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Letter written by Captain George E. McKay to Captain Jesse O. Sandlin on or about 12 March 1952: Dear Jessie O: We received this letter of appreciation for special photo mission flown by Captain James R. Hanson and yourself on 3 January 1952. We are taking this opportunity to transmit this information to you, so you will be able be able to have it for your personal 201 file. The 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron also wishes to add the sincerest appreciation for a job well done, which has brought credit to our organization as a whole. You will probably read about our 86’s getting 7 MIG’s and damaging 3, on 10 March 1952. As usual, the good old standby, RF-80, was in the midst of the fray, on the deck right on the Yalu River, taking dicing runs of Antung and Tatung-kou. Yours truly was driving the RF, and it was a really hairy one. Two (2) of the MIGs were shot down by the 86’s, right off my tail, when I was bugging down the river. It surely felt good to get home after that one, and the people over at the 4th are ape with joy, as Col. Thyng got one and Captain Banks, my escort flight leader shot the two down from off my rear end during the melee. All this happed right over the Yalu River under 3000 feet, right off Antung, so I imagine the Commies are a little insulted over it all. Well Jessie, I’ll close for now, but be sure and let us know what is going on over in the Z of I, when you get a chance. Oh yes, I am going up to Group Ops at the end of the month to take over Lt. Colonel Johnson’s place as the Group Ops Officer. He is going home, and I get the spot. Fred Rutan is taking over Jose Daly’s place up at 5th AF and right now is on R&R. My Regards to All the Gang.
/S/ Letter courtesy of Jesse O. Sandlin Collection |
