John S. Walmsley Jr.

On September 14 Walmsley's aircraft, Skillful 13, launched from Kunsan alone on a mission to search for truck convoys in North Korea. The aircraft was crewed by Walmsley as well as bombardier/navigator Second Lieutenant William D. Mulkins, photomapper Captain Philip W. Browning, and air gunner Master Sergeant George Morar.[6] As the aircraft neared Yangdok, 100 miles (160 km) behind North Korean lines, it spotted an armed locomotive hauling supplies south in the middle of the night. Walmsley immediately had his crew attack the locomotive. They expended their complement of bombs in striking the locomotive, damaging it but not stopping it. Walmsley then called in another B-26 Invader from Kunsan, and upon its arrival volunteered to illuminate the locomotive with his aircraft's arclight. Walmsley's aircraft passed over the locomotive three times, illuminating it but, taking antiaircraft fire in the process from both the train itself and emplacements along the rail line, damaging the aircraft. Walmsley's actions not only illuminated the train but also allowed his aircraft to absorb most of its fire, sparing the other aircraft from attack.[6] He did not take any evasive action against the North Korean anti-aircraft fire so as to keep the train illuminated for the other American aircraft.[5]

After the third pass, the train was destroyed by the combined firepower of the two bombers, together with its cargo.[5] However, Walmsley's aircraft was severely damaged. Its wings began trailing fuel, which ignited. Walmsley's aircraft caught fire, and proceeded about 2 miles (3.2 km), fighting to maintain altitude before finally crashing into the ground in a mountainous region, killing Walmsley, Mulkins, Browning, and severely injuring Morar. As the lone survivor of the crash, Morar was captured and spent the remainder of the war in a prison camp, though he survived.[6] Walmsley was declared missing in action after the mission, and his status was listed as "presumed dead" after the end of the war.[1]

Walmsley's crew each received a Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary heroism. Walmsley however, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously on June 12, 1954. The medal was presented to his widow at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.[6] Four weeks after the mission, the arclights and Operation Strangle were abandoned, as leaders felt the risks and casualties of the operation outweighed the benefits.[6]

Walmsley was one of four U.S. Air Force members to be awarded the Medal of Honor in the Korean War. All four were pilots who were killed in action.[7] They were the only members of the U.S. Air Force to receive the Army version of the medal (the USAF version was first awarded during the Vietnam War). His Medal of Honor citation reads:

medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Air Force, 8th Bombardment Squadron, 3rd Bombardment Group

Place and date: Near Yangdok, Korea, September 14, 1951
Entered service at: Baltimore, Maryland Born: January 7, 1920, Baltimore, Maryland
Citation:
Capt. Walmsley, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While flying a B-26 aircraft on a night combat mission with the objective of developing new tactics, Capt. Walmsley sighted an enemy supply train which had been assigned top priority as a target of opportunity. He immediately attacked, producing a strike which disabled the train, and, when his ammunition was expended, radioed for friendly aircraft in the area to complete destruction of the target. Employing the searchlight mounted on his aircraft, he guided another B-26 aircraft to the target area, meanwhile constantly exposing himself to enemy fire. Directing an incoming B-26 pilot, he twice boldly aligned himself with the target, his searchlight illuminating the area, in a determined effort to give the attacking aircraft full visibility. As the friendly aircraft prepared for the attack, Capt. Walmsley descended into the valley in a low level run over the target with searchlight blazing, selflessly exposing himself to vicious enemy antiaircraft fire. In his determination to inflict maximum damage on the enemy, he refused to employ evasive tactics and valiantly pressed forward straight through an intense barrage, thus insuring complete destruction of the enemy's vitally needed war cargo. While he courageously pressed his attack Capt. Walmsley's plane was hit and crashed into the surrounding mountains, exploding upon impact. His heroic initiative and daring aggressiveness in completing this important mission in the face of overwhelming opposition and at the risk of his life, reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force.[8]

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.