Eagle Biography
Bryce Poe II
As a reconnaissance pilot, General Bryce Poe II helped write a chapter of aviation
history during the Korean War. Born in 1924, he completed pilot training prior to
graduating from West Point in 1946. Following graduation, he became a member of one of
the Air Force's first jet-equipped units and flew in more than 80 air shows demonstrating
the new RF-80A. Poe was assigned to the 8th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in Japan
when, in the predawn darkness of 25 June 1950, the North Korean Army crossed the 38th
Parallel to signal the beginning of the Korean War.
Three days later, First Lieutenant
Poe flew his RF-80A on the initial reconnaissance sortie of the Korean War--this was also
the first American jet reconnaissance mission ever flown in combat. Before returning to
the States in 1951, he flew a total of 90 combat missions, including reconnaissance of
Inchon prior to MacArthur's landing and multiple sorties to photograph the Yalu River
bridges in "MiG Alley." The following year, Poe was assigned as an exchange
officer to the Allied Forces Northern Europe where he flew Vampires, Meteors, F-84s, and
F-86s with the Royal Norwegian and Royal Danish Air Forces.
He later held various
positions in Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command before going to Southeast
Asia in 1969 as Vice Commander of the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. While in
Vietnam, he flew 213 combat missions, of which 200 were in the RF-4C. After his tour of
duty in Vietnam, General Poe served in numerous key positions, including Commander of the
Ogden Air Logistics Center, Vice Commander of USAFE, and Commander of the Air Force
Logistics Command. Now retired, General Poe works as a defense management consultant.
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| 1984
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The first days of the Korean War were confusing, but MacArthur's staff
realized the need for air support to blunt the enemy attack. However, due to
a slow moving weather front over South Korea, US aircraft could not
effectively find the battle area. In the early morning hours of 28 June 1950,
First Lieutenant Bryce Poe II took off from Itazuke, Japan, on a solo mission
to reconnoiter and photograph the vanguard of the North Korean Army.
Initially flying in the "foulest imaginable" weather, he later
found the conditions to be clearing and noted an enemy bridgehead near Seoul.
His flight, the first successful reconnaissance sortie in the war, alerted
the Far East Air Force of the improving weather and resulted in immediate air
strikes by F-80s and B-26s, which inflicted costly damage to North Korean
forces.
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