ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 85634
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | 08-MAY-1952 |
| Time: | day |
| Type: |  Republic F-84E Thunderjet |
| Owner/operator: | 9th FBS, 49th FBG, USAF (9th FBS, 49th FBG, United States Air Force) |
| Registration: | 50-1181 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Namjong-ni, Hwanghae-namdo, 37 miles South of Pyongyang -
 North Korea
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Taegu AB (K-2), South Korea |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
Republic F-84E Thunderjet 50-1181, 9th FBS, 49th FBG, USAF: Written off (destroyed) in combat May 8 1952 when shot down by AA fire over Namjong-ni, Hwanghae-namdo, 37 miles South of Pyongyang, North Korea. Pilot posted as "missing believed killed".
Major John Joseph Walsh joined the U.S. Air Force from Massachusetts and served with the Headquarters Squadron, 49th Fighter Bomber Group. On May 8, 1952, he was the pilot of an F-84 Thunderjet (tail number 50-1181, call sign "Jell White 3") in the number three position of a flight of four aircraft on an attack mission against an enemy supply center near Namjong-ni, North Korea.
While at the target and after pulling out of a bomb run, Maj Walsh reported that he was hit by enemy ground fire and his heat indicator light was on. The other three aircraft provided Maj Walsh an escort toward friendlier lines, specifically heading toward Chorwon.
However, Maj Walsh soon reported to his flight leader that he was beginning to lose altitude and speed, and this was the last radio transmission heard from him. His aircraft continued to lose altitude and was suddenly observed to explode, scattering debris over a wide area. Although it was possible Maj Walsh bailed out and survived the crash, no parachute was observed in the sky prior to the explosion.
No returning POWs mentioned having contact with Maj Walsh, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted-for following the incident. Today, Major Walsh is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Namjong-ni in the region of Hwanghae-namdo is located in North Korea - some 37 miles (or 59 km) South of Pyongyang, the country's capital city
Sources:
1. http://forgottenjets.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/F-84.html
2. https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1950.html
3. https://www.aviationarchaeology.com/dbSearchAF55.asp
4. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5208.html
5. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/
6. https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000IWDylEAH
7. https://www.koreanwar.org/html/31459/korean-war-project-massachusetts-ao809778-maj-john-joseph-walsh/
8. https://www.tageo.com/index-e-kn-v-07-d-m276742.htm
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Jan-2023 23:43 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
