If, by this time, you have read details of our RB-29 crew’s recollections, you must have begun to realize that conscious, ongoing, efforts were made to provide each crew with information needed to accomplish their assigned task; but, with equal emphasis, on limiting information to a strictly need-to-know basis. Our collective efforts were clearly designed to fill in missing pieces of a much larger intelligence gathering puzzle. For those unfortunate crewmembers who were shot down and survived to be captured and interrogated by the North Koreans, Chinese or Soviet Intelligence people, it was to their advantage, and our Nation’s advantage, that they had remained uninformed as to the big picture. This situation is beautifully illustrated in the story in this section by Colonel Harold (Hal) Austin, an RB-47E reconnaissance aircraft commander.

During this time period, 1950 to 1955, U.S. military and civilian agencies were using a variety of strategies to gather information. The USAF’s efforts included use of the RB-29, RB-50, RB-45C, RB-47E, RB-36 and, no doubt, other aircraft and other methods.

This section of our web site is designed to provide a platform for combat crewmembers, involved in related missions in a variety of aircraft, and other 31/91st personnel to share their own recollections with family, friends and others who have an interest in this part of the Cold War history. We also have a growing accumulation of equally valuable stories stemming from WW II and on that you will certainly find interesting and informative. You may access the stories as they accumulate, by clicking on the titles listed below:

Note: Our goal is to include appropriate illustration (photos, etc.) with each story, where possible. In a number of cases, we have the text and permissions before we gain access to the desired illustrations. In an effort to keep this web site as informative, useful and timely as possible, we will publish the stories, as they become available, and insert the illustrations as they are provided from available resources.

* The Forgotten War by Walter J. Boyne

* CRUSIN' THE PACIFIC, by Robert (Bob) Stadille

* 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron Nose Art Collection

* A “Well Done” For Lt. Thomason’s RB-29 Crew — From the Office of the Operations Officer Flying Safety, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa

* Copy of Pacific Stars and Stripes article, Dec. 30, 1950, “Alone with the Enemy

* Recollections by Earl E. Myers of the 31st and 91st SRS, Okinawa/Korea, 1950-51

* Men share tales of reconnaissance missions: Story by James Kirley, Special Projects Writer, Vero Beach Press Journal — Recollections of Earl. E. Myers and Jack Romney

* 31/91st Recollections of Adrian Swain, RB-29 Pilot — Extracts from his auto-
biography entitled “The Time of My Life — Memoirs of a Government Agent from Pearl Harbor to the Golden Triangle.”

* Recollections of William F. “Bill” Welch of the 31st and 91st SRS

* “Jets Shoot Down Crippled B-29 in China Sea after Crew Jumps,” Story provided courtesy of William F. (Bill) Welch and Earl E. Myers

* Contributed Okinawan and Japanese Images and Commentary

* Recollections from a 31st/91st Intelligence Staffer: Introduction by Web Site Manager, Chuck Stone, Recollections and observations by Robert (Bob) Stadille

* Rescued Over The Sea Of Japan

* ????? — Posing the Question — ?????
“Was This The First USAF Inflight Refueling Mission In Combat?”

* Robert F. Dorr story — RB-45C Tornado loss in Korea remains a mystery

* Recollections of Howard S. Myers, “The Black Tornado!,” Korean War and Cold War RB-45C Spy Missions

* Korean War RB-45C Shoot–Down — Thanks to the Times Herald-Record, Middletown, NY, a division of Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. for granting permission to share this story.

* Harold (Hal) Austin crew story — A Cold War RB-47E Over-Flight of the USSR

* Air Force Association Editorial “Police Action, In Korea, the armed forces fought well in a war we were not prepared to win.”

* A Korean War Commemoration Benediction by Rear Admiral Timothy Beard, USN

* Testimony of Francis Gary Powers, Jr., Founder, The Cold War Museum, March 8, 2001, Presentation to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands, Rep. Joel Hefley, (CO-05), Chairman, Bill H.R. 107

* Introduction to Contributed Biographical Stories

* USAF Biography re Thomas P. Coleman

* Biographical Notes re Ancil D. Baker, 98th B.W. Staff Officer, Yokota

* Autobiographical notes on the lives of Don and Dorette “Dur” Kleinkauf — A Winning Combination

* The story of the U.S. Navy EP-3 surveillance aircraft and the Chinese jet fighter

* A Memorial Letter to Anne Morrow Lindbergh

* Larry Tart’s New Book “The Price of Vigilance”

* VETERANS: REFLECTIONS — Richard Y. Newton, Jr., Colonel, USAF (Ret)

* MILITARY HISTORY PERSPECTIVE ON THIS MOMENT, By Dr. Tony Kern, Lt. Col, USAF (Ret), Former Director of Military History, USAF Academy

* “Good News in Bad Times” The story of a Delta Airlines crew and passengers who found themselves over the North Atlantic on September 11, 2001.

* Article from Britain: A story about the U.S and the wider world on the first anniversary of the 9/11/01 Terrorist Attack.

* “USAF — Pride, Commitment, and Dedication” — A remarkable photograph and companion story from a Buff (B-52) Pilot who served over Afghanastan.

* Guidelines in Dealing with Identity Theft

* “A Soldier's Viewpoint on Surviving Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Attacks” by SFC Red Thomas (Ret) Armor Master Gunner Mesa, AZ

* Ladies' Night Over Afghanistan by Capt Elizabeth Ortiz

* An open letter to America from one European —Americans kept Europeans free to disagree — From: James Black, Wychwood Park, Cheshire, England

* A Letter to Terrorists from a U.S. Military Pilot

* War Viewpoints

* The Snooze Button from Bob Linn

* A Tribute to 1st Lt. Thomas Joseph Hallgarth
By: Tammy Josephine Maher

* A MOTHER'S VIEW from Mary E. Morosetti

* Justice — The Ruling by Judge William Young
re The “Shoe Bomber” Richard Reid

* Words from a Friend about Attitude

* A Homecoming Memorial

* Remember the Blood of Heroes

* Real Hollywood Heroes

* News from Iraq — The Truth perhaps, for a change?

* In Honor of Bob Hope

* We SupportOur Troops

* Perspective

* How “Real Men” Water Ski Photo — 02

* “Bad Day” Photo — 03

* Check out The Touchey Frog — 04

* Charles Schultz Philosophy — 05

* Emergency Aboard Cajun Airlines — 06

* Commanders Guide for measuring the performance capabilities of
USAF Aerial Reconnaissance Flight Crew, Operations, Maintenance
and Support Staff Members — 07b

* Insight Into The Minds Of 6th Graders — 08

* Thoughts on Ageing by George Carlin — 09

* How the Internet Began — 10