Korwald and misterious F-86s

[Daniel Nole]

Checking and comparing dates in Korwald with other sources with the F-86s I have finded several differences in dates, other missing, other undefined or vague.
Certainly that is well known point and Korwald is far of be a perfect source, but some missing entries are quite a real mistery.

Japan

Why all losses or accidentes in Japan are not included? B-29s for example with landing accidents in Japan are sometimes included, but no F-86.
Five F-86 losses in Japan:

49-1100(4th FIG) Written off after belly landing at 1.5 miles east of Johnson AB-Japan, Dec 17, 1950.(F-86A-5)
49-1230 (4th FIG) Written off (damaged beyond repair), pilot bailed out 18 miles E of Johnson AB-Japan, Feb 2, 1951.(F-86A-5)
49-1239 (4th FIG) Written off (damaged beyond repair), pilot bailed out 18 miles E of Johnson AB-Japan, Feb 2, 1951.(F-86A-5)
48-232 (4th FIG)crashed, 10 miles N of Johnson AB-Japan, April 13, 1951.(F-86A-5)
48-297(4th FIG, 336th FIS) failed to recover from spin and crashed, 20 Miles N of Komaki AB-Japan, Jul 11, 1951.(F-86A-5)
51-12969 Crashed at Tsuiki AB-Japan, Jan 4, 1953.(F-86F-10)

In Korea

This is a list of F-86 damaged or losses in Korea no included in Korwald. The 20th May 1951, entries are really a mistery. Not, the 49-319 of Jabara but the other two mentioned as written off after landing. SAAF planes are sometimes included, sometimes not, why?
All were USAF propeties and were only borrowed to the SAAF.

49-1093(4th FIG, 335th FIS) damaged by MiG, written off after landing, Apr 10, 1951.(F-86A-5)
49-1080(4th FIG, 335th FIS)Possible damaged by MiG and written off after landing accident at Suwon K-13, May 20, 1951.(F-86A-5)
49-1313(4th FIG, 335th FIS)Possible damaged by MiG, written off after landing accident at K-13 Suwon, May 20, 1951.(F-86A-5)
49-1334 (335th FIS 4th FIW)destroyed on ground by Bedcheck Charlie at Suwon K-13, Jun 17, 1951.
49-1335 (335th FIS 4th FIW)Reported as shot down by MiGs, crashed into the East China Sea near Sonchon Jun 17, 1951
49-1281 (4th FIG, 334th FIS) Heavy damaged by MiG.Written off Jun 25, 1951.(F-86A-5)
49-1323 (4th FIG) Forced landing at Kimpo K-14.Written off, Sep 7, 1951.(F-86A-5)
49-1267 (4th FIG, 334th FIS) crashlanded on mud flat at Inchon, Oct 7, 1951.(F-86A-5)
49-1147(4th FIW, 336th FIS)lost by fuel starvation after damage by MiG.Pilot Nicholas Kotek ejected safely Oct 16, 1951.(F-86A-5)
49-1109 (4th FIG, 336 FIS)heavy damaged by MiG,written off, pilot Lt Dayton Ragland returned to base, Oct 24, 1951.(f-86A-5)
48-259 (4th FIG, 334th FIS)Utilised before by Capt James Jabara, crashed 9 miles of Taegu K-2, Nov 9, 1951.(F-86A-5)
48-301 (4th FIG, 334th FIS)damaged by MiG, written off Nov 29, 1951.(F-86A-5)
50-680 (4th FIG, 335th FIS)Damaged by PLAAF La-11, Nov 30, 1951.(F-86E-1)
50-622 (51th FIW, 16th FIS)Downed by MiG, Dec 8, 1951.(F-86E-1)
49-1318 (4th FIG) Damaged in combat with MiGs Nov 29, 1951. Written off January 2, 1952.(F-86A-5)
51-2732 (51th FIG, 16th FIS)Heavy damaged by MiG.Repaired Feb 10, 1952.(F-86E-10)
49-1297 (4th FIG, 334th FIS) loss Jul 13, 1952.(F-86A-5)
51-12963 (4th FIG, 335th FIS)battle damage, Nov 18, 1952.(F-86F-10)
50-660 (4th FIG, 334th FIS) loss in accident Nov 28, 1952.(F-86E-5)
52-4327 borrowed by South Africa as 613/G, w/o April 21, 1953.(F-86F-30)
52-4344 borrowed by South Africa as 619/M, w/o May 19, 1953
51-2824 (4th FIG, 336th FIS) shot down by MiG, Jul 20, 1953.Pilot Maj Stephen Bettinger POW.(F-86E-10)(wrong listed as 51-2836)
52-4425 (8th FBW, 35th FBS) damaged by MiG or AAA, returned to base Jun 29, 1953.(F-86F-30)

The five listed as F-86 Unknown

1297 530412 4th Ftr-Int Gp 335th Ftr-Int Sq Details(this one is 51-12970)
UNK 520607 51st Ftr-Int Gp 25th Ftr-Int Sq Details
UNK 530720 8th Ftr-Bmbr Gp 35th Ftr-Bmbr Sq Details
UNK 530616 18th Ftr-Bmbr Gp 12th Ftr-Bmbr Sq Details
UNK 530616 18th Ftr-Bmbr Gp 12th Ftr-Bmbr Sq Details

Date unknown and not included in Korwald

48-305(4th FIG)damaged by MiG ?(F-86A-5)
49-1179 (4th FIG)shot down by MiG ?(F-86A-5)
50-666 (4th FIG)Lost to enemy action(F-86E-5)
50-672 (4th FIG) lost to enemy action.(F-86E-5)
51-2768 (4th FIG)lost to enemy action.(F-86E-10)
51-2770 (4th FIG)lost to enemy action.(F-86E-10)
51-2792 (51th FIG) lost to enemy action.(F-86E-10)
51-12942 -lost to enemy action(F-86F-10)
52-4313 - lost to enemy action(F-86F-30)
52-4318 (18th FBG, 12th FBS)belly landing and damaged at Osan K-55(F-86F-30)
52-4345 (18th FBG, 67th FBS)loss over North Korea in 1953.(F-86F-30)
52-4434 (8th FBG, 80th FBS)damaged by AAA.(F-86F-30)
52-4530 (4th FIG)damaged by AAA.(F-86F-30)

Wrong entry(dont exist this registration for F-86s)

49-1973 520525 4th Ftr-Int Gp 334th Ftr-Int Sq Details(the right maybe is 49-1073, 49-173 loss Sep 26, 1951, 49-173 was loss Mar 13, 1955 in USA)
51-1963 521118 4th Ftr-Int Gp 335th Ftr-Int Sq Details(I dont know wich F-86 can be this one)
51-2489 521121 51st Ftr-Int Gp 25th Ftr-Int Sq Details(The right one is 51-2889)
51-6274 521121 51st Ftr-Int Gp 25th Ftr-Int Sq Details(The right one is 51-2746)
51-2909A 520916 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Details(the right one is 51-2909)

In F-86A wrong placed(all Model E)

50-633 520509 4th Ftr-Int Gp 336th Ftr-Int Sq Details
50-669 520624 4th Ftr-Int Gp 335th Ftr-Int Sq Details
51-2828 520720 4th Ftr-Int Gp 336th Ftr-Int Sq Details

Reading Korwald "between lines".

Sometimes the narrative or description is quite vague and far o be clear abouth the description. Some examples:

"Operational, not due to enemy action"

Ok, nothing to say, is clear but when you find:

"Operational loss"

Well, here that can mean many things, or another:

"Operational"

Like before but more vague, no limits

"Ground fire"

Ok, all clear the well known AAA or other ground weapons but sometimes also you find:

"enemy fire"

Right, but a MiG firing can be also considered "Enemy fire". Sometimes I have the feeling: for Korwald the task to writte the name "MiG" is not a easy one.

"Enemy action"

Like enemy fire.

"battle damage"

Ok, but wich type of enemy weapon had done this damage?

"Returned to base and repaired"

Ok, nothing to say. All clear , but when you find:

"Returned to base"

And not the "repaired", well , that open the possibility of think maybe in
a written off.

About the damages reports, I find personally the V-VS are more honest and direct reporting the damages of his MiGs. Also for only a bullet hole you find a report damage in sources of the Regiments. With the USAF I have counted in Korwald such reports and there are no more of three or four examples like:"damage by 37mm " or "damage by 23mm".

Daniel