Medal of Honor: John S. Walmsley, Jr. Korean War September 14, 1951

John S. Walmsley, Jr.
Korean War
September 14, 1951 – Near Yangdok, Korea

On a dark September night in 1951, Captain John S. Walmsley Jr. took to the skies over Korea in his B-26 Invader bomber. His mission was more than routine—he was tasked with testing new night-combat tactics, an experimental effort to improve the U.S. Air Force’s ability to strike the enemy under cover of darkness. In the valleys below, the enemy was moving vital supplies by train, guarded by heavy antiaircraft batteries.

Walmsley spotted one such train—a supply convoy given top priority as a target of opportunity. Without hesitation, he dove in, unleashing his firepower and crippling the locomotive. The train screeched to a halt in the valley, but his ammunition was quickly spent. Walmsley was faced with a choice: break off and return to base, or press forward to ensure the destruction of the enemy’s supplies. He chose the latter.

Calling for other bombers in the area, he turned his aircraft into a beacon for their attack. Using the blinding beam of the searchlight mounted on his B-26, Walmsley illuminated the disabled train, drawing the fire of enemy guns away from his wingmen. Twice he exposed himself in this way, flying low over the valley to give the other aircraft a clear view. Antiaircraft fire tore through the night sky, seeking him out. Still, he pressed on.

On his final pass, Walmsley flew directly into the jaws of enemy fire. His searchlight blazed, his plane lit up as a target, but his determination never wavered. He illuminated the train long enough for the friendly bombers to strike true and destroy the enemy’s vital cargo. His courage cost him his life—enemy fire struck his aircraft, sending it crashing into the mountainside in a fiery explosion.

Captain Walmsley’s gallantry ensured the destruction of enemy supplies and the safety of his comrades in the air. He gave his life not only in service of the mission but in the spirit of innovation and sacrifice that defined the airmen of Korea. His selfless decision to expose himself so others could strike the target reflects the purest form of courage: knowingly flying into certain death for the sake of others.

Medal of Honor Citation

Capt. Walmsley, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While flying a B-26 aircraft on a night combat mission with the objective of developing new tactics, Capt. Walmsley sighted an enemy supply train which had been assigned top priority as a target of opportunity. He immediately attacked, producing a strike which disabled the train, and, when his ammunition was expended, radioed for friendly aircraft in the area to complete destruction of the target. Employing the searchlight mounted on his aircraft, he guided another B-26 aircraft to the target area, meanwhile constantly exposing himself to enemy fire. Directing an incoming B-26 pilot, he twice boldly aligned himself with the target, his searchlight illuminating the area, in a determined effort to give the attacking aircraft full visibility. As the friendly aircraft prepared for the attack, Capt. Walmsley descended into the valley in a low level run over the target with searchlight blazing, selflessly exposing himself to vicious enemy antiaircraft fire. In his determination to inflict maximum damage on the enemy, he refused to employ evasive tactics and valiantly pressed forward straight through an intense barrage, thus insuring complete destruction of the enemy’s vitally needed war cargo. While he courageously pressed his attack Capt. Walmsley’s plane was hit and crashed into the surrounding mountains, exploding upon impact. His heroic initiative and daring aggressiveness in completing this important mission in the face of overwhelming opposition and at the risk of his life, reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force.