Bridges at "Toko-Ri", The

Flight Journal, Oct 2004 by Thompson, Warren E

"For our second run, which was the first run on the bridges, on the port and starboard inboard racks, we carried one 1,000-pound GP; they were fused to explode instantaneously for the main span. If we did our job the first time, these runs were usually made with very little observable flak! Some of our Skyraiders had a 500-pound SAP [semi-armor piercing] bomb on the port and starboard inboard racks with only a 0.5-second-delay tail fuse. These were intended to penetrate the bridge structure and explode under it-hopefully, in one of the concrete supports."

During the early phases of working with this new strategy, several combinations of aircraft were used to test the feasibility of each against all heavily defended targets. On many missions, the two attack-jet types were used in several configurations and in different numbers. Many jet pilots said that they were primarily used for flak suppression or as bridge busters. The latter task was probably given to the F2H Banshees, which carried two 500-pound bombs. With their four 260-pound fragmentation bombs, the F9F Panthers were very effective in taking out gun emplacements.

Right before the Essex weighed anchor for its first combat cruise in the Korean War, it was assigned the usual two squadrons of F9F Panthers. At the last minute, orders came from the Pentagon that one squadron should be pulled off and replaced by a squadron of F2H-2 Banshees (VF-172). This was to be the first foray into combat for the relatively new jet fighteran agile aircraft outfitted with eight bomb racks. just like the Panther, it was limited with regard to how much weight it could carry when flying off the carrier deck. It could carry four 250-pound bombs and four 5-inch rockets along with 600 rounds of ammunition for its 20mm cannon. With its two engines, it had a safety factor built in.

Lt. j.g. Wayne J. Spence flew the F2H-2 on 71 missions while operating from the Essex. He was also right in the middle of numerous bridge strikes using the new tactics. His comments give us a clear picture of how the Banshee fit into these missions: "There was an especially dangerous valley called Changnim-ni on the eastern side of the neck of Korea. For the Chinese, it was a key route for moving supplies, and it allowed the trains to deliver supplies and equipment to within 10 miles of the frontline areas. The complex consisted of two major rail bridges that were protected by more than 1,000 gun emplacements that made it very difficult for the slower aircraft to survive an effective attack. It was also almost impossible to take out all those guns on one attack.

"I particularly remember one attack; the key to success was getting in and out quickly. This mission required eight of our Banshees-loaded with two 500-pound bombs each-and 35 other aircraft to support the two, four-plane divisions that would try to destroy the two bridges [four aircraft per bridge]. The support aircraft were AD Skyraiders, F4U Corsairs and F9F Panthers; they went in first to drop "daisy cutters" [flak-suppression bombs]. This forced the gunners to keep their heads down, and all we needed were a few seconds because we were trailing right behind the suppressor aircraft. The mission was a huge success because the other three aircraft types did a superb job, and we made precision drops on the spans. We were also able to exit the area quickly because of our speed.