Arthur Snyder talks to AFA 195 on “It’s a Small World Master Jack!”

The Air Force Association Chapter 195 recently sponsored a talk by member Lt Arthur L. Snyder, Korean War A-26B, B-29, and B-57 pilot, of Cranford, NJ, at the Florham Park Diner.

After lunch, Art Snyder gave his talk entitled “It’s a Small World Master Jack!” about how he dropped leaflets from a CIA “Black B-29” that resulted in a MIG pilot with plane defecting to the US during the Korean War, which was of great value to the US. Art was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Air Medals, and the United Nations Korea Medal along with his other meritorious decorations for his service. His talk was recorded and put on the Chapter’s website at: https://afa195.org/2023-meetings/

Arthur L. Snyder graduated from Rutgers in 1950 and was about to be drafted, but applied for and received a direct commission in the Air Force and was assigned as Base Salvage Office, Maxwell AFB, AL. The Korean War started in July and wanting to get into combat, he applied for and was accepted for flight training. He got his wish, with three years in the Orient, flying two tours in Korea and one in Indochina where he flew mostly covert missions for the CIA. He returned in the fall of 1954 and was a flight instructor in B-57’s. He was discharged in August 1955.

Within North Korea, Art flew 38 A-26B interdiction missions to “destroy anything that moved.” While 50 missions is a complete tour, he was reassigned as a CIA pilot to fly 10 psychological warfare missions in unarmed B-29s repainted black without USAF insignia to various North Korean locations. The hat Art is wearing above was worn by his RB-29 crew members. It stated "581st Air Resupply and Communication Wing." Art states this was a cover as they were a CIA Psychological Warfare Wing in violation of the Geneva Convention.

Psychological warfare missions were in violation of the Geneva Convention and if shot down and captured during those missions, Art would not have been protected by the Convention’s protocols as a POW. Also, he was entitled to two Purple Hearts that he did not receive as the CIA, violating the Geneva Convention, kept no written records.

On his final CIA combat tour, he flew 65 A-26B interdiction missions similar to those in North Korea from Thailand and Da Nang, from November 1953 to the end of the War on May 7, 1954. He left the USAF as a B-57 Canberra instructor pilot in August 1955.

The Air Force Association educates the public on the critical role of aerospace power in our nation’s defense and supports the United States Air Force and its auxiliary, the Civil Air Patrol. For more information, visit our Chapter 195 website at: https://afa195.org/2023-meetings/ .

The Shooting Star Chapter, 195, of the Air Force Association meets monthly usually on the last Saturday of each month except during the months of June, July, August, November, and December. For information, contact Bill Fosina, President, at wmfosina@outlook.com, 908-803-4949.