512th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (VLR)

512th Weather Reconnaissance SquadronVery Long Range

Based in Japan at the beginning of the Korean conflict, the 512th RS, flying
RB/WB-29s, performed daily strategic weather reconnaissance missions over the combat zone, conducted shipping surveillance and visual reconnaissance, and accomplished electronic countermeasures reconnaissance until February 20, 1951.

In the early days of the conflict, the squadron also dropped leaflets. Initially unarmed, and later only lightly armed with two .50-caliber machine guns in the tail turret, the WB-29s flew daily missions over enemy-held territory.

During June 27 through December 27, 1950, the squadron flew over 200 combat missions, making
over 5,000 vitally needed weather observations. These missions were exceptionally hazardous
because of extremely varying weather conditions and exposure to attack over enemy territory.

One of the squadron's WB-29s served as an aerial command post and weather station, giving
on-the-spot weather data and directions to incoming bombers on the first B-29 strike
(July 13, 1950) against North Korean installations. On this and several later such missions,
the WB-29 carried Maj. Gen. Emmett O'Donnell, Jr., USAF, Commander, FEAF Bomber Command.

The 512th RS was replaced by the 56th SRS in February 1951.

Yokota AB, Japan, -August 11, 1950; Misawa AB, Japan, August 11, 1950-February 20, 1951.

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Puett L. Willcox JR. wrote on November 7, 2008

City and State: LONGVIEW TX

Unit: RETAIRED

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: I was a charter member of the 512th in 1948 as a crew chief. After many, many training flights to check out pilots and getting new overhauled WB29s we arrived in Yokato just before the Korian war started. I was asked to volinteer to be a tail gunner as I had been a ball turet gunner in WW2. when the 512th moved to Masawa we were still short tail gunners and I flew 10 missions of 18 hours in a ten day period. I was the first to complete 50 missions amd was sent home before the unit could get the paper work to get me a DFC. Puett L. Willcox: Past Chapter Commander: East Texas Chapter #1; American Ex-Prisoners of War.

Keywords:

Bruce L. Salisbury wrote on January 30, 2005

City and State: AZTEC NM

Unit: 512TH - 56TH STRAT RECON

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea

Comments: This guy would like to see me, and I would like to see him again

Keywords: Looking for a friend. Francis M. O'conner, who served with us in the 512th and 56th Stat. Recon Sqdn's. 1948 until Nov. 1951. Later in the 6th Bomb Wing in Walker AFB, Roswell, NM.