{"product_id":"vintage-67th-tactical-reconnaissance-wing-officers-open-mess-card-kimpo-korea-2025-04-12-0036","title":"67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing Matchbook – Kimpo Korea Officers’ Mess – Korean War USAF","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal matchbook from the \u003cstrong data-start=\"2161\" data-end=\"2184\"\u003eOfficers’ Open Mess\u003c\/strong\u003e of the \u003cstrong data-start=\"2192\" data-end=\"2229\"\u003e67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing\u003c\/strong\u003e, based at \u003cstrong data-start=\"2240\" data-end=\"2265\"\u003eKimpo Air Base, Korea\u003c\/strong\u003e. Features unit motto \u003cem data-start=\"2287\" data-end=\"2305\"\u003e“Luxex Tenebris”\u003c\/em\u003e and slogan \u003cem data-start=\"2317\" data-end=\"2352\"\u003e“First and Last Over the Target.”\u003c\/em\u003e Issued during the Korean War era, this is a hard-to-find piece of U.S. Air Force history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"317\" data-end=\"348\"\u003eHistorical Significance:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"350\" data-end=\"863\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"350\" data-end=\"417\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"352\" data-end=\"417\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"352\" data-end=\"360\"\u003eUnit\u003c\/strong\u003e: 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (67th Tac Recon WG)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"418\" data-end=\"482\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"420\" data-end=\"482\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"420\" data-end=\"432\"\u003eLocation\u003c\/strong\u003e: Kimpo (K-14 Air Base), near Seoul, South Korea\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"483\" data-end=\"586\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"485\" data-end=\"586\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"485\" data-end=\"492\"\u003eEra\u003c\/strong\u003e: Most likely \u003cstrong data-start=\"506\" data-end=\"527\"\u003e1950s–early 1960s\u003c\/strong\u003e, with strong ties to the \u003cstrong data-start=\"553\" data-end=\"586\"\u003eKorean War and early Cold War\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"587\" data-end=\"722\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"589\" data-end=\"722\"\u003eThe \u003cstrong data-start=\"593\" data-end=\"605\"\u003e67th TRW\u003c\/strong\u003e flew \u003cstrong data-start=\"611\" data-end=\"621\"\u003eRF-80s\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong data-start=\"623\" data-end=\"633\"\u003eRF-84s\u003c\/strong\u003e, and later \u003cstrong data-start=\"645\" data-end=\"656\"\u003eRF-101s\u003c\/strong\u003e, specializing in \u003cstrong data-start=\"674\" data-end=\"720\"\u003ecombat reconnaissance photography missions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"723\" data-end=\"863\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"725\" data-end=\"863\"\u003eThe \u003cstrong data-start=\"729\" data-end=\"752\"\u003eOfficers' Open Mess\u003c\/strong\u003e was the designated club for officers—this matchbook was probably distributed to guests, pilots, or dignitaries\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"865\" data-end=\"868\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"870\" data-end=\"893\"\u003e🧭 Design Features:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"895\" data-end=\"1263\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"895\" data-end=\"1001\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"897\" data-end=\"1001\"\u003eWing emblem showing a stylized \u003cstrong data-start=\"928\" data-end=\"956\"\u003elightning bolt and stars\u003c\/strong\u003e, referencing aerial reconnaissance and speed\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"1002\" data-end=\"1107\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1004\" data-end=\"1107\"\u003eUnit motto: \u003cem data-start=\"1016\" data-end=\"1034\"\u003e\"Luxex Tenebris\"\u003c\/em\u003e — Latin for \u003cem data-start=\"1047\" data-end=\"1070\"\u003e“Light from Darkness”\u003c\/em\u003e, fitting for a reconnaissance outfit\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"1108\" data-end=\"1215\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1110\" data-end=\"1215\"\u003ePrinted in \u003cstrong data-start=\"1121\" data-end=\"1147\"\u003ebold military typeface\u003c\/strong\u003e, straightforward and utilitarian — typical for combat zone printing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"1216\" data-end=\"1263\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1218\" data-end=\"1263\"\u003eHeavy wear, consistent with age and field use\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"The Ephemera Bureau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46651424833728,"sku":"F:\\Scans 1_2025-04-12-0036_20250811_213226","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0703\/7596\/4864\/files\/1c0f0e0cd2e6915e69ba6df72a982374.jpg?v=1754962347","url":"https:\/\/theephemerabureau.com\/products\/vintage-67th-tactical-reconnaissance-wing-officers-open-mess-card-kimpo-korea-2025-04-12-0036","provider":"The Ephemera Bureau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}