There was a programme on 5 last night about downed fighter pilots during the Korean War and what happened to them.
Unfortunately I was banished to the bedroom to watch it and, getting all comfy under the duvee, I fell asleep.
It was suggested that these pilots were shipped off to the good old USSR, the bit I seemed to miss was about the fate of RAF pilots, after watching lots of air to air combat sequences between Sabres and Migs, I crashed out and heard no mention of British pilots at all, what were they flying, Sea Furies, Meteors, Vampires, I’m really annoyed with myself for missing this.
Did anyone else see it.
By: RPSmith - 6th December 2006 at 19:01
Some film of Douglas Globemasters too.
There was one “success”, an investigation of a crash site just inside China (the aircraft had demolished a house) revealed part of a boot (USAF issue and the correct size), a watch strap, pocket knife and some bone fragments.
DNA tests confirmed it WAS the pilot (can’t remember his name) and his family got closure at a full military funeral at Ft. Worth.
We tend to give the yanks short shrift on a lot of things but their MIA recovery unit obviously put a lot of effort into their job.
Roger Smith.
By: Cranswick - 6th December 2006 at 17:30
Korean MIA
The programme concentrated (if that is the right word) on the 31 Sabre pilots still ‘missing’. 3 of these were RAF and the the programme followed Michael Baldwin’s attempts to determine his father’s fate – Wg Cdr J.R.Baldwin DSO & Bar DFC and Bar – top Typhoon ace. A couple of US families were also featured. Russian records of a crash site believed to have been Baldwin’s aircraft had been found but no chance of examination as the site is in North Korea. Reports of US servicemaen in transit to Russia were rather vague and no documentary evidence had yet been found – but only 25% of known archives has been examined so far.
Lots of Sabre and MiG clips, including Mig19s and F86Ds – but heh!
By: Old Fart - 6th December 2006 at 10:02
They were flying Sabres for the USAF,
The RAF bloke was posted as missing but one prison camp guard told a US pilot he was alove whilst another said he was dead.
One of the missing pilots was found, just a few fragments of bone and a few scatted persinal efects and parts of wreckage.
Missed parts so somebodyelse will have to coss the T’s and dot the I’s
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December 6, 2006 at 9:44 am