Collier’s, 13 December 1952

We’re Asking the Reds to SURRENDER-PLEASE!

Collier’s, 13 December 1952

From Veritas, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2012

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First Lieutenant (1LT) Ivan G. Worrell, the Loudspeaker Platoon leader, 1st Loudspeaker & Leaflet Company, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea, flew seven Psywar broadcast missions to P’yongyang in 1952 aboard a B-26 Invader. “The Voice,” a specially-equipped WWII-era C-47 Skytrain with permanently-mounted loudspeakers, had gotten badly shot up and was undergoing repairs. 1LT Worrell and his radio mechanic installed a portable loudspeaker in the bomb bay. Since the Army equipment electrical system was not compatible with that of the Air Force aircraft, they fitted a gasoline-powered electrical generator into the radio section to power the microphone and loudspeaker. A ‘jerry-rigged’ flexible hose vented exhaust fumes through an antenna ‘well’ in the top of the fuselage. A female Republic of Korea (ROK) soldier, riding in the bombardier seat, constantly read the Psywar script aloud. Since the doors of the bomb bay had to be kept open during these missions, everyone dressed warmly. All missions were night, low level. When given the opportunity to earn an Air Medal by flying three more missions aboard the repaired C-47, 1LT Worrell declined. Originally, there had been two C-47 Psywar planes; one of the slow-flying aircraft was shot down over enemy lines.1

Collier’s, 13 December 1952

ENDNOTES

  1. Retired MAJ Ivan G. Worrell, interview by Dr. Charles H. Briscoe, 22 March 2012, USASOC History Office Classified Files, Fort Bragg, NC. [return]