Daring Aggressiveness

Daring Aggressiveness. . , John Walmsley, Jr. , Captain – U.S. Air Force , Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland , Recognition: Medal of Honor – Posthumous, Early in the Korean War, John Walmsley volunteered to fly nighttime bombing missions against the communist truck and train convoys bringing war materiel from China into North Korea. Attached to his Douglas B-26 “Invader” was an 80-million candlepower arc light to help illuminate targets. While effective in improving night vision, this light also made his aircraft an easy target for enemy fire., On the night of September 14, 1951, flying 100 miles deep in North Korean territory, Walmsley and his crew of three spotted an armed train moving south. Making several bombing and strafing passes, his B-26 damaged the train. When a second B-26 arrived, Walmsley continued to fly at low altitude directly over the train, illuminating it with his arc light. This allowed the second bomber to destroy the train, but it also severely damaged Walmsley’s B-26 from several hits of anti-aircraft fire., Walmsley’s aircraft began to leak fuel and caught fire. He attempted to fly the B-26 to safety, but it crashed in a mountainous region, killing Walmsley and two of his crew. A third crewman survived but was captured., For their extraordinary heroism, Walmsley’s crew each received the Distinguished Flying Cross. Walmsley was recognized with the Medal of Honor, which was presented to his widow., His Medal of Honor citation reads, “His heroic initiative and daring aggressiveness in completing this important mission in the face of overwhelming opposition and at the risk of his life, reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force.”