Kansas Veterans

Kansas Units Mobilized in the Korean War

127th Fighter Squadron, Kansas Army National Guard

History of the Unit page 5 of 7
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     On 1 May 1951, Staff Sergeant Harold A. Shelton, was transferred to the 3750th Tac Training Wing for duty as an instructor. Sergeant Shelton was a young, intelligent aircraft maintenance technician, greatly added to the instructor staff at the school, because of the vast amount of knowledge he had gained by actual performance in the field. After receiving his commission and completing pilot training, he served several years as an active ANG member before applying for and being accepted in the Air Force. Because of his engineering abilities, he was able to get McDonald-Douglas to convert the F-4 aircraft to a one pilot operation, which was then flown by the famed "Thunderbirds". Captain Shelton was a member of the 1969-1970 and 1971 Thunderbirds. He had many different responsibilities in the Air Force, before retiring as a Colonel in January 1985.

     During the period 1 July to 30 September 1951, a large portion of the administrative back-log was cleared. Each section within the squadron completed its functional chart and posted same where all individuals concerned could become better acquainted with their responsibilities.

     On 10 July 1951, the 127th Fighter Bomber Squadron was notified that it was to participate in Operation "Southern Pines", and the operation site was located at Wilmington, North Carolina.

     On 23 July 1951, First Lieutenant Gerald W. Carpenter was killed instantly in an aircraft accident at Alexandria. While approaching for a landing, Lieutenant Carpenter experienced difficulty in getting his power reduced and crashed at the end of the runway. This was the first fatal accident in an aircraft since the squadron was ordered to active duty.

     At the beginning of the third quarter, 1 July, operations of the 127th Fighter Bomber Squadron were concentrated on the transition training of the pilots that had been newly assigned. This transition period in the F-84 Jet aircraft was accelerated, but concentrated on seven pilots, so as to have the qualified complement of pilots needed to ferry aircraft to Southern Pines maneuvers, and also to have the number pilots needed to take active part in the maneuvers.

     Actual maneuvers at Southern Pines began 13 August 1951 and lasted through 26 August 1951. During this period, daily ground and air alerts were scheduled from sun-up to sun-down. After thirty sorties daily, and one aircraft damaged beyond repair when an aircraft from another squadron taxied into the 127th's parking area because of brake failure, al aircraft and personnel returned to Alexandria.

     Captain Floyd R. Davis was assigned to the organization on 3 August 1951 for duty as the Maintenance Officer.

     Captain Donald W. Coulson and fifteen airmen were promoted on 13 September 1951. (Major Coulson had given up his previous majority in order to become a member of the Air National Guard in 1947).

     During the period of 1 July 1951 through 30 September 1951, the unit encountered two airplane crashes: One F-84C, serial number 47-1559, was damaged beyond economical repair in a taxi incident, one F-84C, serial number 47-1466, crash landed and had to be salvaged, however, the pilot escaped uninjured. This still left the unit with seven F-84B's, six F-84C's, two T-33's and one F-51D. Of these, seven aircraft had cracked wings. During this quarter 1,359.55 hours were flown, using 498,965 gallons of JP3 fuel, and 3,501 quarts of oil.

Checking the oxygen system of the F-84G

     Considerable valuable experience was gained from this operation during this quarter, and everyone benefited from these combat-operational conditions, with the assigned strength of 31 officers and 140 airmen.

     Key personnel assigned to the 127th Fighter Bomber Squadron on 1 October 1951 were Major Donald W. Coulson, Squadron Commander; Captain Ivan L. Behel, Operations Officer; First Lieutenant Harrison B. Lethbridge, Supply Officer, Captain Sam J. Pool, Assistant Operations Officer; Captain Floyd R. Davis, Maintenance Officer; Captain Howard A. Vesper, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, First Lieutenant William C. Hutchinson, Jr. Communications Officer, First Lieutenant James E. Feather, Armament Officer, and Second Lieutenant Paul F. Simons, Adjutant.

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