Subject: DAD WAS RF-51 CREW CHIEF
Mark Williamson wrote on November 12, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State:
Unit:
Service or Relationship: Family Member
Comments: My father, Taylor B. "Sonny Boy" Williamson arrived in Korea Christmas day 1952. He worked as crew chief on photo recon p-51's out of Kimpo. He also worked as a bartender in the Officer's club. I have a photo of him on guard duty in front of "The Peon's Club" wearing fleece-lined leather pilot clothes carrying an M-1. He has not met or contacted but one of his comrades-in-arms from those days. He's got no e-mail address, but I am sure that if any of you remember him, he would love to hear form you.
e-mail me and I'll get you the necessary info.
thanks,
Mark
Keywords: "Peon's Club", 5th air force, Kimpo
Entry: 12702
Subject:
James A. Wilson wrote on November 3, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State: FLINT TX
Unit: 45TH TACTICAL RECON SQUADRON
Service or Relationship: -
Comments: 45TH TACTICAL RECON SQUADRON
Keywords:
Entry: 12701
Subject: AT KIMPO 1/12/52 TO 12/19/52
James A. Wilson wrote on November 3, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State: FLINT TX
Unit: 45TH TACTICAL RECON SQUADRON
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments:
Comments: I arrived at the 45th Tac. Recon. squadron in January 1952 and this Texas boy had never been so cold in his life. I spent my first couple of months working in supply, ordering and picking up parts for the RF51s, it wasn't a bad job but I was trained in Radar repair and wanted work in the Communications shop. I was offered and jumped at the first opening available in the Radio shop.
Keywords:
Entry: 11986
Subject: THANKS
Edward Perkins wrote on September 26, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State:
Unit:
Service or Relationship: Family Member
Comments: Just wanted to say thank you for your recollections of Kimpo Air Base during the Korean War.
My late father, M/Sgt, Robert D. Perkins, served with HQ., 67th TRW, in the personnel office, from 1951-1952. He oftened described the conditions there as sometimes brutal. Reading these excerpts has reminded me of that fact. I know if he were alive he would enjoy reading these excerpts as much as I have, and would probably have his own recollections to contribute.
Again, thank you!
Ed Perkins
Keywords:
Entry: 9858
Subject: LISTEN IN
Gerald Graham wrote on June 27, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State: PALM HARBOR FL
Unit: 45TH TAC RECON
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: Would like to hear from those who were at K-14.Form Feb 53 to July 53.I flew 100 and went home in July.
Keywords:
Entry: 9338
Subject: REMEMBERING KIMPO
James J. Anderson wrote on June 12, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State: SHELBY NC
Unit: 45TH TAC RECON SQDN
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: Remembering Kimpo
I was assigned to the 45th TAC RECON Sqdn from June '52 - July '53. Following are some of my memories not mentioned by others so far: Sharing tent 1469 at different times were Ed Ray (Indiana), Chet Cutshall (Ohio), ____ Thomas (Alabama), Tony Amarillo (Massachusetts?), M/Sgt. Hirsch (N. or S. Dakota), among others whose names I can't recall. There was also a Clyde Radloff (Wisconsin, I think) and Ed Simmons (N.C.) in another tent.
I also remember a Lt. Col. Beamer (Texas, I believe) and a Lt. Follis (who we called "Fearless Follis"). Both, of course, were pilots. Also, in the past year, through Chet Cutshall, another pilot, Harold Prichard, was contacted.
Another friend, Dudley Kruhm (Maryland) was reassigned with Ed Ray and me to Lockbourne AFB, Ohio after our stint in Korea.
I remember being called out on an alert early one morning. We donned backpacks, got issued carbines and went out into the boonies to defend KIMPO. It must have been a practice alert. When we returned it was morning chow time and we got the only good breakfast I can remeber there. It was gravy with hamburger chunks on a nice big biscuit. The rusty, bent carpet tack I almost swallowed didn't detract one iota from my enjoyment. (Being raised in North Carolina on gravy and busicuits made this breakfast doubly enjoybable.) Chow wasn't that great, but it was sustenance, and we were certainly better off than the GI's on the line. Each morning after breakfast, freshly made doughnuts were placed outside the kitchen and these, along with coffee, more than made up for not-so-good breakfasts.
"Hot" showers were another matter. If we were lucky we had hot water for showers at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Also, to have clean socks, clean fatigues, and clean underwear at the same time was a real luxury!
I was in line camera, so won't repeat what Lloyd Wooley said in a previous recollections about the P-51's and F-80 Shooting Stars.
I don't remember this, but one of my buddies (Dudley Kruhmn) remembered that someone had to lie under the 51's right before they took off, to wipe the window in the belly clean so no mud or dirt would interfere with the photographs.
Another recollection is visits by "Bed Check Charley." On his first visit after I arrived at KIMPO the sky was filled with tracers, and I was unable to tell if they were incoming or outgoing. I learned the real meaning of "hugging the ground"
that night!
I have been in touch with Dudley, Ed, and "Cutch" in the past four years and have visited with Dudley and Juli and they with us a few times. It's a strange feeling getting together after forty-some years. The strangeness is that you feel like you were apart for only a short time, such as a 30-day leave or a TDY. Eerie, but most enjoybable.
I look forward to seeing remembrances from others. Incidentally, Cutch wrote me in North Carolina to tell me that Capt. John Rhoads was KIA.
Keywords: Andy,Cutch,Ray, Dud. Camera Repair.
Entry: 9117
Subject: MEMORIES OF 45TH TAC RECON SQ.-KIMPO '52-'53
Chet Cutshall wrote on June 1, 2000
City and State: WILLOWICK OH
Unit: 45TH TAC. RECON. SQ.
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: I served from Oct.'52 to Aug '53 at Kimpo and was a ground-crew chief of RF-80 #FT-260, nose name "My Miss Carole B". I left for the states 2 weeks after the war ended and celebrated my 2lst birthday coming home on the troop ship USS Menard. The ship was half full of Airmen and half U.S. Marines from the lst Division. Your letters above have brought back many memories that we shared together 48 years ago.
I remember how cold that winter was--"minus 19 degrees". The 50 gallon drums of fuel for our tent heaters would refuse to flow (by gravity) and somebody would have to go out in the middle of the night and shake the drum. We younger guys would fake sleep, even though we were freezing, and an older sargeant in our tent would always be the "shaker". He would then complain the next day about the need to take turns.
Did any of you witness the following incident which took place in the spring of l953? A small jet landed with one gear up and one gear down. He skidded onto our (the 45th) taxi strip and started to burn, trapping the pilot in his cockpit. Before the emergency crews could get there, Tech. Sgt. Edmund Smith grabbed a large fire extinguisher, ran right up to the burning plane and foamed an area for the pilot to escape. The irony of this story is that Smith was a WWII veteran who had crashed and burned during the famous raid on the Ploesti oil refineries in Romania on August 1, 1943. You might remember him because of his many burn scars. He was a genuine hero in my eyes, but never received any formal recognition for his deed.
About 2 years after my discharge in l955, I cut an article out of a magazine claiming that our (the 45th) operation's officer, CAPTAIN JOHN KYLER RHOADS was the "LAST MAN SHOT DOWN IN THE KOREAN WAR." I never saw any formal confirmation of this fact, but I have recently been in contact with one of our pilots, ex lst Lt. Harold Prichard. He had flown previous missions with Rhodes and says this is absolutely true. I have made the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, aware of this sad distinction for the POLKA DOTS and hope they can authenticate it for thier 50th anniversary exhibit of the war (the exhibit starts June 24th).
"Tent life" at Kimpo is something I will never forget. Each tent was a little world of its own. Nine guys, 8 around the walls and the newest arrival in the middle. That guy never had any shelf space or pegs to hang his hat, coat, helmet, etc. This little population was always changing with the rotation of its members in and out of the squadron. The bonds of friendship made under those conditions were long-lasting. Three years ago one of my tent mates, Jim Anderson, a camera repairman for the 45th found me on the "internet" and also found another tent mate, Ed Ray, a camera repairman too. What a genuine thrill it was for me to hear their voices and laughter again after 44 years of wondering, "whatever happened to ......" Now as grandfathers we relive those events of '52 and '53.
Thanks for the memories. History may call it the "FORGOTTEN WAR" but we who were there will never forget it! Chet Cutshall
Keywords: My nickname "Cutch", A and E Mechanic on P51 and F80, Personal friends: Jim Anderson, Ed Ray, Harold Prichard
Entry: 7291
Subject: POLKA DOT SQUADRON
Lloyd Wooley wrote on March 1, 2000
Email Update Needed
City and State: LONGVIEW WA
Unit: 45TH REC TEC/67TH WING HQ SQD.
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: I was camera repairman and was assigned to changing the magazines, for the recon flights, by the RF-51 Mustangs. What a great little war-bird that was. I can still hear the whine of their mighty engine. I arrived at Seoul Air Port, on the 6th of June, 1952. It was at night and was taken by six-by to Kimpo. As we were going down the road, I remember some 55 gallon drums in the middle of the roadway. Later to find out that it was to prevent the drivers of the vehicles from driving into the bomb craters.
Wow, what a night. After getting my bed clothing and being assigned to a tent, I was ready for some sack time. It had been a long time since I had slept on an army cot. Back home in Oklahoma, as kids, my brothers and I would sleep out under the stars in the summer time.
One night, there was a yellow alert. Seems Bed Check Charlie had sneaked in under the 4th Fighter Wing radar screen and had dropped an anti- personell bomb on the 67th Wing Flying Operations quonset hut and left a large crater in the ground. It was big enough to drive a 4-by into. We lost our communications, because the lines were on poles, next to where the bomb blast was.
Another night, in December 1952, we had a yellow alert while Eisenhower was over there and all of our planes were grounded. They had a stand-down so that anything in the air would be detected by the radar units, would be determined to be bogies. Well, a flock of geese showed up on their screens and all hell broke out. Evry Ack-Ack unit on our base opened fire on them and the light from the tracer bullets, lit up the sky so bright, you could read a newspaper by it. As their tracers were going out, it looked like they were coming in, and everyone that wasn't in a trench, got to jump in on the ones that were already there. Some broken collerbones were had that night. (all over a bunch of geese)
Around the end of 1952, we switched over to RF-80s. What a dream machine it was. The hood of that thing opened up like a car, and held so many cameras, a person would have to guess which ones were needing their magazines changed. One in the nose, looking oblique, three k-27s looking horizon to horizon. Also, a k-38 looking straight down. It also had a Sonne Camera, that produced a strip of film, that was syncronized with the ground speed of the aircraft. I only worked on those a few days and was transferred to the HQ Squadron. I was put in charge of the repair unit, and took care of all of the developing equipment. The photo interperters did a bang-up job of letting the G-2 people know where the activity was and how much damage had been done by the B-29 bombers from Okinawa. One had to crash land at our base, with it's IFF out and it was a scary night. We didn't know if it was one of ours or not. another yellow and red alert that night.
While standing guard duties one night, Bed-Check Charlie came over, and dropped some leaflets. One hit me on the head and my neck was sore for a week from trying to pull my head in like a turtle. After regaining my senses, I called for the Sgt.
of the guard. He came up shortly and told me that Charlie had came over. I was so relieved that it was just leaflets. We spent about 15 minutes picking them up.
Being that I was a photographer by secondary AFSC. I took many photographs of the downtown area of Seoul. There was utter devistation there and I have many photos of it. I remember Witch's Tit Mountain too. It was situated just west of our base, and I saw many a pretty sunsets over it.
One incident is stuck in my mind, about the RF-51. One morning, while pre-flighting our cameras, the armament pre-flighter was checking the quad fiftys and he pulled the sear to charge one of them. It slipped out of his hands and started firing. The tracers were going over the 4th fighter Interceptor squadron control tower and It must have scared the pee-waddling out of them. I know it would have me. I forgot the name of the airman but I will never forget the look on his face when it started firing. He grabbed the sear and burned his hand in the process. It could have been a disaster but was kind of comical in a way. I am so glad no one was hurt in the accident.
We had a lot of USO shows come over and they were appreciated. Hank Snow and his band, along with Ernest Tubb and his band. Poop-Deck Pappy was with them also. At the close of their show, they sang the song, "May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You". You should have seen the tears showing up in our eyes. I remember the korean village people looking through the wire fence, and they were entertained too. Of course we passed along some Hershey's chocolate bars.
I turned 21 years old on the 29th of Dec. and had one heck of a party. The Airman's Club was a rockin' that night. Actually, I don't remember arriving back at my tent that night. I'm sure someone had to show me the way.
I had three R and Rs to Japan. What a fun thing that was. Seven days and nights of paradise, each time.
After my tour of duty was over, I rotated back to the States on June 6th, 1953, about 2 months before the cease fire was held.
I'm sure there are others out there that have any good memories of the war, but to the ones that suffered the combat conditions, I take my hat off to them. I lost my twin brother just the other day, on the 21st. of February, 2000. He was my twin and I got to meet him three times while over there. He was with the 45th Infantry Division,and was the only one of my family of 9 vets to be wounded by hostile fire. May he rest in peace.
He will be interred with another brother that was in the second world war, one that survived the War but not an accident in an auto. The VFWs of Okmulgee and Henryetta, Oklahoma will do the Military Honors for him on the 1st. of March, 2000, at he Veteran's Circle in Okmulgee Cemetery.
Lloyd Wooley
I have a web page at: http://www.geocities.com/wooleywa , that is dedicated to my Family of Veterans.
thanks in advance for taking a look.
Keywords: "First and Last Over the Target" Camera Repairman in the 45th. Reconnaisance Squadron.
Entry: 5788
Subject: 45TH TAC RECON SQDN (FIREFLIES)
Robert Alarid wrote on December 23, 1999
City and State: FOLSOM CA
Unit: FIREFLIES
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: I was assigned to the fireflies when I first got to Korea in December of 1952.
The Fireflies used c-47 aircraft painted black to drop flares in support of night interdiction missions by the Navy, Marines and Air force fighter bombers. We would fly over North Korea dropping flares to light up trains, troop concentations, bridges and any other target that
3rd Air force needed to be detroyed. Very little is known about the fireflies.. I flew 76 missions over North Korea with them.
Keywords: Fireflies
Entry: 5767
Subject: AT KIMPO 1/12/52 TO 12/19/52
James A. Wilson wrote on December 22, 1999
Email Update Needed
City and State: FLINT TX
Unit: 45TH TACTICAL RECON SQUADRON
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: I arrived at the 45th Tac. Recon. squadron in January 1952 and spent my first couple of months working in supply, ordering and picking up parts for the RF51s, it wasn't a bad job but I was trained in Radar repair and wanted work in the Communications shop. I was offered and jumped at the first opening available in the Radio shop.
Keywords:
Entry: 5494
Subject: MUSTANGS OVER KOREA
Dave Flint wrote on December 7, 1999
Email Update Needed
City and State:
Unit:
Service or Relationship: -
Comments: I was engaged in a little research on the web regarding my father's experience in Korea and
came across your posting for any information, pictures, stories etc.
I came across a book out this year titled
"Mustangs Over Korea" by David R. McLaren.
I was pleased that the final chapter was devoted to the 45th and stunned when I came to the last page and there was a picture of my father, then Lt. Walter H. Flint.
I contacted the author and he advised me that he had the picture used in the book of my father on the flight line plus a number of others including him playing horse shoes ( funny, I can' t picture
dad playing horse shoes, but then again I have a hard time with the low level recon flights named "Circle Tens" as described in the book.
My favorite story refers to a pair of fighters working in unison, one working high cover loiter with ordinance to conserve fuel with the second at low level to identify and light-up with 50's.
A great idea but they loaded all six mounts with all tracer ammo rather than the normal two mounts with one in four being tracer.
This proved to give a great light show but blind the issuing pilot.
PS. My father went on to be the Range Officer at Canaveral for the Apollo missions, a few years at the Pentagon and finally Curator for Space wing of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
He passed away a few years ago and is now with my mother now at Arlington.
One question: the picture notes my father wearing a patch that is not the "Sylvestor" but appears to be a 51 with pilot/camera and a quote "Search and Destroy". Any information on this ?
The caption states this was not santioned by the Air Force.
Keywords:
Entry: 5276
Subject: EVERY MAN A 'PUDDY CAT'
Donald W. (Duck) Eliason wrote on November 25, 1999
Email Update Needed
City and State: CHESTERTOWN MD
Unit: 45TH TAC RECON SQD
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: I am looking for any member of my unit in during my term. I am the Commander of Chapt.3 KWVA of Delaware. Looking for any memorabilia,photos,or anyone that remembers our war that rest of the world seams to have forgotten.I need this for the Dover AFB Museum for the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War.
Don "Duck" Eliason
Keywords: Dec 1950 Thru Feb 1952/ Camera repair section/ Paul A Peddegrew"Pappy"/Maj Stone / Harry E Pratt/Shanahan/ Ect...(or anyone that remembers @ K2,or K14
Entry: 3858
Subject: KIMPO AFB KOREA 1952
Herbert (Art) Rideout wrote on November 2, 1999
Email Update Needed
City and State: FALLBROOK CA
Unit: 45TH TRS 67TH TRW
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: Kimpo AFB Korea 1952
45th TRS 67th TRW
Recollections
The following is a summation of my recollections
of the Korean War while stationed at Kimpo Air
Force Base. I was assigned as a radio man to the
45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron a photo
reconnaissance squadron. The squadron flew the
World War II P-51’s which were actually designated
RF-51 (Reconnaissance Fighter) but we always
referred to them as P-51’s or Mustangs. I arrived
1 January 1952 and in May of 1952 was reassigned
to Seoul City Air Force Base and the Fireflys,
“The Old Lamplighters Of The Korean Hills” as we
were called. We dropped flares at night for the
troops fighting on the ground.
The War
Unlike World War II there was not a great deal of
enthusiasm or support for the Korean war. It was
often referred to as Harry Truman’s war and with
good reason. After WW II Harry Truman
miscalculated our military needs and decimated the
strength of our military. He then made the mistake
of informing the world that we would not come to
the aid of any country west of Japan, that
included South Korea. Then after the war was
underway he refused to fight to win.
Of the 1,319,000 Americans who served 142,000 were
killed wounded or captured. The death rate was
nearly three times that of the Vietnam War. The
POW death count was the highest of any conflict in
this nations history. There were also 5,178 MIA’s
never accounted for and 2,730 POW’s that were
known to be alive but never repatriated.
The Base
Kimpo is just north west of the city of Seoul.
When the war broke out on Sunday June 25, 1950
Kimpo was used as the main evacuation point for
diplomats living in Seoul. For the next two days
air transports of all types were landing and
taking off with evacuees.
This was not done without hazards however, North
Korean fighter aircraft were a constant threat and
they were determined to shoot the transports down.
On the 27th of June for example North Korean
airmen in eight fighters attempted an attack on
the transports but four were shot down by US jets
and the remaining aircraft returned to the north.
Later that day Kimpo fell to the advancing North
Korean forces.
The Inchon invasion took place on 15 September
1950 and two days later on the 17th Kimpo was back
in US hands. But it once again fell to the enemy
on 4 Jan 1951 as the fighting again moved south.
Then on 10 Feb Kimpo was, for the final time,
captured by US forces. Being captured and being
secure however were two different things. It was
still not unusual to be shot at or to come under
attack by infiltrators. Let me describe several of
my experiences.
One evening one of the men in our tent went out to
the latrine. When he did not return we went
looking for him and found him between the tents
stabbed.
One morning there was much commotion several tents
away. During the night infiltrators had slit the
side of the tent open, entered and silently killed
several men. At this time both officers and
enlisted men were quartered in tents but in
separate areas.
One morning as I was walking past the base
commanders quarters South Korean military police
were dragging a man out to their truck, they shot
him in the head just before tossing him in the
back. Seems he had gained entrance to the
commanders quarters and attacked him with a knife.
The commander was successful in fighting off the
attacker.
And then there was “Bed Check Charlie” as we
called him. This was a light all wood and canvas
aircraft flown by North Koreans just after dark
and was used to harass us. He would fly over toss
out small bombs hoping to hit a tent, aircraft or
something else of importance. I found these night
time extravaganza’s rather exciting. The sirens
would go off, big search lights would come on to
try to find him and anti-aircraft batteries would
begin firing with tracers which would light up the
sky better than any Fourth of July that I had ever
seen, and all the time we in trenches were
shooting our rifles in all directions. Bed Check
Charlie was very elusive and only one was ever
brought down. Because Charlie flew so slow it was
decided in late 1951 to bring in a navy F4U
Corsair fighter aircraft. The F4U was noted for
its ability to land on aircraft carriers at very
slow speeds. So one evening when Charlie arrived
the F4U took off and got behind him, the pilot of
the F4U was still flying to fast so he dropped his
flaps and even his wheels but still to fast and
before the F4U pilot could maneuver further he hit
Charlie and both fell in flames.
It was wise to be armed and alert at all times, I
wore a pistol 24 hours a day and often had it in
my hand at night. This pistol was purchased by my
grandfather when he was a circus performer in the
1880’s. It was a 32 center fire, very accurate,
easy to conceal and use. I was not alone in
sleeping with a pistol and occasionally some one
would end up either shooting themselves or someone
else.
Then in February 1952 our Commanding Officer of
the 45th, Lt. Col. Thomas A Hudson Jr. called us
all together. He stood in the back of a large
truck using it as a platform and told us that the
Chinese were intent on retaking the base and were
seen just a few miles north in great numbers. He
said that it was expected we could hold out for
three days before being overrun and that a
detachment of Marines were expected to arrive and
relieve us in five days. He went on to say that we
were short of ammunition and that if we ran out we
were to use our bayonets, there would be no
retreat. Fortunately for me on the second day
aircraft radios began to fail and they needed me
back at the base to repair them. As I worked in a
Quonset Hut I could hear bullets hitting the roof.
At one point I went out to an aircraft and a
mechanic next to me was shot in the leg. What
saved us was the P-51s flying with napalm. The
enemy was so close that the P-51s would take off
and never retract their wheels, drop their napalm
and return to load up again.
The Mission
In the front of Squadron Headquarters was a sign
which said “First Over The Target - Last To
Leave”. The job of photo reconnaissance was to
take pictures of a target area before a bombing
raid, then to stay until the raid was over and
then take a second set of photos. This involved
lots of low flying which meant lots of ground fire
and sometimes even avoiding cables that were
strung between hills in an attempt to snag
aircraft. Photo reconnaissance was a very
dangerous profession. I knew one pilot who was
shot down four times in three days. Indeed it was
extremely stressful for the pilots. It was the
pilots who were being wounded or killed sometimes
daily, they were the hero's in our squadron.
The Aircraft
The P-51 was not well suited for the job as a
photo reconnaissance aircraft because it was far
to susceptible to ground fire. The Russians during
World War II had a reconnaissance aircraft that
was virtually immune to ground fire because it had
heavy armor plating, the P-51 had no such armor.
Some of the pilots had their crew chiefs install
armor steel plating under and in back of the seat
to protect them but they did not have the
facilities to add further armor. It was rather
exciting working around the P-51s. Every time one
would land we would have to put cages around the
tires because the tires would be so hot from
landing they would sometimes explode. And then the
machine guns were often so hot that after the
aircraft had parked the guns would go off. But it
was a beautiful aircraft, I still get excited when
I hear the sound of a Mustang. The crew chiefs
knew their aircraft so well that they could hear
their individual aircraft returning long before
any of the rest of us and they could also tell if
the engine was running smoothly. Almost daily
there were terrible crashes but not always with
our squadron. Kimpo was the main base for many
squadrons. There were also many Australians as
well as the South Korean Air Force. Working on the
flight line I would see them come in on fire,
sometimes with the wheels up, they would often
loose hydraulics which would mean no flaps for
landing and no brakes. It was obvious when this
happened because they would go off the end of the
runway with no decrease in speed and often burst
into flames. Pilots that were hurt real bad would
sometimes land in the taxi way and crash into our
working area, so it was always important to keep
an eye open for what was happening around us.
Living Conditions
Only the base commander lived in a Quonset Hut,
everyone else lived in tents. The tents had wooden
floors and doors. With temperatures often in the
-20 degree range heating was a problem. Each tent
had two oil stoves but oil was in short supply. As
oil tanks would get low we would have after dark
raiding parties to find tanks full with oil and
then steal them. But often this effort was for not
because another raiding party would then steal our
tank. We had house boys that would make our beds
and clean. They had a fascination with our loaded
guns which were everywhere and they would often
shoot themselves or someone else. We also could
never be sure that they were not North Korean
sympathizers. Our clothing was not adequate for
the arctic like weather. We had the standard
military issue of clothing exactly the same as
personnel stationed in the tropics. We also had
the standard issue of very light weight sleeping
bags which we used on top of military cots. It was
often difficult to sleep because we were so cold
but we were much better off than the troops 20
miles to the north who slept on the ground each
night, sometimes in deep snow.
The food, ah the food. I was never much on eating
but the food we were served was atrocious.
C-Rations were much better and every chance we had
to eat C-Rations we did. We ate from a field
kitchen in which one would walk down a line
outside in the open with mess gear in hand and be
served whatever. For breakfast we would have
cereal with powdered milk. The milk tasted and
looked like chalk water and contained grainy
little bits of something. Eggs were also served
but were powdered and had similar characteristics
to that of the milk. Pancakes were just about
impossible to chew so they were not a popular
item. My eating routine went something like this.
I found my canteen cup to be the best all around
food container and used it in preference to field
mess gear which was clumsy to use and carry. I
would start the day with a canteen cup of coffee
and after that I would get some corn flakes in the
same cup add water and that was breakfast. At
other meals I would just fill the cup with
whatever and with a spoon have my feast. I became
very enamored with my canteen cup and thought it
the ideal food implement so when it came time to
return home I brought it back with me. Now almost
50 years later I start the day with my same
canteen cup of coffee then I have my corn flakes
but now with milk.
There was an open air shower but with no hot water
so even in the summer there were few takers. It
was often said that it was time to change your
socks if when you took them off in the evening
they stuck as you tossed them against the side of
the tent. It was always fun when new replacements
would arr
Keywords: Kimpo AFB, 45th TRS 67th TRW, 1952
Entry: 1462
Subject: FLARE DROP UNITS
JAMES (Jim) Padian wrote on November 20, 1998
Email Update Needed
City and State: LEXINGTON MA
Unit:
Service or Relationship:
Comments: LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT AND CONTACTS FROM THE FIRE FLYS: AIR FORCE FLARE-DROPPING UNIT ATTACHED TO DIFFERENT WINGS DURING THE POLICE ACTION. UNIT WAS FREQUENTLY MENTIONED/THREATENED ON RADIO BROADCASTS OUT OF NORTH KOREA.
Keywords: