Looking for feedback regarding Korean War operations of the 3rd Bomb Group. In short, wondering if it is likely B-26 aircraft from 3rd BG,
8th BS would have been working the same area/mission as 3rd BG,
13th BS?
Additional detail. My wife's grandfather, William James Ferguson, was awarded a DFC for a mission which he was pilot of a B-26. While performing armed reconnaisance against Korean
main supply routes, they engaged a large convoy of vehicles. While under fire, at night, in cloudy conditions, his crew destroyed seven vehicles. All we have for documentation is his DFC citation (text available here:
http://www.thekwe.org/topics/p_flying_cross.htm#F) and his individual flight record form (AF Form 5) from May 1953. The flight record shows a single flight on 17 May 1953 of 3 hrs 10 mins of night flying, with 2 hrs of that in instrument weather conditions.
While researching via the web, I ran across information regarding the loss of B-26 s/n 44-35882, resulting in the deaths of 1st Lt Clifford Selman (bombardier) and A/1C Jerome Karpowicz (gunner). This is of interest as this B-26 was lost on the evening of 17 May 1953 while also attacking trucks on a
main supply route. A recount of this incident by the surviving navigator, Capt John Walseth, can be found online here:
http://www.13thbombsquadron.org/bailout.htmlThis has led me to try to understand if these aircraft may have been attacking the same
main supply route? Or if just two different aircraft operating in two different areas on the same night? One inconsistency that might lead to the latter conclusion is that the above referenced recount from John Walseth states "The night was clear and visibility unrestricted", as opposed to the Form 5 from William Ferguson that suggests it was cloudy (at least for 2/3 of the flight).
I have previously requested mission reports from NARA, however, their records end at 1952. They suggested contacting AFHRA, which I have also done. AFHRA stated that they do not have mission reports, and suggested contacting NARA. Circular reference. Ugh.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.