MAJ Thomas Alexander Symington Jr
36th Fighter Bomber Squadron
Air Force
Hostile, Died While Missing (MIA)
Aircraft Type: F-80C
Aircraft Number: 49-548
Date Of Loss: February 13, 1951
Service Number: 11766A
Born: July 12, 1921
Home Or Place Of Enlistment : Los Angeles, California
Location Or Battle Zone: South Korea
Town Or Area: Seoul
Major Symington was a decorated veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the pilot of a F-80C Shooting Star fighter interceptor with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter-Bomber Group. On February 13, 1951, after completing 3 attacks on targets east of Seoul, South Korea, his aircraft lost its wing and crashed.
From Sherry Symington: Thomas A. Symington, Jr. was the pilot of one of five F-80 aircraft on a combat support mission in the vicinity of Seoul on the afternoon of Feb. 13, 1951. Seoul was then in enemy hands. They flew out of Taegu Air Base at 1400 hours. According to the official report, while making a 4th strafing pass on an enemy target, "the left wing of Symington's plane was seen to break off, followed by the right wing, and then the tail section came off. The disintegrating aircraft immediately went into a half roll to the right and plunged to the ground in an inverted position, exploding upon impact. It is believed that the plane was struck by enemy ground fire, which was intense at the time of the crash." My mother always wondered if there was some mechanical flaw in the left wing that caused it to break off, or someone had sabotaged it. However, another person who knew these planes suggested that my dad's plane likely experienced a direct hit to the left wing strut, which made the left wing fall off and likely killed him instantly. Then the forces on the plane resulting from the one wing gone caused the right wing to fall off, and the tail section to drop off before the plane hit the ground.
Thomas is remembered at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington. This is a National Parks Service and American Battle Monuments Commission location.
Major Symington was a decorated veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the pilot of a F-80C Shooting Star fighter interceptor with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter-Bomber Group. On February 13, 1951, after completing 3 attacks on targets east of Seoul, South Korea, his aircraft lost its wing and augured into the ground.
36th Fighter Bomber Squadron
Air Force
Hostile, Died While Missing (MIA)
Aircraft Type: F-80C
Aircraft Number: 49-548
Date Of Loss: February 13, 1951
Service Number: 11766A
Born: July 12, 1921
Home Or Place Of Enlistment : Los Angeles, California
Location Or Battle Zone: South Korea
Town Or Area: Seoul
Major Symington was a decorated veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the pilot of a F-80C Shooting Star fighter interceptor with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter-Bomber Group. On February 13, 1951, after completing 3 attacks on targets east of Seoul, South Korea, his aircraft lost its wing and crashed.
From Sherry Symington: Thomas A. Symington, Jr. was the pilot of one of five F-80 aircraft on a combat support mission in the vicinity of Seoul on the afternoon of Feb. 13, 1951. Seoul was then in enemy hands. They flew out of Taegu Air Base at 1400 hours. According to the official report, while making a 4th strafing pass on an enemy target, "the left wing of Symington's plane was seen to break off, followed by the right wing, and then the tail section came off. The disintegrating aircraft immediately went into a half roll to the right and plunged to the ground in an inverted position, exploding upon impact. It is believed that the plane was struck by enemy ground fire, which was intense at the time of the crash." My mother always wondered if there was some mechanical flaw in the left wing that caused it to break off, or someone had sabotaged it. However, another person who knew these planes suggested that my dad's plane likely experienced a direct hit to the left wing strut, which made the left wing fall off and likely killed him instantly. Then the forces on the plane resulting from the one wing gone caused the right wing to fall off, and the tail section to drop off before the plane hit the ground.
Thomas is remembered at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington. This is a National Parks Service and American Battle Monuments Commission location.
Major Symington was a decorated veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the pilot of a F-80C Shooting Star fighter interceptor with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter-Bomber Group. On February 13, 1951, after completing 3 attacks on targets east of Seoul, South Korea, his aircraft lost its wing and augured into the ground.
MAJ Thomas Alexander Symington Jr
36th Fighter Bomber Squadron
Air Force
Hostile, Died While Missing (MIA)
Aircraft Type: F-80C
Aircraft Number: 49-548
Date Of Loss: February 13, 1951
Service Number: 11766A
Born: July 12, 1921
Home Or Place Of Enlistment : Los Angeles, California
Location Or Battle Zone: South Korea
Town Or Area: Seoul
Major Symington was a decorated veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the pilot of a F-80C Shooting Star fighter interceptor with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter-Bomber Group. On February 13, 1951, after completing 3 attacks on targets east of Seoul, South Korea, his aircraft lost its wing and crashed.
From Sherry Symington: Thomas A. Symington, Jr. was the pilot of one of five F-80 aircraft on a combat support mission in the vicinity of Seoul on the afternoon of Feb. 13, 1951. Seoul was then in enemy hands. They flew out of Taegu Air Base at 1400 hours. According to the official report, while making a 4th strafing pass on an enemy target, "the left wing of Symington's plane was seen to break off, followed by the right wing, and then the tail section came off. The disintegrating aircraft immediately went into a half roll to the right and plunged to the ground in an inverted position, exploding upon impact. It is believed that the plane was struck by enemy ground fire, which was intense at the time of the crash." My mother always wondered if there was some mechanical flaw in the left wing that caused it to break off, or someone had sabotaged it. However, another person who knew these planes suggested that my dad's plane likely experienced a direct hit to the left wing strut, which made the left wing fall off and likely killed him instantly. Then the forces on the plane resulting from the one wing gone caused the right wing to fall off, and the tail section to drop off before the plane hit the ground.
Thomas is remembered at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington. This is a National Parks Service and American Battle Monuments Commission location.
Major Symington was a decorated veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the pilot of a F-80C Shooting Star fighter interceptor with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter-Bomber Group. On February 13, 1951, after completing 3 attacks on targets east of Seoul, South Korea, his aircraft lost its wing and augured into the ground.
36th Fighter Bomber Squadron
Air Force
Hostile, Died While Missing (MIA)
Aircraft Type: F-80C
Aircraft Number: 49-548
Date Of Loss: February 13, 1951
Service Number: 11766A
Born: July 12, 1921
Home Or Place Of Enlistment : Los Angeles, California
Location Or Battle Zone: South Korea
Town Or Area: Seoul
Major Symington was a decorated veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the pilot of a F-80C Shooting Star fighter interceptor with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter-Bomber Group. On February 13, 1951, after completing 3 attacks on targets east of Seoul, South Korea, his aircraft lost its wing and crashed.
From Sherry Symington: Thomas A. Symington, Jr. was the pilot of one of five F-80 aircraft on a combat support mission in the vicinity of Seoul on the afternoon of Feb. 13, 1951. Seoul was then in enemy hands. They flew out of Taegu Air Base at 1400 hours. According to the official report, while making a 4th strafing pass on an enemy target, "the left wing of Symington's plane was seen to break off, followed by the right wing, and then the tail section came off. The disintegrating aircraft immediately went into a half roll to the right and plunged to the ground in an inverted position, exploding upon impact. It is believed that the plane was struck by enemy ground fire, which was intense at the time of the crash." My mother always wondered if there was some mechanical flaw in the left wing that caused it to break off, or someone had sabotaged it. However, another person who knew these planes suggested that my dad's plane likely experienced a direct hit to the left wing strut, which made the left wing fall off and likely killed him instantly. Then the forces on the plane resulting from the one wing gone caused the right wing to fall off, and the tail section to drop off before the plane hit the ground.
Thomas is remembered at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington. This is a National Parks Service and American Battle Monuments Commission location.
Major Symington was a decorated veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the pilot of a F-80C Shooting Star fighter interceptor with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter-Bomber Group. On February 13, 1951, after completing 3 attacks on targets east of Seoul, South Korea, his aircraft lost its wing and augured into the ground.
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