LtColJoeClark

Do335--Thanks for commenting on a Blog on my website. Since you didn't identify which Blog you were commenting on, I'm kinda flying blind. But I'll try to make meaningful comments on yours. I am confused by the "yellow tailed" v.s. the "checkered flag". The F-86Es we brought to Korea in November 1951 on the CVE Cape Esperance all bore the WW II Black "invasion type" markings on their wings and fuselages. As I recall, the F-86As that the 4th Fighter Wing had bore the same markings. I was assigned as a Flight Commander in the 16th Sq. in Colonel Gabreski's 51st Wing. "Gabby" got some of the "E" models and Colonel Harry Thyng got some for his 4th Wing. After my first few missions, because of the similar appearance of the MiG and the F-86 at altitude and the frequent attacks of F-86s on other F-86s that we were experiencing, I knew we had to do something to make a/c identification in the combat area quicker and easier. On December 28th, 1951, I went to Lt. Colonel Jones, the 51st Group CO, mentioned the F-86 firing at other F-86 problem and told him I thought I had a solution to the problem. I mentioned the irridescent, high intensity, reflective orange and chartruese paint used on highway signs back home and recommended that our F-86s be painted with those paints with broad stripes around the wings, fuselages and vertical stabilizers--with our 16th Sq. with one color and the 25th Sq. the other. Jones scoffed, gave me derisive look and said, "That's a stupid idea Clark. I ain't running no Gawd--d flying circus here." BUT, just one week later he had all of the planes in the 51st Wing painted with the strips I had recommended--but just with plain yellow paint. It was not long before the 4th Wing followed suit and subsequently all of the F--86s in the world were pained with my recommended markings--but with plain yellow paint. In the 51st Wing the two squadrons were allowed a little latitude with the paint jobs on their vertical stablizers. The 16th Sq. used the yellow stripe, while the 25th Sq. used a "checker-board" design with a thin red stripe across near the top. Zhao's comment seems strange to me wherein he implies that the 16th Sq. pilots were better than the 25th pilots. And I am at a loss to understand whatever was it that led whoever it was to make the silly observation about the 51st having some "attitude" problems??? How was that statement justified?? You are right Do335, I was shocked and chagrined at the overall stupidity and deceit of my Group CO and couldn't begin to understand what had led him to treat me in such a cruel and dishonorable manner. I didn't understand your reference to my treatment by "the general public". As far as I knew, the "general public" didn't even know I existed. And, other than the false info that was rife in the AF and even indorsed by General Al Boyd and Chuck Yaeger, willing or unwilling members of the "the MiG-15 is inferior" element in the Air Force, I have no idea where you got the idea that the MiG experience "buffeting and total aileron control loss near the Mach." I personally pursued MiGs at near Mach One and never noticed the mentioned violent "control" problems. And no less an authority than Boyne writes about MiG formations flying into North Korea at near Mach One. Were those huge "gaggles" of 50-100 MiGs all floundering through the air fighting "loss of aileron control"? And, you were right. That MiG was "so deep in my six" that NO simple anything I could do would lose him. Thank you for your comment.

Heck--Thank you for responding to my comment on yours. Believe me, I was not in the least offended by what you said about "the old guy" probably didn't do this by himself. I know that the sterotype of the 91 year old codger is as I described it in my answer to you, but I have been really fortunate health -wise. I do work at it. I exercise, eat non-processed foods, lotsof the right vitamins and minerals. I retired from the AF in August 1966 because I was so thoroughly against our war of aggression in Viet Nam that I could no longer be part of it. Since I retired I have played golf every day all summer long every summer. I used to be a scratch hitter, but age has taken a bit of a toll. But, I have had several games in the low eighties this summer. Why "Heck"? A nickname? Where do you live? I live on a lake in N. Michigan and have--almost since retirement. I briefly took a job with Boeing as a Customer Engineer in late '66 and '67. That was another experience I should Blog about. You are obviously bright, and you have had some of the same experiences I have had when reading the puffed-up and bizarre writings of some of the so-called "aces" of the Korean Air War. I said "so-called" aces because I know from experience that many of the "kills" that were verified by "overly-friendly Claims Boards"--were not kills at all. The vast majority of the Sabre pilots I flew with in the 51st Wing in Korea were true-blue honest guys who would be more likely to "understate" their accomplishments than to lie about them. But with some of the less principled officers, the name of the game was a mad scramble for fame and glory, and they wouldn't hesitate to lie if they had to-- to get it. When just telling the simple truth about a mission, a dog fight, a kill claim is so easy-- and it is the right thing to do, it blows my mind to see the absolutely absurd ways in which some of those guys have written about having done things that were physically impossible. Thank you for your interest, Heck. I will be adding more blogs as time passes---probably until I do!