91 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
History Notes

Chapter 4, Page 3 of 3

Strategic Shift: Korean War Sacrifices
The 91st eventually received the subsonic RB-36 aircraft as well. In late 1952, six RB-36’s were sent to Yakota AB, Japan to fly with the 91st and fly high altitude reconnaissance over Manchurian targets. Even today, this is virtually unknown to sources outside the Pentagon due to detente between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. (12)
The 91st worked a number of different missions during the Korean War. In addition to bomb damage assessment, targeting and aerial photography for the Bomber Command and FEAF, the 91st conducted ELINT and “ferret” missions in theater. It conducted the first ferret missions ever conducted by the USAF. In addition to these missions. 91st aircraft also provided the Air Force’s first air-to-air refueling capability and is credited with the very first refueling conducted in combat.
Above: A three ship element of RB-36D’s (10)

Below, Left: 91st RB-36’s over Japan
The unit was also called upon to conducted psychological leaflet drops with its assigned RB-29 aircraft. Not only did the 91st drop Korean “Psyops” leaflets throughout the Korean peninsula and into Manchuria and China but Russian language leaflets were also committed to air bases in the Far East where Russian pilots were suspected of flying from.
These are the PSYOPS Leaflets that were dropped on the last bombing mission of the Korean War (13)
Attributions

12. Air War Over Korea, Larry Davis, Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, page 55.

13. The photographs and pictures of the psyops leaflets were provided to the author by Mr. Frank Clower of Maryland. He was an Airman Second Class with the crew who flew this last mission and served on numerous missions in the Korean theater during 1953.

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