|
40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
Fightin' Red Devils
Prologue
On June 25,
1950 the 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was stationed at Yokota
Air Base, Japan and had just completed the transition from P-51D
Mustangs to F-80C Shooting Stars. Their mission was to provide
for the air defense of the Kanto Plains. The Squadron had 25 new
airplanes manned by twenty-five officers and one hundred airmen.
On July 4, 1950 the Squadron heard hints that all this might change,
and on July 7 they received orders to move to Ashiya Air Base
and to begin flying combat missions into Korea. Sixteen aircraft
flew into the new base that evening with crew chiefs and essential
equipment followed during the night in C-47s and C-54s. The first
combat mission was flown on July 8, 1950.
On July 10
the Squadron learned that it was to be the first jet fighter squadron
to be converted back to P-51Ds in order to provide loiter time
in the target areas in support of our ground forces. The first
P-51D was received on July 11, and the conversion was completed
on July 16. During that period the 40th FIS flew combat missions
in both F-80Cs and F-51Ds. Then the Squadron was alerted for a
move from Ashiya AB to Korea, and on July 17 moved to Po Hang
(K-3), the first Fifth Air Force Squadron to be based in Korea.
This resulted in quite a scramble since the 40th had only eleven
assigned armorers. Other skills including crew chiefs, sheet metal,
and clerks filled in temporarily to get the job done.
Po Hang (K-3)
came under increasing pressure from enemy ground forces, and on
Aug 13 the Squadron was ordered to move to Tsuiki Air Base in
Japan. The 40th FIS operated from Tsuiki AB until October 7 when
our advancing Ground Forces made possible a return to K-3. The
sortiesA" party moved up on October 3 and 4 with the F-51Ds following
on October 7. The sortiesB" party of remaining personnel and equipment
followed on October 8 and 9. Operations were easier now since
the Squadron had been augmented by some fifty airmen and fifteen
officers, and all the Wing support units were operational except
the Maintenance Squadron. The 40th FIS remained at Po Hang (K-3)
until October 31, 1950.
Other Actions Involving
40th FIS Personnel
While the
above basic Squadron movements were taking place, 40th personnel
and equipment were committed to other actions which do not show
up in the 40th FIS official history. The first requirement from
Fifth Air Force was to establish Bout One at Itazuke Air Base,
Japan to provide for the training of ROKAF in P-51D combat operations.
This occurred on June 30, 1950. The 40th FIS provided Capt. William
Hook, Lts. Holet, Bryan, Edwards, and Helseth. Capt. Mike Smith,
a GCI Controller assigned to the 40th for flying purposes, volunteered.
Also, Capt. Grisham and Lt. Gordon served as weather officers.
(Both of these officers flew P-51Ds on combat missions). Major
Dean Hess commanded the Bout One detachment, and others from the
8th Fighter Group were in the detachment. Walter Bryan tells of
his personnel record which shows him attached Detachment #1, 36
Fighter Bomber Squadron at Itazuke AB.
On 30 June
1950 Capt. William Hook and Lt. Walter Bryan the first mission
from Itazuke AB, Japan. On 1 July 1950 the Bout One volunteers
got in a C-47 and rode to K-2, while the ROKAF trainees prepared
to fly the 10 P-51Ds. The volunteers watched the ROK pilots in
the landing pattern. All but one made it o. k., and that one made
a go-around pattern, putting on full throttle without advancing
the prop control. The landing was successful, but the engine was
ruined. The first missions from K-2 were on 2 July and Capt. Hook,
Lt. Bryan, Capt. Mike Smith, and Lt. Alan Helseth were in the
first flight.
When the Dallas
Project brought thirty P-51Ds with pilots and ground crews from
the 18th Fighter Bomber Group, the 40th FIS personnel stayed in
place at K-2 and transferred to the 51st FBS (Provisional). Walter
Bryan was designated a Tactical Air Controller (TACP) and joined
Maj. Gen. William Dean and the U. S. Army 24th Division in the
Taejon area on 13 July. He was Gen. Dean's personal TACP. Sometime
in August the 40th FIS pilots were directed to Johnson AB where
they were to begin the check-out of the replacement P-51 pilots
who came over on the USS Boxer. By 1 Sept 1950 all were again
in the 40th at Tsuiki AB.
The Other
Actions above are cited because the Operational Reporting of the
40th Personnel are not shown in the official 40th history. Lt.
George Edwards shot down a YAK-9 while on his 21st mission out
of K-2. Lt. Walter Bryan was on the ground at the time, and an
Army Captain reported the kill to Walter. Unfortunately, this
victory never made its way into the official claims records. Communications
were particularly poor during these early days and the compilation
of aircraft and equipment destroyed, aswell as MIA and KIA reporting,
all suffered, and many cases have not been settled.
40th FIS Operational
Reporting
The first
report in the 40th History is dated 13 Oct 1950 and covers actions
for 1 - 30 Sept. The 40th was labeled a Fighter Interceptor Squadron
throughout the Korean War, even though its combat missions were
predominantly fighter bomber category. The 40th flew seven hundred
thirty three (733) combat sorties, and the pilots who did the
flying are listed below:
| Arasmith,
Lester L. |
Capt. |
33
sorties |
| Bartimus,
Neil R. |
2nd Lt |
31
sorties |
| Bryan,
Walter H. |
1st Lt |
23
sorties |
| Burton,
Woodrow |
1st
Lt |
30
sorties |
| Cadwallader,
Charles W. |
1st
Lt |
20 sorties |
| Canning,
Douglas S. |
Capt |
6 sorties |
| Edwards,
George M. |
1st
Lt |
24
sorties |
| Gaskins,
Aubrey S. |
1st
Lt |
4
sorties |
| Guernsey,
Arthur B. |
Capt
|
16
sorties |
| Hannon,
James D. |
Capt
|
23
sorties |
| Harned,
Donne C. |
2nd
Lt |
1
sorties |
| Haythorne,
Justice K. |
1st
Lt |
21
sorties |
| Helseth,
Alan E. |
2nd
Lt |
22 sorties |
| Hook,
William K. |
Capt
|
23
sorties |
| Hundley,
Everett L. |
Capt
|
3
sorties |
| Johnson,
Neil R. |
Major
|
24
sorties |
| Jordan,
William J. |
Capt
|
9
sorties |
| Kirkendall,
James F. |
Lt
Col |
8
sorties |
| Krause,
Harris F. |
Lt
Col |
6
sorties |
| Lamar,
James L. |
2nd
Lt |
16
sorties |
| Lamp,
Richard E. |
1st Lt |
19
sorties |
| Lee,
Ronald E. |
1st
Lt |
20
sorties |
| Marling,
Joseph F. |
1st
Lt |
31
sorties |
| Miles,
Joseph C. |
1st
Lt |
25
sorties |
| Nicholson,
Hubert L. |
Capt
|
31
sorties |
| Opalenik,
Basil O. |
1st
Lt |
26
sorties |
| Priday,
Allen C. |
Capt
|
37
sorties |
| Roberts,
Leroy Jr. |
1st
Lt |
14
sorties |
| Roberts,
Howard D. |
1st
Lt |
15
sorties |
| Schiltz,
Glen D. Jr. |
Capt
|
6
sorties |
| Steffens,
Randall L. |
1st
Lt |
27
sorties |
| Stewart,
Raymond R. |
Capt
|
17
sorties |
| Stinson,
Edward A. |
1st
Lt |
7 sorties |
| Travers,
Medford J. |
1st
Lt |
2
sorties |
| Tubbs,
William R. |
1st
Lt |
9
sorties |
| Veatch,
Clarence P. |
1st
Lt |
22
sorties |
| Wilkins,
Paul H. |
Capt
|
26
sorties |
| Williams,
Jay H. |
1st
Lt |
28
sorties |
| Oakes,
Russell E. |
Capt
|
10
sorties |
| Barnes,
James A. |
1st
Lt |
10
sorties |
|
Meyer, Charles B. |
1st
Lt |
8
sorties |
The 40th FIS
suffered the loss of two pilots during this period of combat operations.
| 1st Lt |
Ronald
E. Lee |
AO 2062829 |
Missing
in action |
| 1st Lt |
William
J. Levi |
AO 818489 |
Killed
in action |
No enemy aircraft
were destroyed in the air or on the ground during this period.
This organization
lost two pilots and two (2) F-51 aircraft.
Special comments
by the Commander: Napalm proves to be the best weapon for attacking
tanks, vehicles, and troops. Rockets are not accurate enough to
be a dependable weapon. 50 cal. guns were effective against all
targets except medium and heavy tanks. Strafing of defended targets
while carrying external fuel tanks is deemed not advisable.
Also, the
Joint Operations Control (JOC) had the responsibility to coordinate
activities between air, ground and naval units as well as close
support missions. One heartening result for this squadron was
the fact that several missions flown which were thought to be
failures were later verified by ground forces as having been extremely
successful in the annihilation of hundreds of enemy troops and
large amounts of equipment.
s/ James
F. Kirkendal
l Lt. Colonel
USAF
Commanding |
Editor's
note:
1st Lt William
J. Levi was not credited with any sorties during the month even
though he was KIA. This is because Lt. Levi was lost in weather
on a take-off from Tsuiki AB. It is not known how many combat
sorties Lt. Levi had flown at the time he went down. He is cited
as the wingman for Lt. William R. Tubbs on July 17, 1950 when
Tubbs was shot down and rescued at sea. See the ROA magazine,
July 2000 issue, p. 21.
October 1950
Narrative
The first
day of Oct 1950 found the 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron still
at Tsuiki Air Base, Japan. From there combat missions were flown
in support of the all-out offensive of the United Nations forces
in Korea.
On 7 Oct 1950
the long anticipated move finally took place. The 40th FIS returned
to Po Hang Dong, its original site of operations in the present
conflict. Fortunately, the ground fighting which caused the 40th
to evacuate in August 1950 left the airfield virtually intact,
so that it was possible to fly combat missions from K-3 before
the last elements of the squadron had ever completed the move.
Facilities and accommodations were a bit primitive at the beginning,
but Tsuiki had conditioned members of the 40th. So even in this
respect the move was not for the worse.
Efforts were
made from the start to improve the air strip and various facilities
with highly gratifying results. A Group Mess Hall was set up in
close proximity to the flight line and was in operation by 15
Oct 1950. In addition to hot food thusly provided, cold drinks
were made available in the recently established Non-Commissioned
Officers and Officers clubs. After completion of a shower house,
the winterization of the tents was begun and is rapidly progressing.
The reopening
of K-3 has made it possible for this organization to intensify
its efforts to support the advancing United Nations forces. All
these factors combined have kept the morale of the members of
this organization on a high scale and, as victory moves rapidly
into sight, the men of this organization look forward to the return
to a permanent base in Japan.
Operations
During the
period 1 Oct 1950 to 31 Oct 1950 the 40th Fighter Interceptor
Squadron flew a total of three hundred thirty seven (337) combat
sorties. Listed below are the pilots participating in the squadron's
effort with total sorties flown.
| Arasmith,
Lester L. |
Capt.
|
14
sorties |
|
Bartimus, Neil R. |
2nd
Lt. |
11
sorties |
| Beisner,
Gerald J. |
1st
Lt. |
6
sorties |
| Bryan,
Walter H. |
1st
Lt. |
13
sorties |
| Budesa,
Paul G. |
Capt.
|
5
sorties |
| Cadwallader,
Charles W. |
1st
Lt. |
9
sorties |
| Canning,
Douglas S. |
Capt.
|
1
sorties |
| Edwards,
George M. Jr. |
1st
Lt. |
3
sorties |
|
Gaskins, Aubrey S. |
1st
Lt. |
1
sorties |
| Guernsey,
Arthur B. |
Capt.
|
4
sorties |
| Hannon,
James D. |
Capt.
|
9
sorties |
| Harned,
Donne W. |
2nd
Lt. |
10
sorties |
| Haythorne,
Justice K. |
1st
Lt. |
9
sorties |
| Helseth,
Alan E. |
2nd
Lt. |
9
sorties |
| Hodges,
Kenneth S . |
Major
|
9
sorties |
| Hook,
William K. |
Capt.
|
10
sorties |
| Hundley,
Everett L. |
Capt.
|
11
sorties |
| Jodoin,
Edgar |
1st
Lt. |
5
sorties |
| Johnson,
Neil R. |
Major
|
16
sorties |
| Jordon,
William J. Jr. |
Capt.
|
13
sorties |
| Kirkendall,
James F. |
Lt
Col |
8
sorties |
| Krause,
Harris F. |
Lt
Col |
4
sorties |
| Koen,
Albert T. |
1st
Lt. |
8
sorties |
| Lamar,
James L. |
1st
Lt. |
0
sorties |
| Lamp,
Richard E. |
1st
Lt. |
6
sorties |
|
Mana, Roy R. |
Capt.
|
3
sorties |
| Marling,
James F. |
1st
Lt. |
11
sorties |
| McKinney,
Cecil W. |
Capt.
|
0
sorties |
| Miles,
Joseph G. |
1st
Lt. |
11
sorties |
| Nicholson,
Herbert L. |
Capt.
|
10
sorties |
| Opalenik,
Basil C. |
1st
Lt. |
9
sorties |
| Priday,
Allen C. |
Capt.
|
14
sorties |
| Roberts,
Howard D. |
1st
Lt. |
7
sorties |
| Roberts,
Leroy Jr. |
1st
Lt. |
9
sorties |
| Sanders,
Samuel C. |
1st
Lt. |
13
sorties |
| Steffins,
Randall L. |
1st
Lt. |
10
sorties |
| Stewart,
Raymond R. |
Capt.
|
7
sorties |
| Stinson,
Edward R. |
1st
Lt. |
1
sorties |
| Travers,
Medford J. |
1st
Lt. |
10 sorties |
| Tubbs,
William R. |
1st
Lt. |
5
sorties |
| Veatch,
Clarence C. |
1st
Lt. |
12
sorties |
| Wilkins,
Paul H. |
Capt.
|
16
sorties |
| Williams,
Jay H. |
1st
Lt. |
2
sorties |
| Total |
|
337
Sorties |
b.
The 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron suffered the loss of two
pilots during this period from combat operations.
| Capt.
|
Glen
D. Schiltz |
10634A |
MIA |
| 1st
Lt. |
Woodrow
Burton |
AO-210160 |
8
MIA |
c.
No enemy aircraft were destroyed either in the air or on the ground
during the period covered by this report.
d.
This organization lost two pilots, reference paragraph b. above
and three (3) P-51 aircraft.
e.
The below listed officers of the 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
were recommended for the following Awards and Decorations:
Capt. Lester
L. Arasmith: Distinguished Flying Cross, 3rd to 5th Oak Leaf Cluster
to the Air Medal, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster to the Disting- uished
Flying Cross.
2nd Lt. Neil
R. Bartimus: Distinguished Flying Cross, 3rd to 4th Oak Leaf Cluster
to the Air Medal.
1st Lt. Charles
W. Cadwallader: Air Medal, 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the
Air Medal.
1st Lt. George
M. Edwards, Jr.: Air Medal. 1st to 5th Oak Leaf Cluster to the
Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster to
the Distinguished Flying Cross.
1st Lt. Aubrey
S. Gaskins: Air Medal, 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air
Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross.
Capt. Arthur
B. Guernsey: 1st to 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal, Distinguished
Flying Cross.
Capt. James
D. Hannon: 1st to 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal, Distinguished
Flying Cross.
2nd Lt. Alan
E. Helseth: Air Medal, 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air
Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross.
Capt. William
M. Meek: Air Medal, 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal,
Distinguished Flying Cross.
Capt. Everett
L. Hundley: Air Medal.
1st Lt. Richard
M. Lamp: Air Medal, 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal.
1st Lt. Joseph
F. Marling: 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal.
1st Lt. Joseph
C. Miles: 1st to 6th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal, Distinguished
Flying Cross, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Flying
Cross.
1st Lt. Howard
B. Roberts: Air Medal, 1st to 4th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air
Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross.
1st Lt. Jay
Williams: Air Medal, 1st to 6th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal,
Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star.
The below
named officers of the 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron received
the listed decorations during the period covered by this report:
Capt. Lester
L. Arasmith: Air Medal, 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air
Medal.
2nd Lt. Neil
R. Bartimus: Air Medal, 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air
Medal.
1st Lt. Walter
H. Bryan: Air Medal, 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal.
s/ James
F. Kirkendall
JAMES F. KIRKENDALL
Lt. Col.
USAF
Commanding |
November 1950
Narrative
During the
first part of November the 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron continued
to operate from Po Hang Dong. Combat missions were flown from
there in support of advancing United Nations Forces steadily moving
north. As had been the case at Tsuiki, Japan the scene of hostilities
had moved so far from our base that the move had to be undertaken
in order to maintain full effectiveness of the squadron.
The move took
place on 10 November 1950 and the 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
was part of the 35th Fighter Interceptor Group conducting operations
at Yon Po Base, Hamhung. The base itself did not interfere with
the mission of the Squadron and combat missions were flown without
interruption.
In general,
the move to Hamhung proved to be a benefit to the morale of the
squadron personnel. Although the climate at Hamhung was less agreeable
than that at Po Hang, facilities included several buildings which
were far more adequate than before. Also, Hamhung would probably
be the last stop before returning to Japan. Due to the proximity
to the front lines, our squadron could more effectively carry
out its mission of close support for advancing United Nations
ground forces.
a.
During the period of 1 November 1950 to 30 November 1950 the 40th
Fighter Interceptor Squadron flew a total of four-hundred twenty
(420) combat sorties. Listed below are the pilots participating
in the squadron effort with the total number of sorties flown
by each pilot.
| Allen,
Oakley |
1st Lt. |
20 sorties |
| Arasmith,
Lester |
Capt.
|
20 sorties |
| Bartimus,
Neil R. |
2nd Lt.
|
11 sorties
|
| Beisner,
Gerald R. |
1st Lt.
|
13 sorties
|
| Bryan,
Walter H. |
1st Lt.
|
4 sorties
|
| Budesi,
Paul |
Capt.
|
2 sorties
|
| Cadwallader,
Charles W. |
Capt.
|
17 sorties
|
| Davies,
Cecil M. |
Capt.
|
13 sorties |
| Duffy,
John C. |
1st Lt.
|
7 sorties
|
| Edwards,
George M. Jr. |
1st Lt.
|
6 sorties |
| Gaskins,
Aubrey B. |
Capt.
|
2 sorties |
| Guernsey,
Arthur B. |
Capt.
|
6 sorties
|
| Hannon,
James D. |
Capt.
|
5 sorties
|
| Harned,
Donne O. |
2nd Lt.
|
17 sorties
|
| Haythorne,
Justice |
1st Lt.
|
14 sorties |
| Helseth,
Alan |
1st Lt.
|
7 sorties
|
| Hodges,
Kenneth |
Major
|
12 sorties |
| Hook,
William |
Capt.
|
12 sorties |
| Hundley,
Everett |
Capt.
|
2 sorties
|
| Johnson,
Neil R. |
Major
|
17 sorties
|
| Jordon,
Wm. J. Jr. |
Capt.
|
10 sorties |
| Kirkendall,
James F. |
Lt Col
|
13 sorties |
| Krause,
Harris F. |
Lt Col
|
4 sorties
|
| Lamar,
James L. |
1st Lt.
|
15 sorties
|
| Mann,
Roy E. |
Capt.
|
17 sorties
|
| Marling,
Joseph F. |
1st Lt.
|
6 sorties
|
| McKinney,
Cecil |
Capt.
|
2 sorties |
| Miles,
Joseph C. |
1st Lt.
|
10 sorties
|
| Nicholson,
Herbert L. |
Capt.
|
13 sorties
|
| Opalanick,
Basil |
1st Lt.
|
5 sorties |
| Priday,
Allan C. |
Capt.
|
15 sorties
|
| Roberts,
Leroy Jr. |
1st Lt.
|
13 sorties
|
| Sanders,
Samuel G. |
1st Lt.
|
9 sorties
|
| Steffins,
Randall L. |
1st Lt.
|
1 sorties
|
| Stewart,
Raymond R. |
Capt.
|
15 sorties |
| Stinson,
Edward R. |
1st Lt.
|
9 sorties
|
| Street,
William |
Capt.
|
2 sorties
|
| Travers,
Medford |
1st Lt.
|
9 sorties
|
| Tubbs,
William R. |
1st Lt.
|
5 sorties
|
| Vanderyerk,
Allen B. |
Capt.
|
5 sorties
|
| Veatch,
Clarence |
Capt.
|
12 sorties
|
| Wilkins,
Paul H. |
Capt.
|
17 sorties |
| Total
|
|
420
sorties |
b.
No aircraft of the 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron were lost
during combat operations.
c.
No pilots of the 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron were lost during
this period of combat operations. d. Claims made by the 40th Fighter
Interceptor Squadron are listed below:
|
Destroyed
|
Damaged
|
| Buildings |
245
|
34
|
| Tanks
|
15
|
40
|
| Trucks |
25
|
50
|
| Ox
Carts |
33
|
0
|
|
Supply Dumps |
8
|
1
|
| Locomotives
|
2
|
2
|
| Boats
|
1
|
0
|
|
Villages |
9
|
0
|
| Lumber
Yards |
1
|
0
|
| Artillery
Pieces |
16
|
0
|
|
Warehouses |
2
|
3
|
| Horses
|
1
|
0
|
| Flak
Positions |
3
|
1
|
| Tank
Traps |
20
|
0
|
| Bridges
|
1
|
0
|
| Pill
Boxes |
1
|
0
|
| Fuel
Dumps |
0
|
0
|
| Railroad
Cars |
0
|
4
|
e.
The below listed
officers of the 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron were recommended
for the following Awards and Decorations:
1st Lt. Oakley
C. Allen: Air Medal
Capt. Lester L. Arasmith: 6th to 8th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air
Medal.
Capt. Cecil E. Davies: 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal,
Distinguished Flying Cross.
1st Lt. George M. Edwards: Distinguished Flying Cross, 1st Oak
Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Capt. Arthur B. Guernsey: Distinguished Flying Cross, 5th Oak
Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal.
Capt. William H. Hook: 3rd to the th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air
Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, also 1st Oak Leaf Cluster to
the Distinguished Flying Cross.
1st Lt. James L. Lamar: Air Medal, 1st to 4th Oak Leaf Cluster
to the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross.
1st Lt. Joseph H. Marling: 4th to the th Oak Leaf Cluster to the
Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross.
1st Lt. Joseph C. Miles: 7th and 8th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air
Medal, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross.
1st Lt. Howard D. Roberts: 5th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal,
Distinguished Flying Cross.
1st Lt. Edward A. Stinson: 2nd and 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster to the
Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross.
The below
listed officers of the 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron received
the listed decorations during the period covered by this report:
Capt. Lester
L. Arasmith: 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished
Flying Cross.
2nd Lt. Neil R. Bartimus: 6th and 7th Oak Leaf Cluster to the
Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross.
Capt. Charles W. Cadwallader: 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to
the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Capt. Cecil M. Davies: Air Medal, 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster
to the Air Medal.
1st Lt. George M. Edwards: Air Medal, 1st to 5th Oak Leaf Cluster
to the Air Medal.
Capt. Aubrey B. Gaskins: Air Medal. 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster
to the Air Medal.
Capt. Arthur B. Guernsey: Air Medal, 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster
to the Air Medal.
Capt. James D. Hannon: 1st to 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air
Medal
1st Lt. Alan Helseth: Air Medal, 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster
to the Air Medal.
Capt. William H. Hook: Air Medal, 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster
to the Air Medal.
Capt. Everett L. Hundley: 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal.
1st Lt. Richard E. Lamp: Air Medal.
1st Lt. Joseph F. Marling: 1st to the 4th Oak Leaf Cluster to
the Air Medal.
1st Lt. Joseph C. Miles: 1st to 6th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air
Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross.
1st Lt. Howard D. Roberts: Air Medal, 1st to 4th Oak Leaf Cluster
to the Air Medal.
1st Lt. Jay H. Williams: 9th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal,
Distinguished Flying Cross.
1st Lt. Edward A. Stinson: Air Medal, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster to
the Air Medal.
f.
(Editors Note: p. 2179 of the 40th History was partly readable
so a synopsis is offered in lieu of exact wording) Bombs and napalm
dropped, rockets fired, and ammo .50 cal. fired - the amounts
were not readable.
g.
During the first part of November most missions necessitated utilization
of a mixed load, i.e., one napalm tank and one external fuel tank.
Fittings for the drop tanks remained scarce, so drop tanks had
to be retained and returned to base.
Paraphrased
- The armament section received all the badly needed K-14C gunsights.
F-51 bomb racks, .50 cal gun barrels, and gun cleaning materials
were scarce.
h.
For the first time since returning to Korea we have been able
to get the daily information on the friendly and enemy order of
battle. With X Corps and 3rd MAAG nearby it made this possible.
In the last days of November the squadron was in close coordination
with 3rd MAAG and X Corps Headquarters in flying missions to relieve
the pressure on the 1st Marines and 7th Army troops in the Chosin
Reservoir area.
s/ Karl
Wurffel, Jr.
Karl Wurffel, Jr.
1st Lt.
USAF
Unit Historical Officer |
December 1950
2.
During the
period 1 December 1950 to 31 December 1950 the 40th Fighter Interceptor
Squadron flew a total of five hundred four (504) combat sorties.
Listed below are the pilots participating in the Squadron's effort
with tactical sorties flown:
| Kirkendall,
James F. |
Lt.
Col. |
8
sorties |
| Krause,
Harris F. |
Lt.
Col. |
2
sorties |
| Aubrey,
Carl L. |
Major
|
12
sorties |
|
Johnson, Neil R. |
Major
|
5
sorties |
| Alexander,
William B. Jr. |
Capt.
|
5
sorties |
| Budesa,
Paul H. |
Capt.
|
2
sorties |
| Cadwallader,
Charles W. |
Capt.
|
9
sorties |
| Christopher,
Albert M. |
Capt.
|
19
sorties |
| Davies,
Cecil E. |
Capt.
|
18
sorties |
| Gaskins,
Aubrey S. |
Capt.
|
1
sorties |
| Guernsey,
Arthur B. |
Capt.
|
3
sorties |
| Hannon,
James D. |
Capt.
|
11
sorties |
| Haythorne,
Justice K. |
Capt.
|
19
sorties |
| Henry,
James G. |
Capt.
|
8
sorties |
| Hook,
William K. |
Capt.
|
16
sorties |
| Hundley,
Everett L. |
Capt.
|
23
sorties |
| Jordon,
William J. Jr. |
Capt.
|
24
sorties |
| Lay,
James L. |
Capt.
|
8
sorties |
| Mann,
Roy E. |
Capt. |
19
sorties |
| Matusz,
William S. |
Capt.
|
5
sorties |
| Nicholson,
Herbert L. |
Capt.
|
14
sorties |
| Opalenik,
Basil C. |
Capt.
|
14
sorties |
| Priday,
Allen C. |
Capt.
|
6
sorties |
| Roberts,
Leroy Jr. |
Capt.
|
8
sorties |
|
Stewart, Raymond R. |
Capt.
|
3
sorties |
| Street,
William H. |
Capt.
|
1
sorties |
| Vanderyerk,
Allen H. |
Capt.
|
26
sorties |
| Veatch,
Clarence L. |
Capt.
|
2
sorties |
| Wilkins,
Paul H. |
Capt. |
9
sorties |
| Williams,
Hurbert L. |
Capt. |
2
sorties |
| Allen,
Oakley H. |
1st
Lt. |
11
sorties |
| Beisner,
Gerald J. |
1st
Lt. |
3
sorties |
| Bryan,
Walter J. |
1st
Lt. |
12
sorties |
| Duffy,
John C. |
1st
Lt. |
23 sorties |
|
Edwards, George M. Jr. |
1st
Lt. |
15
sorties |
| Lamar,
James L. |
1st
Lt. |
11
sorties |
| Lamp,
Richard E. |
1st
Lt. |
17
sorties |
| Livingston,
Henry H. Jr. |
1st
Lt. |
2
sorties |
| Nelson,
Howard W. |
1st
Lt. |
12
sorties |
| Roberts,
Howard D. |
1st
Lt. |
12
sorties |
| Sanders,
Samuel G. |
1st
Lt. |
19
sorties |
| Stinson,
Edward A. |
1st
Lt. |
2
sorties |
| Travers,
Medford J. |
1st
Lt. |
13
sorties |
| Tubbs,
William R. |
1st
Lt. |
9
sorties |
| Bartimus,
Neil R. |
2nd
Lt. |
18
sorties |
| Brown,
Dana W. |
2nd Lt. |
12
sorties |
| Harned,
Donne C. |
2nd
Lt. |
18
sorties |
b.
Two (2) F-51 type aircraft of the 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
were lost during combat operations.
c.
The 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron suffered the loss of two
(2) pilots during this period of combat operations:
Major Neil
R. Johnson Killed in Action
1st Lt. Olin W. Johnson Killed in Action (see footnote)
d.
No enemy aircraft were destroyed in the air or on the ground during
the period covered by this report.
e.
The below listed officers of the 40th Fighter Interdeptor Squadron
were recommended for the following Awards and Decorations:
Captain Clarence
C. Veatch: 3rd to 11th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal.
Captain Paul
H. Wilkins: 15th to 25th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal.
Major Neil
R. Johnson: 8th to 13th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air |
