"Air power in that war was predominant." (Video Interview, 20:25)
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William Donald Sinclair
William Sinclair [2004]
War: World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Air Force Unit: 8th Fighter-Bomber Squadron; 35th Fighter Group Service Location: Korea; Japan Rank: First Lieutenant Place of Birth: CA
After serving as a navigator in the Army Air Force in World War II, William Sinclair was contacted in 1947 about competing for a commission in the newly formed Air Force. He graduated in July 1949 from pilot training and 18 months later, he was off to serve in the Korean War, assigned to the 8th Fighter Bomber Squadron. The Korean War introduced new aircraft and technology, which also meant inexperienced pilots making errors, some of them fatal. Sinclair flew over 100 missions, dropping napalm on enemy troops and attacking supply trains. When his replacement arrived early, Sinclair left two days before his tour was complete; two days later, his old base was overrun and his replacement was killed. (Sinclair describes his experiences during World War II in a separate interview. )