Karl Polifka

One of the most famous and daring American reconnaissance pilots was Karl Polifka, who flew missions during both World War II and the Korean conflict. Throughout his career he photographed vital targets in the South Pacific, the Mediterranean, and Korea. When in his mid-thirties and thought too old to fly dangerous missions, he would put himself down in the records as "Lieutenant Jones" and fly anyway. In 1951, he was killed on a reconnaissance sortie to Kaesong, Korea, when his plane was shot down and his parachute caught on its tail.