A historic B-26 bomber similar to ones that once flew secret sorties over mainland China at the height of the Cold War went on display Feb. 23 at the ROC Air Force Academy in Kaohsiung.
Ex-members of the squadron, known as “The Black Bats,” were on hand for the event commemorating their secret missions into communist territory.
Also in attendance was Roger Kelsey, head of the U.S.-based Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum. He said seeing the B-26 back in Taiwan was a special moment and thanked the ROC government for its efforts in making the event possible.
Kelsey first proposed sending a B-26 to Taiwan two years ago in exchange for a decommissioned ROC F-5 fighter and replacement engine. After negotiations with the Ministry of National Defense and associated agencies, the deal was finalized last year.
Formed in 1953, the squadron’s main function was to parachute ROC operatives over enemy-held areas in an attempt to incite civil unrest. No figures are available on how many agents were dropped, but surviving Black Bat pilots claim few ever made it back to Taiwan.
The squadron also conducted low-altitude reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering missions, and even collected air samples from suspected nuclear sites. A total of 148 Black Bats lost their lives in the line of duty before operations ceased in the late 1960s. (SB-JSM)