Rex Earp-Jones
Bio
Reginald Earp-Jones dreamed of flying as a child. In 1949, he launched his career with the 2nd Squadron, known as the “Flying Cheetahs,” of the South African Air Force. He initially trained on Tiger Moths and Harvards, but when his deployment to Korea became certain, he switched to training on Spitfires and Mustangs. By 1951, he arrived in Korea. During a mission to cut railway lines, he held the fourth position in the squadron, responsible for counting the bomb craters. While flying low to check for holes, his plane’s engine faltered. After ejecting from the plane, Chinese soldiers quickly surrounded and captured him, making him a prisoner of war.
Video Clips
Taken Prisoner of War
Rex Earp-Jones recounts flying a mission as part of a four-plane squadron, noting that his job as the fourth plane was to observe the damage. While flying low to the ground for a closer look, he recalls his plane's engine faltered. Faced with the decision to either eject or attempt a landing, he shares he chose to eject. Upon reaching the ground, he soon found himself unharmed but surrounded by Chinese soldiers
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf-BM_SXAD8&start=1596&end=1890
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/reginald-earp-jones#clip-1
Embed:
Treatment as a Prisoner of War
Rex Earp-Jones recalls his treatment as a prisoner of war, noting that while the experience was not comfortable. He notes the Chinese did not treat him harshly. During interrogations, he remembers he frequently provided rubbish answers to his captors. As punishment, he was occasionally locked up alone or forced to stand for extended periods of time.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf-BM_SXAD8&start=1893&end=2172
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/reginald-earp-jones#clip-2
Embed:
Life as a POW
Rex Earp-Jones describes his life as a prisoner of war near the Yalu River. He recalls the significant change from three meals a day to just one meal primarily consisting of rice. For much of the time, he remembers staying in a schoolroom, where they passed the hours carving chess pieces and playing cards.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf-BM_SXAD8&start=2301&end=2601
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/reginald-earp-jones#clip-3
Embed:
Indoctrination and Punishment
Rex Earp-Jones shares that as part of the Chinese indoctrination of the prisoners of war. He explains the Chinese promoted Communism as something destined to rule the world. Prisoners faced punishment if they disrupted the class. On one occasion, he recalls his complaint about the Chinese stealing his watch was seen as upsetting the program, leading to his punishment. Ultimately, the Chinese gave up on their attempts to indoctrinate the prisoners.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf-BM_SXAD8&start=2735&end=3048
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/reginald-earp-jones#clip-4
Embed:
Living Conditions
Rex Earp-Jones recalls being very ill while in captivity. He notes that although both his parents and his future wife wrote to him, he never received their letters. He describes the living conditions within the school classroom where they were kept, including the challenges they faced during the winter months.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf-BM_SXAD8&start=3081&end=3423
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/reginald-earp-jones#clip-5
Embed: