Red Scarfer War Stories
Lt. Col. William E. "Bill" May, served as Commanding Officer of the 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron ("Red Scarfers") from 14 November 1950 through 31 March 1951.
He was relieved by Lt. Col. Henry W. Lawrence, due to serious injuries he suffered while flying a combat mission in his F-51D Mustang fighter-bomber.
On 1 March 1951, Lt. Col. May “abandoned his aircraft successfully after being struck by intense enemy ground fire behind enemy lines. He was rescued by a helicopter from the heavy cruiser St. Paul.” May was hospitalized for burns.
“Lt. Col. May was also shot down,” Lt. Ken Barber recorded.
“He was hit bad and flames were licking at his feet. He jettisoned his canopy and the flames really sucked up into his face, burning it, and he had to bail out—right over the enemy front lines. All four of the ships covering him were hit with small arms fire. The helicopter came in—then backed off. Capt. Croner told him to get the hell back in and pick up that man. This time the copter did, dropping a rope ladder up which Col. May scrambled! The ‘copter’ had plenty of holes in it. Col. May is on a hospital ship—only burned around the face. Sure is lucky.”
Red Scarfer War Stories
I don’t remember passing out, but apparently I did because I had a ten stitch cut across my head. I don’t remember hitting the tail but I must have when I bailed out. I seemed to have a lot of time as I floated down...[Continued]