My recall reveals that we did not have any either B-26 or B-25 ECM reconnaissance (ferret) missions in Korea. Of course, H Lobdell, Paul Henkle and Rex Deaton flew the B-66 missions in Korea. H led the first B-26 bombing mission in Korea and I believe both Paul and Rex flew the RB-26B photo aircraft. After Korea, H rotated as a Captain to the Pentagon to head the just created Tactical ECM Branch of USAF and 1stLts Paul and Rex rotated to Shaw to the 9th TRSq(EW) just before Christmas 1953 and I flew with them.

The three "hard nosed" B-26B "Hunter Killers" doubling as "ferrets" (tail numbers 44-35186, 44-35207 and 44-35208) were Tactical Forces "first" such ECM aircraft and they were scheduled to go to Korea from Eglin or someplace when the War was winding down and they sent them to the 16th TRSq(NP). These ECM modified "hard nosed" machines were developed to "hunt and kill" the radar controlled searchlight radars that were playing havoc with our night bombing and recon missions. The ECM operator sat "back to back" with the NAV. They were there when I got there in September 1953 and I believe the original crews included 1st Lt ECM types Lou Langford and Bud Lottich and then in Oct 53 transferred to the just activated 9th TRSq(EW) under Lt. Colonel Charles A. Callahan, Commander. There were two absolutely outstanding pilots that came with those machine and I can't remember their names now, but they were both Captains and WWII combat veterans. One was named Charlie.

As for the Tactical ECM TB-25J's, we just had two (tail numbers 44-28844 and 44-28883) and they were only for jamming and I believe they came from Pope AFB, NC. They never were used as "ferrets". I believe that 1st Lt Otis McCain was part of that group and he will know all the names of those that transferred to Shaw and the 16th TRSq(NP) with him. I think those who transferred to Shaw with him included WWII Bombardiers Captains George Geisler and John Haldane. I do not know that any TB-25J jammers were used in Korea.

I flew as much or more in the B-26Bs and TB-25Js than other ECM types back in those days when we wore electric heated flight suits and used those hard to understand "throat mikes". In fact, they were so bad we normally just pushed one head phone to the side and shouted to the other crew remember we wanted to talk to. When we got those new "boom mikes" I thought we were in "hog heaven" until my lips froze to one of them in an early flight and tore off part of the skin on my lips. I never made that mistake again. Those were sure the great days of being in the Air Force.