Why the US Air Force Did Not Use the F–47 Thunderbolt in the Korean
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FALL 2003 - Volume 50, Number 3 FALL 2003 - Volume 50, Number 3 Why the U.S. Air Force Did Not Use the F–47 Thunderbolt in the Korean War Michael D. Rowland 4 “Big Ben”: Sergeant Benjamin F. Warmer III, Flying Ace John W. Hinds 14 The Dark Ages of Strategic Airlift: the Propeller Era Kenneth P. Werrell 20 Towards a Place in History David G. Styles 34 Remembrance Richard C. Lineberger 42 Book Reviews Memoirs: A Twentieth-Century Journey in Science and Politics 44 by Edward Teller Reviewed by Donald R. Baucom Red Wings over the Yalu: China, the Soviet Union, and the Air War in Korea 45 by Xiaoming Zhang Reviewed by David F. Crosby Rhetoric and Reality in Air Warfare: The Evolution of British and American Ideas 46 about Strategic Bombing, 1914-1945 by Tami Davis Biddle Reviewed by Guillaume de Syon America as a Military Power: From the American Revolution to the Civil War 46 by Jeremy Black Reviewed by Jim Gates Wingless Flight: The Lifting Body Story 47 by R. Dale Reed with Darlene Lister Reviewed by I. B. Holley The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Directory of Airplanes: 48 Their Design and Manufacturers by Dana Bell, Ed. Reviewed by Steve Horn American Airpower Comes of Age: General Henry H. “Hap” Arnold’s World War II Diaries 51 by John W. Huston Reviewed by Alfred F. Hurley Hijackings and Hostages: Government Responses to Terrorism 51 by J. Paul de B. Taillon Reviewed by Stéphane Lefebvre The American Fighter Plane 52 by Amy E. Williams & Ted Williams Reviewed by William A. Nardo In the Shadows of War: An American Pilot’s Odyssey through Occupied France 52 and the Camps of Nazi Germany by Thomas Childers Reviewed by Jacob Neufeld Backwater War: The Allied Campaign in Italy, 1943-1945 53 by Edwin P. Hoyt Reviewed by James A Painter Uncovering Ways of War: U.S. Intelligence and Foreign Military Innovation, 1918-1941 53 by Thomas G. Mahnke Reviewed by James A Painter Air Force One 53 by Robert F. Dorr Reviewed by Lawrence H. Richmond Voices from Vietnam: The tragedies and triumphs of Americans and Vietnamese 54 —two peoples forever entwined by the legacy of war by Charlene Edwards Reviewed by George M. Watson, Jr. Reaper Leader: The Life of Jimmy Flatley 55 by Steve Ewing Reviewed by Thomas Wildenberg Books Received 56 History Mystery 57 Coming Up 58 Letters, News, Notices, Reunions, and In Memoriam 60 COVER: Adapted from the painting of two P-47 Thunderbolts by Stan Stokes in the USAF Art Collection (1986.301) The Air Force Historical Foundation Air Force Historical Foundation 1535 Command Drive – Suite A122 Andrews AFB, MD 20762-7002 (301) 981-2139 (301) 981-3574 Fax E-Mail: [email protected] The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation http://afhistoricalfoundation.com Fall 2003 Volume 50 Number 3 Publisher Officers Contributing Members Brian S. Gunderson President The individuals and companies listed are contributing Editor Gen. William Y. Smith, USAF (Ret) members of the Air Force Historical Foundation. The Jacob Neufeld Vice-President Foundation Trustees and members are grateful for their Gen. John A. Shaud, USAF (Ret) support and contributions to preserving, perpetuating, Technical Editor Secretary-Treasurer and publishing the history and traditions of American Robert F. Dorr Maj. Gen. John S. Patton, USAF (Ret) aviation. Executive Director Book Review Editor Col. Joseph A. Marston, USAF (Ret) Benefactor Mrs. Ruth A. (Ira C.) Eaker Estate Scott A. Willey Advisors Layout and Typesetting Gen. John P. Jumper, USAF Patron Richard I. Wolf Lt. Gen. John R. Dallager, USAF Maj. Gen. Ramsay Potts Advertising Lt. Gen. Donald A. Lamontagne, USAF Quesada Foundation Brig. Gen. Ronald T. Rand, USAF Mark D. Mandeles CMSAF Gerald R. Murray, USAF Sponsors Circulation Maj. Gen. William Lyon Richard I. Wolf Board of Trustees Maj. Gen. John S. Patton Gen. William Y. Smith Col. Kenneth J. Alnwick, USAF (Ret) Mr. F. Clifton Berry, Jr. Lt.Gen. John Conaway, USAF (Ret) Donors Air Power History (ISSN 1044-016X) Gen. Michael J. Dugan, USAF (Ret) Mr. John F. Donahue is produced in March, June, September, Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF(Ret) Emerson Electric and December by the Air Force Historical Maj.Gen. John P. Henebry, USAF (Ret) Rockwell International Foundation. Col. George A. Henry, Jr., USAF (Ret) Gen. Bernard A. Schriever Gen. Robert T. Herres, USAF (Ret) Prospective contributors should consult the Lt.Gen. Bradley C. Hosmer, USAF (Ret) GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS at Brig.Gen. Alfred F. Hurley, USAF (Ret) Supporters the back of this journal. Unsolicited manu- Brig.Gen. James A. Jaeger, USAF (Ret) The Aerospace Corporation Mr. John Kreis, USAF (Ret) Allied-Signal Aerospace Corporation scripts will be returned only on specific Lt.Col. Kathy La Sauce, USAF (Ret) Arthur Metcalf Foundation request. The Editor cannot accept responsi- Maj.Gen. Charles D. 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Verne Orr The Mitre Corporation (703) 426-5147; fax 426-5149 Maj.Gen. John S. Patton, USAF (Ret) Northrop Corporation e-mail: [email protected] Maj.Gen. Ramsay D. Potts, USAF (Ret) Vinell Corporation Gen. Bernard A. Schriever, USAF (Ret) Copyright © 2003 by the Air Force Gen. William Y. Smith, USAF (Ret) Historical Foundation. All rights reserved. MSgt. Charles J. Warth, USAF (Ret) Periodicals postage paid at Lexington, VA Col. Sherman W. Wilkins, USAF (Ret) 24450 and additional mailing offices. Maj.Gen. Richard A. Yudkin, USAF (Ret) Postmaster: Please send change of address to the Circulation Office. 2 AIR POWER History / FALL 2003 From the Editor Did you ever wonder why the best close air support plane of World War II—the F–47 Thunderbolt—did not fly in the Korean War? Michael Rowland asked himself the same question and then decided to search for an answer. His penetrating article leads off this issue of Air Power History. Another frequently asked history question concerns air victory credits. For exam- ple, "Were any men in the enlisted ranks 'aces?'" (That is, that they destroyed at least five enemy planes.) Most historians would say, "No." In his article about "Big Ben Warmer," John W. Hinds presents documentary and photographic evidence to support Warmer's claim to fame. Kenneth Werrell characterizes the "propeller era," that ran through the 1960s, as "The Dark Ages of Strategic Airlift." The turning point, he says, came at the start of the Kennedy administration with the introduction of jet-powered airlifters and their assign- ment to higher operational priority. In April 2003, aviation writer-photographer David Styles attended the sixty-first Doolitle Raiders' reunion at Travis Air Force Base, California. He writes of the raid's impact on both American and British forces in stopping the Japanese onslaught. It is for these reasons that Styles appeals to air enthusiasts to support the Doolittle Air and Space Museum at Travis AFB. While the Doolittle Raiders attacked Japan near the beginning of the Pacific War, Richard Lineberger flew against Japan at the end of the war. In a brief, but detailed, reminiscence Lineberger reveals the secret mission's target—the supposedly off-limits Imperial palace. And he supports his claim with a photograph of the Emperor's palace taken during the July 1945 attack. The year 2003 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Air Force Historical Foundation and its journal, Air Power History. In this issue [on page 43] we trace the journal's evolution and list past executive directors and chief editors. There are more than dozen reviews on a variety of new books, ranging from Dr. Edward Teller's autobiography to the National Air and Space Museum's airplane direc- tory. The customary departments include Bob Dorr's "History Mystery," letters, news, notices, reunions, and upcoming events. Air Power History and the Air Force Historical Foundation disclaim responsibility for statements, either of fact or of opinion, made by contributors.