Korean War Air-Ground 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.
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.
Excerpted from over 3,500 terms and definitions found in Truckbusters From Dogpatch
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
- D -
D/F - Direction-finding. A new D/F station “was installed atop a hill near the base at K-10 and all flight leaders were requested to request a steer when returning to base. The D/F operators improved with practice and gave accurate steers toward the end of the month.”
DA - Department of the Army
DAF - Department of the Air Force
Dallas Squadron - See 51st Fighter Squadron (Provisional).
DAUNTLESS - Korean War (April 11, 1951) plan for a limited advance by I and IX Corps against the Iron Triangle.
Davis, Capt. John F.D. - 2nd Squadron SAAF pilot KIA in March 1951. Lt. Ken Barber noted that he returned from R&R and heard that “Johnny Davis, the big, handsome, brilliant, popular South African flight leader was killed. Everyone felt bad about it. He had been shot down once before but refused to take his earned trip back to South African and remained to fly combat. He had a very searching mind—had a promising career ahead of him. Quite a few South Africans have been killed. At the end of last month they lost three on one mission. Badenhorst, a flight leader and friend of mine (we were forced into K-2 by weather a couple of hours on Feb. 21st and we got acquainted then) was hit by flak over the bridge at Sinanju. He broke a communication in mid sentence.”David, 2nd Lt. Mike S. - 12th FBS pilot KIA 8 October 1950. Lieutenant David was a flying school classmate of Lt. Billie Crabtree, the 18th Group’s first wartime fatality. They were close friends and even their officer serial numbers were just one digit apart, remembered their fellow flier and friend, LTC Duane “Bud” Biteman. They'd flown together during training, graduated at the same time, and had requested overseas assignments together, arriving at Clark Field in 1949. David was devastated by Billie's death from hitting the ridge top in southwest Korea in late July, 1950, Biteman recalled, but he bravely continued flying his combat missions as if nothing was churning inside him. “Who could know, he never voiced his opinion to us about the fairness or unfairness of life, or the degree of his hatred for the North Koreans who were responsible for the death of his good friend.” David was rapidly becoming an “aggressive young fighter pilot, and a good one. He wouldn't hesitate to go in on heavily-defended targets, and he consistently got good hits with his bombs and rockets,” Biteman recalled. By mid-October, 1950, David was leading elements [two ships of a four-ship flight], with newer Captains and Majors flying wing position on the young Second Lieutenant. “It was quite an honor for him, but he deserved it. It wouldn't be long before he would have a promotion to First Lieutenant.” During the third week of October 1950, just before the Marines were to make an amphibious landing on the east coast, near Wonsan, David attacking targets along the coast near Hungnam when his airplane was hit in the engine by ground fire. He knew he had been hit, because he could see oil streaming up through the top of the cowling, and even though it was still running, he knew it would not be for long. He couldn't know how long the prop would continue to turn but, being a hundred miles behind enemy lines, he reasoned that his best chance for pick-up would be with the Navy flotilla known to be steaming north; but it was still some fifty miles south and east of Wonsan ... with a lot of the Sea of Japan in between. Heading out over the sea to intercept them, David nursed his crippled Mustang as it gradually lost power and altitude. Mellow Control was alerted by radio, and they, in turn, notified the Navy, who were to arrange for a helicopter to be prepared for rescue. If David could keep his F-51 airborne for another 15 minutes, the helicopter could meet him and be ready to pick him out of the water the instant that he ditched. Despite the tenseness of the situation, things were beginning to fall into place; there was hope, after all. Seas were almost calm ... just very gentle, long swells; the skies were clear, and even the water temperature was a mild 57 degrees, Biteman said. David could see the Navy formation off on the distant horizon, as his engine finally sputtered and froze, but the helicopter was just four or five miles from a rendezvous. Since Mike still had almost five thousand feet of altitude remaining, he'd have an easy glide down to the smooth surface of the sea, and the helicopter could by then be overhead; a few more minutes and he'd "have it made". The sun was beating in thru the Mustang's clear plastic canopy, and with the silence of the dead engine Mike was undoubtedly reminded more of the quiet sensation of gliding with a jet engine. But his dead-stick glide brought him closer and closer to the vast watery expanse. Finally, turning slightly left to head more directly into the wind, he raised his nose ever so slightly, as if to flare for landing on a long paved runway. Then, while the helicopter hovered several hundred yards off to the side, David’ Mustang touched gently onto the placid surface of the Sea of Japan. Instantaneously there was a great splash and spray of water as first the propeller hit, then the belly air scoop. Then, as if in slow motion, the Mustang's nose dipped under the surface, and with the continuing momentum of his landing speed, the entire airplane slid immediately under the water. From the air above, Mike could be seen trying vainly, and belatedly, to jettison his canopy. It was, by then, being held forcefully on by water pressure, and could not be budged. As the airplane settled deeper into the sea, its silvery outline was quickly changed to a darker and darker tone of blue-green. Soon it was gone from sight, and all that remained on the surface was an oil-slick to mark it's passing. Mike David died that day in late October, just as his good friend Billie Crabtree had died three months earlier. He was the 18th Group's sixteenth pilot fatality in just those three short months. “Mike's death served as a belated reminder of some things we "old timers" had heard 'way back when', but had perhaps neglected to emphasize to the newer pilots: "Don't ever attempt to ditch a Mustang, except as a last desperate resort!" The position and depth of the belly scoop causes it to 'snag' the water early, causing the nose to pitch down before the craft has a chance to slow down. If there is no alternative, and ditching is absolutely necessary, then the theoretical (but unproved) "factory solution" was to dip a wing into the water and hit full opposite rudder at the exact instant that the plane touches the water. This, they hoped, would cause the ship to slip-slide sideways and have the water strike the slab-sided fuselage long enough to stop forward motion and allow the pilot to evacuate before the airplane sank ... just a matter of brief seconds. In all cases, however, it was vital to cinch seat belts and shoulder harness and jettison the canopy before hitting the water. David died before his 24th birthday, doing his dangerous duty the best way he knew how and, right up to that last instant, he'd done one helluva fine job, Biteman remembered. On Monday, 9 October, Lt. Ken Barber awoke “to hear bad news. Mike David was killed yesterday. His engine quit just off of Wonsan. Potter was flight leader. Mike’s engine quit, he couldn’t get it started so he ditched it in a perfect 3-point stall, but his canopy wasn’t off. It nosed right over and sank. For a half hour they flew overhead but only a few maps floated to the surface. Another of my good friends is gone.” Lt. Mike David was “from Los Angeles, of Hungarian parents, and as swell guy,” Barber wrote in his notebook. “We roomed together at Clark until Carolyn came over and were in the play, “You Can’t Take It With You” together. Mike had tried to resign from the Air Force, but couldn’t and ever get his commission back if he were recalled. He only wanted a peaceful, easy-going life, in theatrical work, if possible. He loved to fly and was a top-notch pilot. What a shame to lose such a swell guy and good friend.”
Davis, Maj. Murrit H.- Relieved Lt. Col. Thomas D. “Robby” Robertson as Commander, 39th FIS-the famous “Blinker-Nose” Mustang Squadron—on 10 June 1951. Davis came to the 39th from the 41st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in Japan, and was considered a capable commander and fighter pilot. “All personnel were saddened to lose Colonel Robertson, but the men soon recognized Major Davis’ abilities and the unit retained its high level of esprit de corps under the new Squadron Commander.” Davis had been in some area of aviation since he had worked on the production lines welding aircraft engines. During WWII he flew 147 missions in the P-39 Airacobra and the P-40 Warhawk with the 347th Group in the South Pacific. On 14 August, Davis was flying his 35th combat mission--flight leader in a twelve-ship flight of Mustangs that was making “a devastating low level napalm run against supply warehouses” in the heavily defended capital city of Pyongyang. It was his second mission over the “flak trap” city. Earlier that day he had led napalm attacks over the city’s industrial center. One of the most famous photographs taken during the Korean War shows Davis in “Sexy Sally” and his wingman releasing their napalm tanks while flying between tall smoke stacks. During that mission, Davis’ plane hit a cable and suffered heavy damage. After returning to base for another Mustang and a fresh flight, soon he was back over Pyongyang. “Despite heavy anti-aircraft fire that had critically damaged his aircraft,” Davis circled the target several times. He was attempting to locate two other pilots who had been shot down by enemy fire. [Captain Horn and Captain Grossman were the other pilots involved.] Disregarding the fact that his aircraft was critically damaged, Davis continued searching for the missing pilots, “thus jeopardizing his chance for a safe return to friendly lines.” After an exhaustive search, Davis reassembled his squadron at the rendezvous point and headed towards home. A scant ten minutes after leaving the target area, his engine quit. Although he jettisoned his canopy, Major Davis was not able to successfully exit his aircraft, which spiraled to the left and crashed into the ground.
Deadstick - Descent and landing with engine(s) shut down and propeller(s) stopped. Also called “wind milling.”
Death Valley - The rail route between Samdong-ni and Kowon that was so well protected by Red ground fire that Navy airmen called it “Death Valley.”
de Jongh, 1st Lt. C. L. - 2nd Squadron pilot KIA on 14 August 1951. Lt. de Jongh was flying No. 2 in a four-ship flight led by Lt. Denis Earp (later LTG and Chief of Staff of the SAAF). They were part of a massive, 64-ship formation that was attacking Pyongyang. As the flight pulled up following a low-level napalm attack, de Jongh radioed that he had been hit, was heading out to sea, but did not believe he would make it. The aircraft was streaming coolant fluid as it left the target area. His flight lost sight of him and he was never seen again. The target area was blanketed in heavy anti-aircraft fire and smoke at the time. Winston Brent reports in “2 Squadron in Korea,” that in 2000 a South African visitor to Beijing visited a Military Museum and saw the remains of Lt. de Jongh's Mustang, number 349.
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) - Created by the 1953 Korean Armistice agreement, the DMZ consists of a buffer zone two kilometers on either side of a military demarcation line that follows the general location of the front lines at the close of the war.
Deschamps, Captain Elzeard J. - 67th FBS pilot was presumed “missing in action” due to enemy anti-aircraft fire encountered over Kangdong airdrome.” Captain Deschamps “crashed landed his F-51 Mustang in enemy territory [2 February 1951] and has been Missing In Action since that date. This brings to 14 the total number of pilots missing in action since Korean Operations began. Six pilots of this organization have given their lives in the Korean conflict.” “Capt Elzeard J. Deschamps went through flight training with me,” wrote Lt. Ken Barber in his diary, “and volunteered for this Group when his Group changed to F-80’s. He said he couldn’t see flying a plane which could only do a “half ass” job in the air and the same on the ground. He said the F-51 could at least do a decent job of ground support. Deschamps was hit by flak while making a pass over Kangdong airfield east of Pyongyang. Nobody actually saw him crash. His mistake was circling in sight of the field before making his pass eliminating the element of surprise. Also, he made a low angle instead of high angle pass. Deschamps, an ex-paratrooper, was quite a boy!” Barber recalled.
Det - Detachment
DF - Radio Direction Finding. “DF homing facilities on VHF are available to fighters at every major USAF base and at some USN bases. These could consist of temporary or permanent installations which guard various channels and which operate continuously during certain specified hours and on call, and during certain specified hours only. All homing stations guard DOG channel (121.50 mgs) for emergency use, and all homing stations at fighter bases guard the fighter “D” channel installed in fighter group aircraft.” When requesting a DF steer, pilots were reminded that VHF/DF homing facilities were more or less limited in range to line of sight distances. “If a DF homer cannot be reached for a steer, sometimes additional altitude will bring a response. Steers have been given by DF homers to aircraft 275 miles out at 20,000 feet.” (18th Fighter-Bomber Wing Combat Operating Procedures)
Dinghy - Inflatable, one-man rescue raft. “…Then up onto the wing, where the erk awaits you with your dinghy. This thing must save your life when you fall into cold water with sharks, and also serves as a cushion to sit on, since all parachutes are of the back type. This ‘Cushion’ is about a soft as sack full of broken bricks. A brief skirmish between you and the erk and the dinghy, and then you can climb into the cockpit.”
Dir - Director
DIS - Daily Intelligence Summary
Distinguished Flying Cross - Awarded in the name of the President of the United States for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.
Distinguished Service Cross - America’s second highest award for bravery.
Ditching - A forced landing (see belly landing) in water. “Never attempt to ditch the F-51 except as a last resort. Fighter planes are not designed to float on water, and the F-51 has an even greater tendency to dive because of the airscoop underneath. It will go down in 1 ½ to 2 seconds.”
Div - Division
Dive and Zoom - See Yo-Yo pattern.
Dive Bombing - “Dive bomb runs must originate from an altitude so that the aircraft can be aligned with the target long enough to make an accurate release of bombs and still recover from the dive and break away without entering the area of bomb blast. This entry altitude is usually above five thousands feet and varies with the steepness of the dive. The aircraft should be trimmed for the dive as soon as possible after entering bomb run in order to make a more effective alignment on the target. The point of release depends on the steepness of the dive. The greater the angle of dive, the less correction will be necessary for the bombs’ trajectory. The high angle dive bomb run is the most effective means of pinpointing a target. In breaking away from the target after the bomb release, it is recommended that the break be made down and away from the target to the deck, taking evasive action.” See Skip Bombing and Glide Bombing.
Division - Basic combined arms organization for waging war. Normally commanded by a major general. During the Korean War it typically consisted of three regiments of infantry; a four-battalion division artillery (three battalions with 105-mm howitzers, one with 155-mm howitzers); an antiaircraft artillery battalion; a tank battalion; a reconnaissance company; an engineer battalion; a medical battalion; and supporting medical, ordnance, quartermaster and signal companies.
DoD - Department of Defense
Dog Patch Century Flight - Pilots assigned to the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing who successfully completed 100 combat missions.
Doorstop - A comprehensive dispersal plan for Sabre squadrons prepared in January 1953 as a result of concerns regarding the danger of Communist air attack.
Doveton, 1st Lt. G. Derek. - 2nd Squadron SAAF pilot KIA on 15 February 1951. Lt. Doveton took off from K-10 on an armed reconnaissance mission of the Kaesong-Haeju-Sariwon area. After attacking several targets, they spotted a camouflaged vehicle near Kaesong. The vehicle finally caught fire on the fourth pass. As Doveton headed in on yet another attack, his wingman Lt. McKellar saw the Mustang hit the hill, cartwheel and burst into flames. Later that afternoon, 2nd Squadron Commandant Theron and Captain Davis returned to the area, but there was no sign of Doveton or the aircraft.
du Plooy, 1st Lt. R. M. - 2nd Squadron SAAF pilot KIA on 23 July 1951. Captain Freddie Bekker, 2nd Squadron SAAF and his flight were conducting weather reconnaissance of the West Coast of North Korea along the Han Gang River. Turning east at the mouth of the river the weather worsened, with low clouds and rain sweeping the hilly terrain. They were able to find and destroy a bridge across the Imjin River, but came under heavy AA fire. Captain Bekker’s aircraft was hit and immediately began to break apart into flaming wreckage that required the other three pilots to take immediate evasive action. Losing sight of him for a few moments, the flight thought he had crashed. As Lt. Green made a pass over the area, amazingly a parachute went floating down past him. Another member of the flight, Lt. Halley had also descended to inspect Bekker’s crash site. He, too, was hit by ground fire, bailed out and landed successfully. Now two Mustangs were down. The two pilots remaining in the air decided that Lt. du Plooy would CAP Halley, strafing until he ran out of ammunition. Lt. Green would climb to a higher altitude to establish radio contact with Air Rescue. Finding it hard to provide an exact location in that area, Green told the helicopter to rendezvous with him at a more definite location about ten miles away. While the helicopter was enroute, he shuttled between the two points trying to avoid heavy ground fire. The helicopter arrived just as Lt. du Plooy reported that Lt. Halley had been captured. Preparing to leave the scene, Lt. du Plooy himself radioed that he had been hit. His plane was later located, but there was no sign of Lt. du Plooy, who later became the first SAAF pilot to earn the Silver Star. Lt. Halley was repatriated in 1953. This weather reconnaissance mission went down in 18th history as one of the most expensive missions of the entire war—two pilots KIA, one pilot POW and three aircraft lost.
DOW - Died of wounds
Downwind - See Final(s)
DPRK - Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
DR - Dead (deduced) reckoning. Plotting position by calculating the effects of speed, course, time and wind against last known position (fix).
Draft - Congress, which under the Constitution of the United States has the sole authority to raise armies, first legislated involuntary conscription—the draft—to fill the ranks of the military during the Civil War. It was again used in World War I and World War II. Although the draft laws were due to expire July 9, 1950, Congress quickly passed a two-year extension. By September 1950, 50,000 men were being drafted each month, and by 1952, 20,000 to 30,000 conscripts were sent to Korea each month.
Drop-tank - Gasoline tank, externally hung.
D.S. - Detached service, usually more than thirty days. Temporary Duty (TDY )was usually less than 30 days.
DTG - Distance To Go; Date Time Group (message address component)
DULUTH - Korean War line of defense to be established by Operation SUNDIAL.
DZ - Drop Zone
Dzus fasteners - Quick release fasteners on some external access panels.