History of the US Air Force in Taiwan 1960

1960

1 January.      The 41^st Fighter Interceptor Squadron (327^th AD) (F-86 aircraft) was relieved of it’s alert commitment at Andersen AB, Guam.

1 January.      The accounting function of 6214^th Tactical Group was transferred to 405^th ABG, Clark AB, P.I., thereby eliminating the need for a Comptroller at Tainan AB.

4 January.      Det 2, Thirteenth Air Force was designated and organized at Taipei Air Station per PACAF GO 47, 16 Jul 59.

4 January.      MAAG Taiwan (AF personnel) were assigned to Thirteenth AF for logistical support purposes. (Det 2, Thirteenth AF.)

5 January.      Mobile Training Det No. 10, 3415^th Tech Training School. Lowery AFB, Colo., was PCS to Tainan AS to assist with the training program for the TM-61C Weapons System.

10 January.    6214^th Support Squadron was designated and organized at Taipei Air Station and assigned to 6214^th Tactical Gp per PACAF GO 74, 28 Dec 59.  PACAF GO 4, 21 Jan 60 amended the PACAF GO 74 to read 6213^th Support Squadron.  Air Task Force Thirteen (Prov) was attached to it for administrative and logistic support.

12 January.    A defecting Chinese Communist MIG-15 aircraft crash-landed and burned near Ilan.

February.        After a survey of bases on Taiwan it was decided that Kung Kuan AB would best suit the needs of USAF tactical units.

15 February.  Air Task Force Thirteen (Prov) and Det 2, Thirteenth Air Force were attached to the 6214^th Tactical Gp for courts martial jurisdiction per Thirteenth AF GO 7, 17 Feb 1960.  New organizational plan placed into effect.

March.            The Purchasing and Contracting Office moved from Taipei AS to Tainan AS.

March.            Construction of new communications building (Cotton Building) at Taipei AS was commenced at estimated cost of US $53,000. (Ed note:  The Cotton Building, named for 
SSgt Cotton who was electrocuted while attempting to shut off the power in a building across from the NCO Club, which was flooded due to a storm, his arm inadvertedly touched a bare electrical cable while he was standing on a flooded floor)      

1 March.         6212^th USAF Dispensary (Class B) was released from Thirteenth Air Force and assigned to the 6214^th Tactical Group per PACAF GO 75, 30 Dec 59.

6 March.         327^th Air Division, Andersen AFB, Guam, disposed of its last aircraft, a C-54 to Clark AFB, Philippines.

8 March.         The 41^st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was discontinued at Andersen AFB, Guam by PACAF SO G-1, 12 Jan 60.  The 327^th Air Division at Andersen AFB, Guam was discontinued by PACAF SO G-13, 23 Feb 60 and Dept of Air Force Letter 336m, 3 Feb 60.

15 March.       Air Task Force Thirteen (P) Unit Device for organizational flag was approved by the US Air Force.

10 – 20 May.  67^th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing aircraft were deployed to Kung Kuan AB.

20 May – 13 June.    CASF MOBILE YOKE (428 TFS) deployed to Kung Kuan AB.

25 May – 15 June.    868^th Tactical Missile Sq at Tainan Air Station participated in project HAPPY HOUR.

4-14 June.      18^th Tactical Fighter Wing deployed aircraft to Kung Kuan AB.

6 – 13 June.   Air Task Force Thirteen (Prov) participated in exercise CASF MOBILE YOKE per Thirteenth AF OPORD 256-60, 4 Jun 60.

6 June.            428^th TFS deployed to Kung Kuan AB.

17 June.         The Chinese Communist dumped 85,965 shells on Kinmen on the eve of President Eisenhower’s visit to ROC.

18 – 19 June.  President Eisenhower visited President Chian Kai-shek, Republic of China, at Taipei, Taiwan.

HERE is a 7:30 minute video of President Eisenhower's visit to Taiwan in June 1960.  

There is NO audio on the film.

 

19 June.   President Eisenhower and President Chiang issued a joint communiqué, pledging that their governments would “continue to stand solidly behind the Sino-US Mutual Defense Treaty in meeting the challenge posted by the Chinese Communists in the Taiwan area.”  During President Eisenhower’s visit, the Communists shelled the island of Kinmen with 88,798 shells.  Ordered to retaliate, ROC artillery destroyed eight Communist coastal guns, seven Communist fortifications and four Communist ammunition depots.

(Editor Note:  Above we see Presidents Eisenhower and Chiang standing on the Red Carpet Area just in front of Marine Corps 1 Helicopter.  Where is Eisenhower’s aircraft that brought him to Taiwan?  Where did it land?)

July – December.      The following units deployed aircraft to Kung Kuan AB, Taiwan:

                                    17-24 Aug      18^th Tactical Fighter Wing

                                   

-                                   13-20 Sep      18^th Tactical Fighter Group

                                      5-12 Oct       39^th Air Division

                                    15-22 Nov      13^th Air Division

                                     4-11 Dec       405^th Fighter Wing

July.                 The Penghu Island site became operational under the control of the 868^th TMS.

1 July.            Tainan AB assumed responsibility for the Tainan Recreation Center which had been under the Tainan Base Command.

13 July.           Area 9 at Tainan AS ceased operation with the withdrawal of all communications equipment.

4 August.  Major General Kenneth O. Sanborn assumed command of Air Task Force Thirteen (Prov) per USAF Special Order A-496, 31 March 1960.

(Editor Note:  MGen Sanborn served until 19 Aug 1962. 

1 October – 24 November.    6214^th Tactical Group conducted operations from Kan Shan AB due to runway construction and repair at Tainan AS.

4 October.      USAF approved emblem for 868^th Tactical Missile Squadron to supersede an emblem approved under a former designation, 868^th Bombardment Sq (H), Army Air Forces, 17 May 1945.

Editor Note:  The 868^th TMS was assigned to Tainan from 8 Nov 1957 to 25 Mar 1962.)

10 October.    The Provisional Signal Det 8678 AAV, Taiwan was designated a Department of the Army unit.  Its mission was to provide communications for all US military and government agencies on Taiwan.

18 November.   Det 2, 6214^th Tactical Group at Taoyuan AB and Det 3, Hsinchu AB were discontinued by PACAF GO 74, 18 Sep 60.

23 November.   6214^th Tactical Gp at Tainan Air Station notified Thirteenth Air Force that project BIG DIVIDE was completed for this station.  It was a redistribution of materiel and equipment by USAF on a world-wide basis.

26 November.  Building E of Hostel 3, occupied by personnel of 6213^th Spt Squadron burned to the ground.  No fatalities.

December.     868^th TMS had problems with “goats” leaving the armament area and entering the Chinese fields at Tainan AS.  They (goats) were used as lawn trimmers at this station.

3 December. Lt Col Henry H. Brundydge assumed command of 6213^th Support Squadron per 6213^th Spt Sq SO G-71, 3 Dec 60, vice Lt Col G. K. Sandman.