Korean War Combat Diary 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing
Table of Contents
The Combat Diary of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing during the Korean War, 1950-1953.
Every day BelleAire Press is posting more of the history, stories and photographs of the 37 months of Korean War air combat by the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing and its component squadrons. We do so to honor the achievements and dedication of the men who served in and with the 18th Wing in Korea.
It is their wrenching story, told as much as possible in their own words and photographs, taken from the monthly unit history reports, personal recollections, memoirs, scrap books and faded snap shots. The Combat Diary attempts to convey for the reader a month-by-month sense of what was happening at the Wing level, squadron level and in the tents and cockpits of the men who were trying to do their jobs, remain loyal to their fellow airmen, and to survive long enough to go home.
Use the Contents information below to help you locate the period or topic of interest, then link directly to it. If a link is not available to that topic, it means it will be posted as soon as practicable.
The posting process, as you can imagine, is time and labor intensive. However, it will not be accomplished in strict order of events, i.e. chronologically. Some periods will be posted "out of sequence." If you have a particular interest in a topic or period not yet covered, please feel free to contact us and ask that it be posted sooner. We will do our best to reshuffle the posting sequence to accommodate your request.
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Truckbusters Web Site Contents
Foreword by Lt. General Devol "Rock" Brett, USAF-Ret.
Preface by William J. "Sandy" Colton
Introduction by CAPT Tracy D. Connors, USN-Ret.
Click here to see and hear Captain Connors explain why he wrote Truckbusters From Dogpatch.
In this video Captain Tracy Connors explains how and why he wrote Truckbusters From Dogpatch
1950
January - May 1950...a last peaceful Spring in the Phillippines before war
June 1950...Another come-as-you-are war
Air Force Aviation Pipeline
1950 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing Chronology...the time line of important events for the 18th Wing in 1950
K-bases in Korea (map and list)
July 1950...Thrown into combat to save a shrinking perimeter
The First Few Weeks by William J. Colton
Dallas Squadron Roster
51st Fighter Squadron (Provisional)
18th Fighter-Bomber Group Deploys to Korea
Combat Operations-Taegu, South Korea
Telling Enemies from "Friendlies"
18th Fighter-Bomber Group Gets The Call
Han River Pontoon Bridge, a hairy mission
Camouflage and protection by Lt. Col. Kenneth Barber
Culture shock for the Marine Corps by Col. Stanley Chatfield
F-51D Mustang/Pilot's Test
"Mo" Moreland's Airmanship
"Moreland's Moments" by Col. Harry H. Moreland
"Into The Fray...First Combat Mission" by Lt. Col. Duane E. "Bud" Biteman
"A Tale of Taegu" parody provided by Col. Stanley Chatfield
“Dallas Squadron” Roster
North American P-51 “Mustang”
August 1950...Facing another Dunkirk
Air Force Tactical Units Leave Korea August 27, 1950
Major Louis Sebille’s Heroic Mission
September 1950...From Pusan Perimeter to High Speed Pursuit
18th Fighter-Bomber Group...first tactical Air Force unit sent back to Korea September 9, 1950
Relocating to K-9
Controlling the air war...from the ground
Battle for Hill 113
October 1950...Race to the Yalu
Mission Briefing Format
Operations from Wonson
November 1950...Pusan to Pyongyang to Suwon...in four weeks
Air Force Pilot Pipeline
From Pusan to the Yalu...Forward Air Controller Team Diary
December 1950...Evacuating East Pyongyang...Retreating From North Korea
Chasing wings and a commission
1951
January 1951...The Enemy Continued To Use Camouflage...
1951 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing Chronology January-June
Arrival at K-10/Chinhae
Combat Statistics January 1951
18th Wing component organizations “The Team”
Behind “Dogpatch”
February 1951...The 12th Squadron Made A Name For Itself By Destroying Over 500 Trucks...
Combat Statistics February 1951
Wing Commander’s Diary
Flying Mustangs with the 39th FIS
March 1951...The use of naplam has been more effective...
Combat Statistics March 1951
Pipeline pilots learn to “ride Mustangs”
April 1951...Those were truly the days. Never did I enjoy living each day as much as I did in those days as Commander of Dogpatch!
Actual Frag Order
Combat Statistics April 1951
Flying Mustangs with the 39th FIS
Adaptability of Wing-Base Organization to Combat Conditions
May 1951...We anticipate another bad month for Uncle Joe’s boys
Headquarters Fifth Air Force Organization Chart
Combat Statistics May 1951
Disposition of Air Force Tactical Units as of June 1, 1951
June 1951...Them YAKs are flown by a bunch of Yuks!
Combat Statistics June 1951
1951 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing Chronology July-December
July 1951 This is our greatest hope...
Combat Statistics July 1951
August 1951...Pyongyang received considerable attention during the month
Combat Statistics August 1951
25,000 combat sorties
September 1951...There is a definite, aggressive fighting spirit with no consideration for the enemy’s capabilities
Combat Statistics September 1951
Combat Crew Training for pipeline pilots
October 1951...Men! We’re gonna win this h’yar war--in spite of the pilots!
Combat Statistics October 1951
November 1951...The commitments of an organization cannot be met by less than the authorized strength...
Combat Statistics November 1951
December 1951 Pride in the squadron...
Combat Statistics December 1951
1952
1952 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing Chronology January - June
January 1952...Complaints are still forthcoming from all quarters that publicity concerning the activities of this Wing should be much more wide spread than at present
Disposition of forces on the Korean Peninsula as of January 2, 1952
Combat Statistics January 1952
18th Wing Mustang combat tactics
February 1952 Skip bombing with generally unsatisfactory results
Combat Statistics February 1952
Betty Hutton plays Dogpatch
March 1952...Combat commitments of this organization have been made through sheer determine to see a job well done...
Combat Statistics March 1952
April 1952 The ever growing intensity and accuracy of enemy flak has taken a heavy toll in aircraft and pilots recently
Combat Statistics April 1952
K-46/Hoengsong Air Base
May1952...Sorties flown cutting rails...in the far northern portions of Korea, far outside the range of our jet competitors
Combat Statistics May 1952
June 1952...The major attack against hydroelectric power plants called for a “maximum air effort”
Combat Statistics June 1952
Pedro Tare and Filter RESCAP #1 Into The Iron Triangle
1952 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing Chronology July - December
July 1952 Hangar space is simply a non-existent luxury at K-46
Combat Statistics July 1952
45,000th Combat Sortie
August 1952...A particular source of irritation as far as the combat pilots are concerned is a shortage of coveralls
Combat Statistics August 1952
September 1952 More pilots for the squadrons...they kept coming in droves
Combat Statistics September1952
October 1952 The major factor affecting morale is indecision as to when we are to transfer to jet aircraft
Combat Statistics October 1952
November 1952 Every person in this squadron is looking forward to the transition
Combat Statistics November 1952
December 1952 The majority of the pilots are brimming with happpy expectations...
Combat Statistics December 1952
1953
1953 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing Chronology January - July
January 1953...A conversion from F-51D to F-86F aircraft was effected
Combat Statistics January 1953
February 1953...Upon arrival of the F-86’s...
Combat Statistics February 1953
March 1953...The combining of pilots...combat experience vs. no combat experience
Combat Statistics March 1953
From California to Choong Ang
April 1953...Mess facilities, particularly for the airmen, were extremely unsatisfactory...
Combat Statistics April 1953
May 1953...The weather was awful
Combat Statistics May 1953
June 1953...A rough month for the 12th Squadron
Combat Statistics May 1953
Million man Chinese attack stopped in its tracks
July 1953 Armistice...at last
18th Fighter-Bomber Wing in the Korean War
Bibliography
Glossary...the lingo, slang and acronyms used by Korea War-era Air Force pilots and airmen.
18th Wing Korean War Veterans List