Marine Pilots with “Birthday Gift”, 29 October 1952

“Marines Stage Big “Blow Out” — Four jet pilots of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Korea gather around a 1,000 pound “cake” which they are about to serve to Communist forces in celebration of the 177th Birthday of the Marine Corps. The two candles represent the two years the Wing has been in Korea, the four pilots of the “Panther-jets” fighter-bomber squadron of Marine Air Group 33 who are all set for the big “blow out” over North Korea. From (l to r) are Major John B. Slingerland, Red Bluff, California, and Chicago, Illinois; Major Marshall R. Tutton, Stockton and Corona Del Mar, California; First Lt. James G. Martz, Phoenix, Arizona; and Major John E. Palmer, Santa Ana, California, and Elsberry, Missouri.”

From the Robert W. Florzak Collection (COLL/5657) at the Archives Branch, Marine Corps History Division