The Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

1/Lt Grogan briefing local police from Fukuoka on the role of the 68th in
defense of Japan 1952.
they could have come through without a
scratch. After landing, inspection revealed a
spent 50-cal. slug under the radar observer’s
footrest. The path of the projectile showed it
would have struck the R. 0. if it had not first
entered the main wing spar.
Old FQ-383 was phased out of Korean
action to a defense role in Japan when the F-
94B all-weather jet fighter was placed in the
squadron.
The F-82 first to gain an air-to-air kill in
Korea, was the last to leave Misawa Air
Base, northern Honshu, Japan. There she
played a key role with one other F-82 on
strip alert, armed with ten 5-inch H.V.A.R.
rockets and drop tanks for added range. As
radar observer, I would occasionally fly in
the right cockpit of the aircraft. Putty would
sometimes fly off the leading edges, giving
the impression that the bird was struck by
flak since it hit the fuselage with a loud
crack. Then sufficient F-94s joined the 68th,
FQ-383 was sent to Itazuke Air Base. The
lucky lady was the last of the “Twin
Mustangs” to leave. In April 1952, Major
(now Lt. Col.) Donald E. O’Neil, squadron
commander, with pilots, radar observers
and crew chiefs, gave the venerable war
horse-a-royal sendoff to Tachikawa where
On the line during the Tactical
Inspection, showing Major General
Earle E. Partridge, Commanding
General, Fifth Air Force talking with
the Airmen.
A rare photo taken by Lt. Grogan on the line at Misaure AB where the 68th had
a detachment 1950-1951. The “dome” between the two mustangs housed
radar antenna used for air-to-air intercept and navigation.
she was refitted for Alaskan duty. During
the Korean War she amassed a total of more
than 800 combat hours.
Although the “Lightning Lancers” distinguished
themselves as the first night
fighters in Korea, the first “kill” of the war
was made in daylight using day-fighter tactics,
indicating the adaptability of the F-82
aircraft.
The swift action of the hectic early
months of the Korean War saw F-82s of the
68th engaging in interdiction activities
throughout the Korean peninsula.
In July 1950 “Twin Mustangs” of the
squadron escorted General Douglas
MacArthur’s “BATAAN” to an airfield in
Korea.
On June 21, 1951 Major (Col.) Donald
E. O’Neil took temporary command of the
squadron. On July 3 his permanent appointment
as squadron commander was effected.
During his command the F-94B all-weather
jet fighter was first phased into operation.
The jet interceptor was crewed by both a
pilot and a radar observer and operated at
night from K-13 near Suwon. Missions
were flown alternately with a Marine nightfighter
detachment using conventional aircraft.
Intercepts against “Bed Check Charlie”
occurred occasionally. The low-flying
North Korean light aircraft would come in
over the East China Sea to harass American
installations with small grenades and
bombs. Overtake rate of the fast jet presented
a tactical problem at first, but practice
against slow-flying aircraft improved ability
of crews to intercept. “Bed Check” aircraft
were eluding the F-94’s by flying in
valleys, thus being lost in radar ground clutter,
but the effectiveness of the new fighter
was proved since a number of the North
Korean aircraft were shot down at low altitude
by conventional fighters waiting for
them. The F-94 was used for weather
reports and for escort missions both day and
night. The deterrent value of the F-94B allweather
interceptor with its two-man crew
was great. Coupled with GCI (Ground
Controlled Intercept) teams the aircraft was
a highly effective air defense weapon
throughout the Korean War.
On February 20, 1947, when the
squadron’s designation was changed from
the 421st Night Fighter Squadron, AAF, to
the 68th Fighter (All-Weather) Squadron,
the buildup of events marking the
“Lightning Lancers” historically significant
in the Korean War, began. Then the North
American F-82 “Twin Mustang” was in use
as a night fighter, having been converted
from. the long range escort configuration by
the addition of radome, electronic intercept
gear, and radar observer. Later the F-94B
all-weather fighter became the 68th’s primary
weapon. These two fighters made a
permanent niche for the squadron as part of
the United Nations forces in Korea.
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