TASK FORCE RUSSIA (POW/MIA)
REPORT TO THE U.S. DELEGATION, U.S.-RUSSIAN JOINT COMMISSION ON POW/MIAs
9 OCTOBER 1992
TASK FORCE RUSSIA -- BIWEEKLY REPORT 26 SEPTEMBER-9 OCTOBER 1992 7TH REPORT
TASK FORCE RUSSIA (POW/MIA)
REPORT TO THE U.S. DELEGATION, U.S.-RUSSIAN JOINT COMMISSION ON POW/MIAs
9 OCTOBER 1992
HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS
This report has been prepared for the use of the Commission in pursuit of our mission. While it is an unclassified document in accordance with Department of Defense classification guidelines for POW/MIA information, it nonetheless contains casualty-related information and should not be disseminated outside of Commission channels pending efforts by the Department of Defense Executive Agent to locate and notify as many of the next of kin as feasible.
BIWEEKLY REPORT ON SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES
TASK FORCE RUSSIA (POW/MIA)
Period of Report: 26 Sept--9 Oct 1992
1. SUMMARY: The highlight of the reporting period was the discovery of new information in eleven cases from the 11591- and "71" lists passed to us by the Russian side. The available evidence indicates that some U.S. Korean War service members believed killed may have survived at least long enough to undergo interrogation by the North Koreans and Chinese. Unrelated evidence from U.S. archives continues to build the circumstantial case that other U.S. Korean War prisoners were taken to the Soviet Union. Retired Colonel Korotkov, a key interview source on the Korean War issue, modified his testimony following a telephone call from a former KGB officer who now works for the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (see Mazurov brief, para. 3.B., TFR Biweekly Report dated 12 Sept-25 Sept 1992). General Volkogonov, on the other hand, informed TFR-Moscow that Alexander Semyonovich Orlov, a retired colonel, had informed the Russian side of the Commission that he had also interrogated U.S. Korean War POWs. Volkogonov further stated that he had the names of at least nine more officers who may have interrogated U.S. service members during the Korean War era, although he did not specify the location of those interrogations. Toward the close of the Joint Commission meeting in Moscow, a TFR representative visited Vorkuta, a focal point of the GULAG system, while Commission members visited the Russian Interior Ministry Fingerprint Center. At Vorkuta, the U.S. side was shown documents on Sidney Ray Sparks, a U.S. service member who deserted during the Cold War and, following imprisonment in the GULAG, was repatriated, as well as on a possible U.S. citizen "Von Brandenfels." At the Fingerprint Center, the U.S. side reached a working agreement with the staff to search for U.S. internees of the GULAG, beginning with the most salient Cold War shootdown cases. In Washington, research began to demonstrate notable progress in several areas. Analysts spoke with and met POW/MIA family members and researchers, who provided TFR with helpful information in their possession.
2. UPDATE ON ISSUES FROM PREVIOUS REPORTS:
A. Representatives of TFR re-interviewed Colonel Korotkov, who had previously stated that he had personally interrogated two U.S. Korean War era POWs in Khabarovsk and that he had seen others there, as well. Korotkov openly told TFR that he had received a telephone call from Colonel Mazurov of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service discussing his testimony. Korotkov then "corrected" his recollections to state that he had, in fact, only interviewed U.S. POWs on a strip of land in the vicinity of the former USSR-China-North Korea border, and that he was unsure on whose territory the interrogations had actually taken place. He did not, however, retract his claim to have personally interrogated Americans, and his manner of speaking with TFR made it clear that he still regarded his original story as valid. He added that he and other Soviet officers worked sometimes in Soviet uniforms, sometimes in Chinese uniforms. Korotkov permitted the taping of this interview, at which MG Loeffke was present.
B. Each Washington analyst conducted a review of the book SOLDIERS OF MISFORTUNE, concentrating on his area of expertise. The unanimous conclusion was that, although some good research had been conducted by the authors, the archival work was incomplete. None of the book's most significant claims is substantiated by either the archival information cited in the book or by that available to TFR analysts. Nonetheless, TFR will continue to follow all by-name leads raised in the text.
C. TFR-Washington provided TFR-Moscow with files on missing U.S. Korean War aviators for provision to the Russian side.
D. Russian parliamentarian and POW expert Yuri Smirnov met with representatives of the U.S. side of the Commission and reiterated his determination to help in the search for U.S. POW/MIAs to the extent his CIS-wide organization of concerned individuals allows. Although the primary focus of Smirnov and his network is on unaccounted for former Soviet citizens and soldiers, he feels his organization can be a very positive asset to the Commission's efforts. At least on the surface, Smirnov appears to have undergone a rapprochement with Volkogonov, who had previously rebuffed the parliamentarian's attempts to help.
E. Source Major Amirov, reported as unlocated in the last TFR report, still has not re-surfaced. Amirov is the Russian officer who has contended to parliamentarian Smirnov that he holds information on U.S. POWs from the Korean War, and possibly other wars, who may have been moved to the former Soviet Union and held prisoner in the GULAG.
F. The search continues for documentary evidence in U.S. archives to prove that the Soviets took U.S. Korean War POWs back to the Soviet Union for interrogation and possible ultimate disposition. Although a laborious process, the effort continues to unearth documents (usually from the 1950's) detailing second and third party reports to the effect that the Soviets operated at least one interrogation camp and possible POW clearing house in the vicinity of the Yalu, that American aviators from Korea were sighted in the GULAG in camps in the vicinity of Kirov, Irkutsk, Omsk and elsewhere, and that overall Soviet involvement in the handling of POWs taken by the North Koreans or Chinese may have been much broader than initially suspected. Taken alone, none of these documents or sources would be deemed fully credible; given the still accumulating number of reports found by analysts, however, the circumstantial evidence of Soviet involvement is difficult to deny--particularly as it is buttressed by the personal accounts of Russian participants obtained through interviews in Russia. Both in Moscow and in Washington, TFR is pursuing all possible leads to resolve this issue.
G. The evidence unearthed from various U.S. archives continues to mount that at least some U.S. crewmen may have survived Cold War shootdown incidents only to be interned indefinitely in the GULAG. TFR's progress is markedly slower in this area than in the case of Korean War POWs, however, and there is nothing approaching definitive proof.
H. TFR has received no new leads on Vietnam-era POW/MIAs during this reporting period.
I. In the course of TFR's research both in Russia and the United States, a picture is slowly emerging of the Russian efforts to evacuate, assemble and repatriate U.S. World War II prisoners of the Germans. Although legitimate U.S. representatives were denied access to combat zone rear areas in Poland and, later, Germany by the Soviets, we find no evidence that this was done in order to disguise any mass abductions of U.S. POWs. Rather, the Soviets did not want outsiders to witness their activities in the newly "liberated" regions, where they were quickly and ruthlessly installing puppet governments. Judged against the way Red Army soldiers were treated by their own authorities, the handling of U.S. POWs does not appear to have been intentionally hostile. While, as stated in earlier TFR reports, the confusion at the close of the war was so great that some gray-area cases may never be resolved, we have found as yet no evidence of a conspiracy to hide large numbers of U.S. POWs in the GULAG as has been asserted ir various books and articles. Authors who suggest otherwise have yet to offer documented evidence to support their claims. Even the sincerest seem to have no understanding of the "fog of war" and the difficulty of military administration even in peacetime. While TFR will always be open to new evidence that sheds a clearer light o] the fate of U.S. service members, that evidence has not yet been forthcoming in this area of concern.
3. SIGNIFICANT INTERVIEWS AND MEETINGS ATTENDED: The most significant interview of the period--with Colonel Korotkov--has been addressed above (MSG CITE: AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 021430Z OCT 92). Others of note are summarized below:
A. TFR-Washington analysts met with Mr. Greg Skavinsky and Mr. Brian Morgan in the Hoffman Building. Mr. Skavinsky's uncle, MSgt William Homer, was a member of the crew of the RB-50 shot down in the Sea of Japan on 13 June 1952. Mr. Morgan is an independent researcher occupied with POW/MIA issues. The meeting was cordial, with TFR explaining the background of the government's past and present actions on behalf of Mr. Skavinsky's relative. Both of the visitors shared their own accumulated information with TFR, and Mr. Morgan provided archival documents of genuine value. After explaining the constraints within which TFR must operate, the analysts assured Mr. Skavinsky that we are doing everything possible to determine the ultimate fate of the "Busch crew," of which his relative was a member. Both visitors indicated they would forward any additional documentation they acquire to TFR.
B. The Director, TFR, met with various officials in Khabarovsk, both formally and informally. He was notified that one caller had already responded to Ambassador Toon's radio message, claiming that he, the caller, had knowledge of one American who had been in Khabarovsk in years past. Local authorities assured the Director that they would follow up on the lead, but were not otherwise forthcoming. The Director was shown portions of the local KGB archives, but these dealt exclusively with Soviet inhumanity to Soviets. An invitation by the local MVD general -commanding offered insights into the still extraordinarily privileged lives of the security elite. (MSG CITE: AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 092002Z OCT 92).
C. The field visit to Vorkuta centered on a search of local archives. Efforts yielded no new information on U.S. POW/MIAs, although the Sparks case, long resolved, re-surfaced, and a "Von Brandenfels"--listed as a German national--was singled out by archivists as a possible American citizen. A TFR representative began a check of the Vorkuta camp file's "kartotek," an alphabetical card file of persons confined in the Vorkuta camp system from 1938-1956. Post-1956 records are maintained elsewhere, in the Syktyvkar MVD archival repository. Due to time constraints, this initial visit only involved cross-checking of names drawn from other sources of those reportedly sighted in Vorkuta, or rumored to be there. This included a check for the complete "Reynolds crew." No evidence was found. On the subject of Sparks and Von Brandenfels, although Sparks has long since been repatriated, the Von Brandenfels case appears to be one of those "gray area" incidents that occasionally surface. Although German-born and recorded as a German citizen in the Russian archives, another portion of the archives alleged that he was a U.S. counterintelligence corps colonel. TFR will pursue this case in U.S. archives, although past experience indicates that, among the possible resolutions, this individual may have claimed affiliation with the U.S. in the vain hope of receiving preferential treatment, or may simply have been falsely accused by his Soviet inquisitors during the Stalinist phase of the Cold War. Following the archival visit, the TFR representative met with Mr. Vitaly Alexeyevich Troshin, a local architect and founder of "Vorkuta Memorial," a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the memory of the victims of Stalinist repression in the Vorkuta camps. Clearly knowledgeable, Troshin stated without hesitation that he knew of only four Americans who had been imprisoned in the Vorkuta camps, none of whom were military. He remembered only one name, and that was of an individual now living in Moscow of his own volition (a claim tentatively verified by TFR-Moscow). [Analyst's note: The individual in question is, in fact, visiting the United States at this time. Until TFR has contacted him personally and verified his citizenship status, he will remain unnamed.] Mr. Troshin said he was willing to meet again with TFR and to offer what help he could.
D. Toward the close of the Joint Committee meeting in Moscow, a group from the U.S. side visited the Russian Interior Ministry (MVD) Fingerprint Records Center in Moscow. Although this occurred in the previous reporting period, full information was not available by the press date of the last biweekly report, thus its inclusion in this issue. Of note, the use of fingerprint files in Russia is limited to the criminal justice system. Unlike the U.S., fingerprints are not a routine part of military background investigations and so forth; therefore, the Russian fingerprint holdings are less than one-fifth the size of FBI holdings. The nature of this meeting was essentially an orientation. The Russian archivists promised, however, that they would undertake an experiment to see if U. S. POW/MIAs could be tracked through the fingerprint files. With the support of TFR-Washington, the Russians will be provided with the extant fingerprint records of still unaccounted for Cold War shootdown incident crew members, which the Russians will then cross check with their central and regional fingerprint files.
MSG CITE: AMEMBASSY MOSCOW MSGS 062007Z OCT 92; 121404Z OCT 92; 021430Z OCT 92.
4. SIGNIFICANT LETTERS/PHONE CONTACTS: No letters were forwarded from TFR-Moscow to TFR-Washington during the reporting period. Phonecons centered around domestic support for TFR. Notably, TFR contacted Mr. John Sanderson of Fargo, North Dakota, to share information regarding the visit of Mr. Sanderson's brother, Bruce Sanderson, to Moscow. Mr. Sanderson expressed satisfaction with TFR's handling of his father's case (the "Sanderson" crew, Cold War shootdown incident 29 July 1953) and faxed several documents on the case from his own collection. TFR found that we already held these documents. Mr. Sanderson later called back to discuss alternative strategies in researching his father's case.
5. SIGNIFICANT ARCHIVES OR OTHER DOCUMENTS OBTAINED:
A. As a result of the Joint Commission Meeting in Moscow, Ms. Trudy Peterson collected several documents pertinent to further archival searches in Russia. These have been logged as TFRs 20 and 21 and are currently in the translation process.
(1) TFR-20 consists of 16 pages of material obtained from the Central Government Archives, Soviet Army. The FOND is 32925s, "Case files for MVD Forces in Germany, 1941-57." These are extracts and provide an audit trail from FOND to page numbers for specific documents. Only the titles are listed. The case file material for the titles is not included. Three of the titles specifically address POW issues and will be pursued.
(2) TFR-21 consists of four pre-printed forms obtained from the Main Information Center, MVD:
(a) Inquiry Card--used to request archival information on personnel treated in specific hospitals during the 1940s.
(b) Supplemental Information Card--augments the Inquiry Card.
(c) Sample Index Card for MVD fingerprint files.
(d) Sample fingerprint Form for arrested individuals.
6. SIGNIFICANT CONUS ACTIVITIES: TFR-Washington continued extensive archival research, and analysis of Russian and U.S. archival documents, as well as interview and historical material, and the translation of all documents received by the U.S. side of the Joint Commission from the Russians. Analysts also examined possible patterns in the information provided by the Russian side to attempt to identify any partisan agendas. Additionally, TFR- Washington supported requests for information from TFR-Moscow. The most significant activities of TFR-Washington for this reporting period consisted of:
A. Resolution of the Case of the ABC "20/20" Odessa Four. Essential results were reported in the last TFR biweekly report; however, the full details of this case are provided herewith in Appendix A.
B. Analysis of the "List of 59" (TFR-16). This list is entitled "List of US Air Force Personnel Shot Down in Aerial Combat or by Anti-Aircraft Artillery During Combat Operations in Korea and
Transited through an Interrogation Point." It was provided to the U.S. side by the Russians during the last Joint Committee meeting. A comparison with other pertinent lists led the TFR Korean War analyst to the conclusion that at least some U.S. POWs who had been believed killed when their aircraft were lost in fact survived at least long enough to be interrogated. A detailed analysis is provided at Appendix B, along with a complete, corrected list.
C. Analysis of the "List of 71" (TFR-3). This list is entitled, "List of US Air Force Crew Members Participating in Military Activities in North Korea in 1950-53, and About Whom Information has been Found in Documents of the 64th Fighter Aviation Corps." It was passed to the U.S. side in May 1992. The recent receipt of the "List of 59" and successful archival research enabled the TFR Korean analyst to compare and re-evaluate this list, also supporting the conclusion that at least several U.S. aircrew members believed killed in action survived long enough to undergo interrogation. A more detailed analysis and the translated and corrected list have been appended as Appendix C.
7. OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES: TFR-Washington has submitted a list of recommended changes to the ten standing operational priorities through the chain of command. A decision is pending.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
A. The Russian archival material passed to the Commission thus far represents the carefully-controlled release of information by the Russian Government to convince the U.S. side that the Soviet Union did not capture, detain, interrogate, move or eliminate US POW/MIAs. Therefore, interviews conducted in Russia with eyewitnesses and participants are our most powerful source of useful information and should be pursued with even greater priority.
B. Actively follow up the leads on the eleven unaccounted-for service members from the "59 List" and "71 List."
C. Expand the program of contacting U.S. citizens with relevant experience, such as repatriated POWs, government officials with service contemporary to periods of POW/MIA interest, and concerned citizens whose independent research can benefit the total U.S. effort to resolve the fates of unaccounted for service members.
D. Carry forward the recommendations from the Biweekly Report for the period 12 Sept--25 Sept 1992.
APPENDIX A to Task Force Russia Biweekly Report for 9 October 1992
SUBJECT: Resolution of the Case of the ABC News 20/20-Four
1. In early August, TFR received information from the ABC News 20/20 Program that four U.S. servicemen, POWs from World War II were buried and forgotten in a cemetery in Odessa. The following names were given:
Luk (sic) Timmerman Ted Yates Richard Larsom Alberto Kairo
2. Extensive searches by TFR and by the U.S. Army's Center for Memorial Affairs Office (CMAO), the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), and the Coast Guard's Merchant Vessel Personnel (MVP) office were able to identify the four servicemen and the disposition of their remains.
a. Luk (sic) Timmerman is actually Corporal Lyle Earl Timmerman, U.S. Army, SN 121-38-246, Co A, 38th Armored Infantry Bn, 7th Armored Division. CPL Timmerman was reported missing in France on 19 September 1944 and was later reported as captured by the Germans. He was subsequently liberated by the Red Army in 1945 and sent to Odessa to await repatriation to U.S. military control. In Odessa on 19 August 1945, while in the courtyard of Russian transit camp for liberated POWs, the remaining stone wall of a bombed building adjacent to the courtyard collapsed and fell on him, killing him instantly. On 22 March 1945, Mrs. Timmerman, his mother, was informed by telegram by the War Department of her son's death. CPL Timmerman's body was buried in a British battle dress uniform in the Second Christian Cemetery in Odessa, Plot 127, Row 7, Grave 2. He was buried with military honors and photographs taken at the ceremony were passed through military channels to Mrs. Timmerman. On 8 July 1948, the Department of State requested the return of CPL Timmerman's remains from the Soviet Government which were subsequently received on 29 December 1950. The remains were processed by the American Graves Registration Service for verification of identification at the U.S. Military Cemetery in Neuville-en-Condroz, near Liege, Belgium. Upon instructions from Mrs. Timmerman, the remains were returned to the United States and transferred to his mother's custody for reburial at the Freysbush Cemetery, Fort Plain, New York, on 9 May 1951. Information was provided by the U.S. Army Center for Memorial Affairs Office (CMAO) and the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).
b. Sergeant Ted NMI Yates, U.S. Army, SN 381-489-40, Co F, 2nd Battalion, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, was reported missing in France on 23 July 1944 and was later reported as captured by the Germans. He was subsequently liberated by the Red Army in 1945 and sent to Odessa to await repatriation to U.S. military control. In Odessa on 19 August 1945, while in the courtyard of Russian transit camp for liberated POWs, the remaining stone wall of a bombed building adjacent to the courtyard collapsed and fell on him, killing him instantly. This was the same accident that killed CPL Timmerman. On 22 March 1945, Mrs. Nola T. Yates, his mother, was informed by telegram by the War Department of her son's death. SGT Yates' body was buried in the Second Christian Cemetery in Odessa, Plot 127, Row 7, Grave 1. He was buried with military honors and photographs taken at the ceremony were passed through military channels to his family. On 8 July 1948, the Department of State requested the return of SGT Yates' remains from the Soviet Government, which were subsequently received on 29 December 1950 in Berlin. The remains were processed by the American Graves Registration Service for verification of identification at the U.S. Military Cemetery in Neuville-en-Condroz, near Liege, Belgium. Upon instructions from Mr. William Yates, his father, the remains were returned to the United States and transferred to his custody for reburial at the Hillcrest Cemetery, La Junta, Colorado, on 17 May 1951. Information was provided by the U.S. Army Center for Memorial Affairs Office (CMAO) and the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).
c. Chief Officer Richard Carlo Larsen, U.S. Merchant Marine, SN 105-458, SS George L. Baker in harbor at Odessa, died in his sleep on board ship of a coronary thrombosis on 29 March 1945. He was interred in the Second Christian Cemetery in Odessa. On 8 July 1948, the Department of State requested the return of Mr. Larsen's remains from the Soviet Government, which were subsequently received on 29 December 1950 in Berlin. The remains were processed by the American Graves Registration Service for verification of identification at the U.S. Military Cemetery in Neuville-en-Condroz, near Liege, Belgium. According to the wishes of his wife, Mrs. Mary Larsen, he was permanently interred at Neuville on 4 January 1951. Information was provided by the U.S. Army Center for Memorial Affairs Office (CMAO) and the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).
d. Chief Engineer Alberto Cairo, U.S. Merchant Marine, serving aboard the SS William Allen White in harbor at Odessa, died ashore of sclerosis of the heart, according to the Soviet autopsy, on 20 October 1946. He was buried in a Catholic ceremony at the Second Christian Cemetery, Plot 127, Row 7, Grave 3, apparently among the three servicemen listed above. The Assistant U.S. Naval Attache, Odessa, notified Mrs. Cairo of the details of the burial on 7 December 1946 and sent photographs of the well-kept cemetery. Apparently, the Department of State requested return of the remains in a 6 May 1948 letter. No record can be found at this time of return of the remains. Information was provided by the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Vessel Personnel (MVP) Office.
3. It is evident that the United States Government, rather than abandoning these servicemen, exerted a great deal of effort on the identification and return of the remains and on the prompt and courteous notification of the next of kin. In the cases of Timmerman and Yates, death notifications went out to the next of kin three days after the date of death, swift action considering communications in 1945 and the fact that both men died in Soviet, rather than U.S. custody. The files on these men show numerous communications with the next of kin to keep them ascertained of the status of their loved ones, facts surrounding their deaths, the disposition of their remains, and the options available for repatriation of the remains. In all cases, the Government went as far as obtaining photographs of the burial ceremonies or the cemetery for the next of kin. The time between their deaths and the repatriation of their remains was due to the need to use diplomatic channels with the Soviet Union at a time when relations with that regime were rapidly deteriorating.
APPENDIX B to Task Force Russia Biweekly Report for 9 October 1992
SUBJECT: List of 59
1. On 24 September 1992 the Russians provided a list of names of US Korean War POWs (TFR-16) at meeting of the US-Russian Joint Commission on POWs. The list, entitled "List of United States Air Force Personnel, Shot Down in Aerial Combat and by Anti-Aircraft Artillery During Military Operations in Korea and Transited Through an Interrogation Point," ended with the number 59, but two pages with 15 names were missing. The Russians stated that this list consisted of US personnel interrogated during the Korean War, the reports of which were then provided to the Soviets.
2. The following actions were taken to refine the list:
a. The TFR-16 document was translated by TFR. An identical listing of 59 names passed to Paul Cole, Rand Corporation, was used to complete the TFR-16 list.
b. The List of 59 was then compared to the List of 71 (TFR-2) names, provided earlier to TFR. The List of 71 had been analyzed and most of the names correctly identified with correct spellings by the USAF Missing Persons Branch. Forty-three of the 59 names also appeared among the 71 names. TFR coordination with the Missing Persons Branch was able to identify the correct spelling and identities of most of the remaining names.
c. Rand Corporation's analysis of the 59 names was then compared to the TFR/USAF analysis and revealed the identities of several more names.
d. Using all this information, the attached Corrected List of 59 with the correctly identified and spelled names was created.
3. The analysis revealed that two names had been duplicated and that one name was that of an Australian. Therefore, the List of 59 actually contains 56 names. Of these 56 names,
a. One name (No. 6 - Wilkens) is listed as USMC and has not as yet been identified;
b. One name (No. 26 - Gilliam or Jilliam) has not been identified at all;
c. Of the remaining 54 names, 52 are of USAF personnel and two are of USMC personnel who have been positively identified;
d. Of these 54 names, 50 were returned to military control (RMC) at the end of hostilities in Korea;
e. The remaining four names are unaccounted for service members, referenced by their number on the Corrected List of 59:
(1) 23. Tenny, Albert Gilbert CPT, USAF
(2) 24. Reid, Albert J., Jr. SGT, USAF
(3) 48. Harker, Charles Abbot, Jr. 2LT, USAF
(4) 49. Niemann, Robert Frank 2LT, USAF
The Corrected List of 59
Correct Name Shoot Down Status List Name
Except where ? Date is on
(See note on ranks)
1. Stahl, Charles Eugene 7 Jan 52 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
2. Maultsby, Charles Wayne 5 Jan 52 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
3. Green, Joseph F. 11 Jan 52 RMC 59
2LT (1LT), USAF
4. Eyres, Thomas Liewellyn none given RMC 71/59
1LT (CPT), USAF
5. Henderson, Jack E. 31 Aug 51 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
6. ? Wilkens, Dennis V. 3 Jul 51 ? 71/59
CPT, USMC ?
7. MacClellan, Donald J. 8 May 51 RMC 71/59
LTC, USAF
8. Smith, J.B. 8 May 51 RMC 71/59
CPT, USAF
9. Wright, Vernon L. 16 Jan 52 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
10. Peterson, Daniel Delong 17 Jan 52 RMC 71/59
2nd (1LT), USAF
11. Enoch, Kenneth Lloyd 13 Jan 52 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
12. Quinn, John S. 31 Jan 52 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
13. Thrash, William Gay. 21 Dec 51 RMC 71/59
LTC, USMC
14. Richardson, Judson Cromwell 15 Dec 51RMC 71/59
LTC, USMC
15. Duplicates No. 19
16. Kubicek, Harold Bretislav 4 Jul 52 RMC 71/59
CPT, USAF
17. Frick, Vance R. 21 Jun 52 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
18. Dearmond, Michael Edward 21 Apr 52 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
19. Parks, Roland William 4 Sep 52 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
20. Zwiacher, John Wesley 30 Apr 52 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
21. Ellis, John G. 20 Jul 52 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
22. Duplicates N. 20.
23. Tenny, Albert Gilbert 3 May 52 MIA/D 59
CPT, USAF
24. Reid, Elbert J., Jr. 10 Jun 52 MIA/D 59
Sergeant (SSGT), USAF
25. Kniss, Paul R. 31 May 52 RMC 59
2LT (1LT), USAF
26. ? Jilliam or Gilliam 14 Apr 52 ? 59
Chief, Operations Dept ?
27. Arnold, John Knox, Jr. 12 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
Colonel, USAF
28. Thompson, John Walker III 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
Airman 2nd Class, USAF
29. Buck, John W. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
1LT (CPT), USAF
30. Elmer, Fred Allewelin 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
CPT, USAF
31. Vaddi, Eugene T. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
CPT, USAF
32. Schmidt, Daniel C. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
Observer (Airman 2nd Class, USAF)
33. Benjamin, Harry Martin, Jr. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
Airman 2nd Class, USAF
34. Kiba, Steve E. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
Airman 1st Class, USAF
35. Baumer, William H. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
MAJ, USAF
36. Brown, Howard W. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
TSgt, USAF
37. Brown, Wallace L. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
38. Moreland, Joseph E. 4 Jul 52 RMC 59
1LT, USAF
39. Strieby, Francis Allen 4 Jul 52 RMC 59
2LT (1LT), USAF
40. Brazil, Kenneth S. 4 Jul 52 RMC 71/59
1LT (CPT), USAF
41. Combs, Edward D. 4 Jul 52 RMC 59
Sergeant (SSGT), USAF
42. Koski, William Emile 4 Jul 52 RMC 59
Sergeant (SSGT), USAF
43. Johansen, Charles Vernon 4 Jul 52 RMC 71/59
Senior Sergeant (SSGT), USAF
44. Rivers, Bernard Francis 4 Jul 52 RMC 59
Senior Sergeant (TSgt), USAF
45. Bass, Kenneth H. 4 Jul 52 RMC 59
Sergeant (SSGT), USAF
46. Hand, Donald L. 4 Jul 52 RMC 59
Airman 2nd Class (Airman 1st Class),
47. Fischer, Harold Edward 7 Apr 53 RMC 59
Aviator (CPT), USAF
48. Harker, Charles Abbot, Jr. 4 May 53 389 List 59
2LT (1LT), USAF
49. Niemann, Robert Frank 12 Apr 53 MIA/D 59
2LT (1LT), USAF
50. Osburn, John A. 19 Sep 53 RMC 71/59
CPT (MAJ), USAF
51. Heller, Edwin Lewis 23 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
LTC, USAF
52. Izbicky, Edward J. 19 Feb 53 RMC 71/59
2LT, USAF
53. Pape, Donald L. 15 May 53 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
54. Giraudo, John C. 16 Jun 53 RMC 71/59
LTC, USAF
55. Bettinger, Stephen L. 20 Jul 53 RMC 71/59
MAJ, USAF
56. Coury, Robert A. 20 Jun 53 RMC 71/59
CPT, USAF
57. Hodges, Albert V. 19 Jun 53 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
58. Dillon, Edward 15 Jun 53 RMC 71/59
2LT, USAF
59. Pinkstone, Donald William C 15 Jun 53 RMC 71/59
Sergeant, (RAAF-Australian)
Note on ranks: When the Russian list and U.S. records gave different ranks for the same individual, both are included with the Russian listed rank first and the U.S. rank in parenthesis. The difference may be explained by the U.S. practice to promote individuals by schedule even if the soldier is missing in action. This practice explains that almost all the second lieutenants on the Russian list are first lieutenants in the U.S. records maintained by the USAF Casualty Office.
APPENDIX C to Task Force Russia Biweekly Report for 9 October 1992
SUBJECT: List of 71
1. In May 1992 the Russians provided a list of 71 names (TFR-16, 24-34). The list is entitled "List of U.S. Air Force Crew Members Participating in Combat Operations in North Korea in 1950-53, and about Whom Information Has Been Found in Documents of the 64th Fighter Aviation Corps."
2. The following actions were taken to refine the list:
a. The TFR-3 document was translated by OSIA;
b. The translated document was forwarded by DASD (IS-POW/MIA) to the USAF Casualty and Memorial Affairs Office (Missing Persons Branch) where most of the names were correctly identified by Ms. Jeanne Lafontaine. Further coordination by TFR with Ms. Lofantaine led to the identification of more names, including three that were USMC.
c. On 24 September 1992 the Russians provided a list of 59 names which had many of the same names as the List of 71. Rand Corporation's analysis of this second list revealed the identifies of several more names. Forty-three names appeared on both lists. Most of the 43 names were listed in the same order with the same information on both lists.
d. Using all this information, the attached Corrected List of 59 with the correctly identified and spelled names was created.
3. The analysis revealed that one name (No. 18) had been duplicated and that one name was that of an Australian (Pinstone -No. 46). Therefore the List of 71 actually contains 69 names.
a. One name (Wilkins - No. 6) is listed as USMC but has not been identified.
b. Four names are listed without service affiliation and have not been identified (spellings are uncertain): 1. No. 36 - MacKenzie
2. No. 57 - Frank
3. No. 69 - Obney
4. No. 71 - Hark
c. Of the remaining 64 names, 61 are USAF personnel and three are USMC personnel. Fifty-six of these personnel were returned alive to military control (RMC) after the end of hostilities as determined by the USAF Casualty Office. The remains of Howard P. Miller, Jr. were returned to Military control as well. The Australian was also returned alive.
d. Seven identified names were not returned to military control and were later declared dead, most of them after the end of hostilities when a presumptive finding of death was made "when evidence considered sufficient to establish the fact of death was received by the Secretary of the Air Force. They are listed below:
1. No. 32 -Hart, Alvin D., Jr. Airman 1st, USAF
2. No. 33 -Weese, Henry D. 1LT, USAF
3. No. 34 -Van Voorhis, Paul E. 1LT, USAF
4. No. 51 -Johnson, Johnny M. SGT, USAF
5. No. 56 -McDonough, Charles E. CPT, USAF
6. No. 66 -Bergman, Louis H. SGT, USAF
7. No. 67 -Unruh, Halbert Caloway Aviator, USAF
The Corrected List of 71
Correct Name Capture or Status List Name
Except where ? Death Date is on
(See note on ranks)
1. Stahl, Charles Eugene 7 Jan 52 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
2. Kubicek, Harold Bretislav 4 Jul 52 RMC 71/59
CPT, USAF
3. Maultsby, Charles Wayne 5 Jan 52 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
4. Eyres, Thomas Liewellyn none given RMC 71/59
1LT (CPT), USAF
5. Henderson, Jack E. 31 Aug 51 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
6. ? Wilkins, Dennis 3 Jul 51 ? 71/59
CPT, USMC ?
7. MacClellan, Donald J. 8 May 51 RMC 71/59
LTC, USAF
8. Smith, J.B. 8 May 51 RMC 71/59
CPT, USAF
9. Wright, Vernon L. 16 Jan 52 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
10. Peterson, Daniel Delong 17 Jan 52 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
11. Enoch, Kenneth Lloyd 13 Jan 52 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
12. Quinn, John S. 31 Jan 52 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
13. Thrash, William G. 21 Dec 51 RMC 71/59
LTC, USMC
14. Richardson, Judson Cromwell 15 Dec 51 RMC 71/59
LTC, USMC
15. Parks, Roland William 4 Sep 52 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
16. Frick, Vance R. 21 Jun 52 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
17. Dearmond, Michael Edward 21 Apr 52 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
18. Duplicates No. 15
19. Zwiacher, John Wesley 30 Apr 52 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
20. Ellis, John G. 20 Jul 52 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
21. Arnold, John Knox, Jr. 12 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
Colonel, USAF
22. Thompson, John Walker III 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
Airman 2nd Class, USAF
23. Buck, John W. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
1LT (CPT), USAF
24. Elmer, Fred Allewelin 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
CPT, USAF
25. Vaddi, Eugene T. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
CPT, USAF
26. Schmidt, Daniel C. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
Observer (Airman 2nd Class), USAF
27. Benjamin, Harry Martin, Jr. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
Airman 1st Class (Airman 2nd Class), USAF
28. Kiba, Steve E. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
Airman 1st Class
29. Baumer, William H. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
MAJ, USAF
30. Brown, Howard W. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
TSgt, USAF
31. Brown, Wallace L. 13 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
2LT (1LT), USAF
32. Hart, Alvin D., Jr. n.d. MIA/D 71
Airman 1st Class, USAF
33. Weese, Henry D. n.d. MIA/D 71
1LT, USAF
34. Van Voorhis, Paul E. n.d. MIA/D 71
1LT, (CPT) USAF
35. Brazil, Kenneth S. 4 Jul 52 RMC 71/59
1LT (CPT), USAF
36. ? MacKenzie, Andrew Robert 15 Jun 52 ? 71
Major, ?
37. Osburn, John A . 19 Sep 53 RMC 71/ 59
CPT (MAJ), USAF
38. Heller, Edwin Lewis 23 Jan 53 RMC 71/59
LTC, USAF
39. Izbicky, Edward J. 19 Feb 53 RMC 71/59
2LT, USAF
40. Pape, Donald L. 15 May 53 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
41. Giraudo, John C. 16 Jun 53 RMC 71/59
LTC, USAF
42. Bettinger, Stephen L. 20 Jul 53 RMC 71/59
MAJ, USAF
43. Coury, Robert A. 20 Jun 53 RMC 71/59
CPT, USAF
44. Hodges, Albert V. 19 Jun 53 RMC 71/59
1LT, USAF
45. Dillon, Edward 15 Jun 53 RMC 71/59
LT (2LT), USAF
46. Pinkstone, Donald William 15 Jun 53 RMC 71/59
SGT, (RAAF-Australian)
47. Fornes, William L. 6 Aug 52 RMC 71
LT (1LT), USAF
48. Schwable, Frank Hawse 8 Jul 52 RMC 71
LTC, USMC
49. Johanson, Charles Vernon 4 Jul 52 RMC 71/59
SGT (SSGT), USAF
50. Bartholomew, Gabriel P. 18 Oct 52 RMC 71
Chief, Operations Dept, (MAJ) USAF
51. Johnson, Johnny M. 10 Jan 53 MIA/K 71
Senior Sergeant (Master Sergeant), USAF
52. Abrahmson, Gerald D. 29 Jan 53 RMC 71
Operator (Airman 2nd Class), USAF
53. Van Slyke, Leland H. 30 Dec 52 RMC 71
Radio operator (Airman Second Class), USAF
54. Fischer, Harold E. 7 Apr 53 RMC 71
(CPT), USAF
55. Shawe, Hamilton B., Jr. 1 Dec 50 RMC 71
2LT (CPT), USAF
56. McDonough, Charles E. 4 Dec 50 MIA/K 71
CPT (MAJ), USAF
57. ? Frank, S. Denstech 10 Oct/Nov ? 71
CPT, ? or Dec
58. Hearn, Joseph S. 12 Apr 51 RMC 71
Navigator (CPT), USAF
59. Oldewage, Daniel Henry 12 Apr 51 RMC 71
Senior Sergeant (TSgt), USAF
60. Metz, Henry X. 12 Apr 51 RMC 71
Senior Sergeant (SSgt), USAF
61. King, Marvin Eugene 4 Dec 51 RMC 71
Airman 1st Class, USAF
62. Knego, George James 4 Dec 51 RMC 71
LT (1LT), USAF
63. Moree, Leonard Levi, Jr. 4 Dec 51 RMC 71
SGT (SSgt), USAF
64. Gant, John Kerr 4 Dec 51 RMC 71
SGT (SSgt), USAF
65. Millward, George E. 4 Dec 51 RMC 71
SGT (SSgt), USAF
66. Bergmann, Louis H. 4 Dec 51 MIA/K 71
SGT (SSgt), USAF
67. Unruh, Halbert Caloway 4 Dec 51 MIA/K 71
Aviator (CPT), USAF
68. Dean, Zach Wesley 22 Apr 51 RMC 71
CPT, USAF
69. ? Obney 12/14 Aug 51 ? 71
MAJ, ?
70. Miller, Howard P., Jr. 22 Jan 51 RMC 71
1LT, USAF (remains)
71. ? Harm ? Sep 52 ? 71
SGT, ?
Note on ranks: When the Russian list and U.S. records give different ranks for the same individual, both are included with the Russian listed rank first and the U.S. rank in parenthesis. The difference may be explained by the U.S. practice to promote individuals by schedule even if the soldier is missing in action. This practice explains that almost all the second lieutenants on the Russian list are first lieutenants in the U.S. records maintained by the USAF Casualty Office.