The Wayland Mayo Story
 Biographical Notes
EXPERIENCING MACARTHUR’S WAR
As was true on Okinawa, there were reminders of the previous war, WW II. We didn’t have to travel any distance for some of those reminders. All we had to do was step out of our barracks and take a short walk around the base and we could view Japanese fighters and human bomb aircraft. Here are some samples:

Above: Japanese, human guided, bomb.

Above, Left: Japanese Tony fighter acft., in front of barracks, Yokota.

Left: Japanese Zero fighter acft.

You will note that the USAF insignia has been installed on the Japanese fighter aircraft.

 

Maj. General Frank Lowe, in left seat of RB-29, Tiger Lil, observing the Yalu River area.

This was MacArthur’s war, a man so insubordinate that Truman eventually fired him. Truman sent his friend, Maj. Gen. Frank Lowe, a MacArthur look alike, to make a personal analysis of the war. He was warned about heavy flak over Pyongyang, and Mig alley around the Sinuiju area. Over many objections he insisted on seeing the Yalu, all of it. Our crew was selected to fly him. The flight fortunately went off without complications, and he reported back to Truman. We received letters of commendation for the flight, thanking us for taking him on this very dangerous “sightseeing tour”.

Our Tiger Lil crew turned up on the mission scheduling roster at frequent intervals. Mission preparation, mission conduct and safe returns each had their stimulating and motivational effects on each crew member. Here are four views fitting that pattern of preparation, performance and return:

Above: Bomb a bridge, they build another.

Above Left: Clark loading tail guns on “Tiger Lil”

Below Left: Wayland loading upper forward turret.

Below: Mount Fuji, shot from 20,000'
while returning from a mission

MacArthur was planning a daring and controversial landing at Inchon. He asked for complete photographic coverage as the tides were of the utmost consideration. We accomplished the requested coverage and received commendations from Maj. Gen. Charles A. Willoughby and Lt. Gen. Stratemeyer for “the production of a large number of air photographs in a period of two days. These photographs materially increased the success of the invasion”. Our crew went on to fly 50 missions before returning to the U.S. I was credited with 46, somehow 4 missions with the 19th, from Okinawa, were not included on my form 5.

America’s forgotten war, “MacArthur’s War”, was a catastrophe of miscalculations, burdened by politics. We lost 35 thousand men in just over 3 years, more than 3 times the loss rate in Vietnam. Six thousand Americans still listed as MIA. I have always been proud to have been a member of the “Tiger Lil” crew, proud of the 15th AF, and proud of the Strategic Air Command.

 

End of Chapter 3, Go to Chapter 4

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