Picture Source: John McKee Jr.

John McKee - 1953

Picture Source: John McKee Jr.

"John’s "first day on the job” 1952, as Flight Leader’ Clyde Curtin’s wingman (pictured)." - John McKee Jr.

John is left on picture, Clyde is right.

Picture Source: John McKee Jr.

"D" flight in 1953. 1st lt. John Myrick Jr., 1st.lt. John McKee Flt Comdr, 1st lt, Alton Thogersen, and 2nd lt. Marlin Templeton.

Picture Source: John McKee Jr.

1st lt John McKee, 2nd lt. Paul Pluginsky, 1st lt John Myrick, and 2nd lt Marlin Templeton.

"The dark painted D flight Dog flight helmets “melted their brains” and did not last very long. McKee is wearing a USN Mae West. Dad said they used torn up parachute material for their neck scarfs. As your neck was constantly in motion. In the pictures you can see yellow, red, and white parachute material. " - John McKee Jr.

Picture Source: John McKee Jr.

Picture Source: John McKee Jr.

"On the left is the complete 335th duty roster for 2 May 53. With all personnel and their assignments both hq and all flights. The middle is Dad. And on the right the last mission of the D flight assignment. He's now been flying FU-945. This is part of the map I referred to on the backside." - John McKee Jr.

FU 890, 945, F86F, Kimpo 1952-1953

Picture Sources: John McKee Jr.

"Bed check Charlie"... from Lt. McKee

From John’s own word:

“We were getting pretty fed up with the food. It seemed the Navy had all the good fresh stuff and we got leftovers. And thus plot was hatched to remedy the situation. We had something they didn’t have and that was supply of Canadian Club Whiskey. Each combat pilot was given a 3 drink ration after each mission. A tradition dating back to WW1 and since we had some who didn’t drink, we had a surplus. The Major in charge of such things said he could probably pull off the trade for some T-bone steaks at a Marine warehouse not too far away. He loaded a weapons carrier with our booze, and came back with 150 pounds of Marine T-Bones. I was on a mission when it arrived but the Major had saved one for me. I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into that steak and walked into “swig alley” about 7pm after debriefing and demanded that the cook fix my steak. Mine was the last one. Just as he was bringing it out to me we had the only air raid since I’d been there. The lights blacked out and everyone was supposed to hit the trenches. Everyone did, except me. The cook disappeared as soon as he threw it on the table. One bite convinced me that it was worth the risk to stick with my steak. So while the AA guns were booming and searchlites tried to find “bed check Charlie” I kept right on eating in the dark. It was not the best atmosphere for fine dining with all the shooting and cacophony of exploding shells. It was the best steak ever and I still remember how good it smelled and tasted after going meatless for so long. The raid was over after about 20 minutes. When the lights came back on I discovered that I’d eaten the paper plate it was on as well as the steak. There remained only the outer rim of the plate on the table.

The major didn’t do well from this caper. It seems that there were drunk Marines all the way up to the front lines. Clutching fifths of Canadian Club."

Picture Source: John McKee Jr.