Air-Ground Korean War Glossary
Letters: A-Al ♦ Am-Az ♦ B-Bi ♦ Bi-Bz ♦ C-Cl♦ Co-Cz ♦ D ♦ E ♦ F-Fl ♦ Fm-Fz ♦ G ♦ Ha-Hf ♦ Hg-Hz ♦ I ♦ J ♦ K ♦ L ♦ M-Me ♦ Mf-Mz ♦ N ♦ O ♦ Pa-Pi ♦ Pj-Pz ♦ Q ♦ Ra-Ri ♦ Rj-Rz ♦ Sa-Sh ♦ Si-Sz ♦ Ta-Tg ♦ Th-Tz ♦ U ♦ V ♦ W ♦ X ♦ Y ♦ Z
Note: the Korean-War Air-Ground Glossary is under construction. New pages and images are being added daily. Find terms or phrases more easily by using the Google Search Engine above. Click on the Truckbusters From Dogpatch web site button.We welcome your suggestions for new slang or terms from the Korean War. Use the Contact link above to submit your term.
The Korean War Air Combat Glossary includes military terms, slang and definitions used by the Korean War veterans to whom Truckbusters From Dogpatch is dedicated.
To help establish additional military and air force history resources about the so-called "Forgotten War," the Glossary also includes biographical information, Korean War stories and photographs of many leaders of the 18th Fighter-Wing, Fifth Air Force and other senior military leaders whose decisions affected the missions and operations of the 18th Wing, 18th Fighter-Bomber Group and the Wing's associated squadrons. The Glossary includes many photographs and video of 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing Korean War air combat operations when they were flying the P-51 Mustang and the F-86 Sabrejet aircraft.
The list includes the names and where known, biographical information about those pilots and Airmen who lost their lives during 37 months of Korean War combat. The information is far from complete and will certainly be expanded through the efforts of the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing Association and others.
The names of Two Squadron, South African Air Force (SAAF) fliers are also included. The assignment of a foreign squadron to American operational control was a first for the new U.S. Air Force. The “Flying Cheetahs” were a top-notch squadron of dedicated, highly professional airmen whose skill and bravely were highly respected by their American counterparts. More detailed information on the Second Squadron and its significant contributions to the UN effort in Korea, including biographies and photographs of Two Squadron leaders and those lost can be found in the book: "2 Squadron in Korea,” by Winston Brent, Freeworld Publications CC, PO Box 12563, Nelspruit, 1200 South Africa. E-mail: afmil@global.co.za.
Information on American pilots is drawn from the files of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing Association, family records and recollections, and, where possible, from unit history reports. Sadly, even the unit histories were often incomplete or hasty in recording the status or circumstances of a pilot and his loss to the unit. When the unit history does mention the pilot, however briefly, that notation is included.
“Our honor roll, included names the likes of which could be found on any personnel roster--or on any list of college or church volunteers,” explained Lt. Col. Duane “Bud” Biteman, a member of the 18th Fighter Bomber Group from pre-Korean War days at Clark Field, through two combat tours. Bud, now deceased, was the founder of the 18th Wing Association.
"These young men were very special--they were true heroes who died at a very young age--in the prime of their lives, because they believed in what they were doing! We had lost a good, common mixture of American names like Haines, and Thomas, and Webster. There was Bob Hook and Bob Smith, Art Hutchinson, who was another of my assistants in the Intelligence office, and died later in the crash of an F-80. Don Flentke, who was hit near Wonsan just before the Marines took the area; Don Bolt, Ramon Davis, and Major Muritt Davis, Alex Padilla--who was on temporary duty with the Army when they were captured, and killed. There was Danny Leake, who had to bail out of his crippled '51 and was fatally injured when struck by the tail surface on the way out. Ross Cree, Lee Lightner, Bill Stark, Major Scanlon, Barney Pearson, Malcolm Edens, "Pappy" Sternard, Lt. Col. Gloesner, Harry Middleton, Bob Seguin, Coleman, 'Thompson, and Walt Pittman--who started his combat tour with a chain of 100 links, and would clip one off after each return. I believe he had about four links to go when he was killed. Ray Carlson, Bob Howells, and Harry Moore--all fine officers, husbands and fathers--I commend them, "Heroes all."
Excerpted from over 3,500 terms and definitions found in Truckbusters From Dogpatch
- A-Al -
.50-Caliber guns - The F-51D carried six free-firing .50-caliber machine guns, three in each wing. The guns were manually charged (loaded) on the ground, and fired simultaneously when the pilot pressed the trigger switch on the front of the control stick (“joy stick”) grip. The maximum ammunition capacity was 400 rounds for each of the inboard guns, and 270 rounds for the center and outboard guns—a total ammunition load of 1880 rounds. Typically, the guns were aligned to converge at a range of from 250-300 yards.
38th Parallel - he 38th degree of north latitude as it bisects the Korean Peninsula became the arbitrary demarcation line between North and South Korea from 1945 to 1948 and the border between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from 1948 to 1950.
500-pound bomb - AN/M64 general-purpose bomb used by USAF fighter-bombers in Korea. It was normally fused with an AN/M-103 nose fuse and an AN/M-101-A2 tail fuse.
51st Fighter Squadron (Provisional) - On July 8, 1950, General Timberlake named Taegu as the destination for the “Dallas” Squadron, which the 13th Air Force was forming from a nucleus provided by the 12th Squadron. “In response to the North Korean invasion of South Korea on Sunday morning, June 25, 1950,” Lt. Col. Duane “Bud” Biteman recorded, “this reporter had gone into Korea in mid-July 1950 with the first increment of the ‘Dallas Project’, a hastily-formed squadron of volunteer fighter pilots from the U.S. Air Force’s 18th Fighter-Bomber Group, then stationed at Clark Field in the Philippine Islands.” The “Dallas” squadron arrived at Johnson Air Base on July 10th and by July 15th, was flying combat missions from Taegu, South Korea. Prior to the arrival of the “Dallas” fliers at Taegu, Fifth AF on July 10th organized the 51st Fighter Squadron (Provisional) at Taegu to take over the American personnel from “Bout-One” (See) and the “Dallas” pilots. To provide logistical support for the provisional new fighter squadron, Fifth AF organized the 6002nd Air Base Squadron and dispatched it to Korea.
A/A - Air to Air.
A/C - Aircraft.
A/G - Air to Ground.
AAA - Antiaircraft Artillery.
AACS - Airways and Air Communications Service, a global command that provided airways-communications facilities, navigational aids and flight services for the Air Force.
AB - Air Base.
Able Mable - Pilot slang for the Navy-Marine Corps AD-1 “Sky Raider.”
Ace - In aerial warfare downing five enemy aircraft qualifies a fighter pilot for the unofficial designation of “ace.” There were 40 American air aces from action during the Korea War alone. Thirty-eight were from the Air Force and one each was from the Navy and Marine Corps.
AD - Air Division (Combat Cargo); Destroyer Tender; Douglas “Skyraider”: single-engine attack plane (USA). Air Depot.
ADF - Auto Direction Finder
Aeromedical Battlefield Evacuation - One of the major innovations of the Korean War was the use of helicopters for evacuating the wounded from the battlefield.
AF - Air Force.
AFB - Air Force Base.
AFPMP - Director of Military Personnel, USAF.
AFR - Air Force Regulations.
AFSC - Air Force Specialty Code, a serviceman’s job classification.
AG - Adjutant General.
Aircraft Component Parts - Structure: includes the skin, control surfaces and structural members making up the airframe. Engine: includes the power plant and those items mounted upon the power plant including accessories, fuel lines, etc. Fuel System: includes the fuel tanks and the fuel lines external to the engine section. Cockpit Compartment: includes the pilot, the canopy, and that equipment in the cockpit provided for the survival or convenience of the pilot (oxygen system, heating system, pressurization system, etc.) Auxiliary Systems: include the hydraulic, control, armament, and other integral systems of the airplane actuated by the pilot for the functioning of the aircraft. (Memorandum No. 40, Operations Analysis Office, Hq. Fifth Air Force, 31 March 1951)
Air Medal - First authorized in World War II, the Air Medal was awarded during the Korean War in the name of the President of the United States, recognizing single acts of merit or heroism for aerial flight. Also awarded at times early in Korean War for a given number of combat flights.
Airfields - During the Korean War, the U.N. Far East Air Force (FEAF) used some 15 air bases in Japan to support combat operations in Korea. In Korea itself, the Air Force either improved or constructed some 55 airfields. These air bases were all numbered and some became better known by their number than by their name. The more important of these airfields included: K-1 Pusan West; K-2 Taegu; K-3 Pohang; K-5 Taejon; K-6 Pyongtaek; K-8 Kunsan; K-9 Pusan East ; K-10 Chinhae; K-13 Suwon; K-14 Kimpo; K-16 Seoul; K-40 Cheju-do Island; K-46 Hoengsong; K-47 Chunchon; K-55 Osan.
Air-to-Air Tactics - “Attack by enemy aircraft is to be expected at any time,” 18th Fighter-Bomber Group Standardized Procedures for Combat Operations explained. “If an attack is made by conventional aircraft, the speed, firepower and rate of turn of the F-51 will keep you out of trouble if you keep your eyes open and deprive them of the element of surprise. If the attack is made by enemy jet types, the Mustang still has many very definite advantages if the pilot remains calm and uses them. To panic and try to outrun or outdrive [sic] a jet is inviting disaster. Keep the flight intact and use your tighter turning radius, low fuel consumption and greater rate of fire. At altitudes below ten thousands feet the jet will use his fuel so fast that he’ll soon have to break off and head for home. Defensive tactics are a vital part of any combat flying. Although it may sometimes be necessary, because of our slower speed, to go on the defensive, we must never lose our aggressiveness. We can’t force the enemy into a fight, but if he wants one we can make him fight against a TEAM rather than an individual aircraft, and we can choose our altitude. Only through teamwork—as a flight, section or squadron—can we accomplish our mission. We must be ready at all times to go on the defense. Our first and best defense against enemy jet aircraft is to see them before they start the attack. Therefore we must fly the formation that enables us to visually cover the greatest area. Our present, fingertip, combat formation gives us the most visual coverage, but lacks a certain amount of flexibility and maneuverability for mutual support against attacking jet aircraft. The combat fingertip formation will be flown at all times going to and from the target. Upon sighting enemy aircraft, the respective wingmen will close in on their leaders to about 45 degrees, where they can best hang on during hard, sharp turns in either direction. All breaks should be into and under the supporting element in order that they may protect your tail by turning into the enemy. Do not break until the enemy has committed himself on the attack. After the elements cross, they will reverse their turns to come out on the original heading as before. If the enemy attacks from 6 o’clock it will be necessary to continue to turn a complete 180-degrees and then make another 180-degree turn back to the desired heading. A weave or scissor should then be started for mutual support. Since jets climb at higher speeds than the cruising speed of the F-51, attacks can often be expected from the six o’clock low position. It is imperative that these attacks be discovered before they are within firing range. The weaving formation affords you the best opportunity to cover that position. As a general rule it is best to work the flight down to an altitude where the jets cannot make overhead passes and their fuel consumption is greatly increased. Four thousand feet, depending on terrain, is considered a good altitude because it gives you room enough to maneuver without fear of running into the ground.”
Albatross - SA-16; amphibious rescue aircraft. See Cho-do.
ALO - Air Liaison Officer.
Aluminum overcast - See Globemaster.