38. Overcoming Doubts
Considering his airspeed, Alton Quanbeck had only a few seconds to decide what to do about the airfield below him. Between his low altitude and low-hanging clouds, he could not see more than a mile or two in any direction. Even if he could have spotted any distinctive terrain features, it was unlikely he could have related them to the crude maps carried on this mission.
Quanbeck was bothered by a few uncertainties. First, no P-39 airplanes had been seen in North Korea. Second, he was not absolutely certain just where he was. Finally, the airfield below did not match the description of the Chongjin airfield he had been sent to attack. However, Intelligence reports had predicted a movement of aircraft into northeast Korea, and the markings on the planes below were nearly identical to those used by North Koreans. According to Quanbeck’s dead reckoning, he had hit the coast well south of the Soviet border, so he overcame his doubts and decided to attack.