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
- Co-Cz -
CO - Commanding OfficerCo(s) - Company(ies)
Coleman, Capt. John Joseph - 12th FBS who was KIA on 20 June 1951. B Flight of the 39th FIS was “briefed to repulse the air support that was to be covering the Communist invasion of the Island of Senmi-do, which is three miles off the western coast of Korea and 75 miles south of the Yalu River. The flight was given top cover by F-86’s and while this top cover was engaged in aerial combat with opposing MIG’s, two MIG’s slipped through and shot the wing off Captain John J. Coleman’s F-51 and his plane went down in flames. Captain Coleman, the squadron Personal Equipment Officer, was not seen to jump from his plane prior to the crash.”Cocktail Courier - On February 14, 1953 the R&R service was “enhanced by a direct flight from K-55 to Tachikawa Air Base, Japan, on a weekly basis—a C-124, known as the ‘Cocktail Courier.’
CofS - Chief of Staff
Colson, Maj. Carl C. - In June 1951 Colson, of Cocoa, Florida, relieved Lt. Col. Henry W. “Hank” Lawrence as Commander of the 67th Squadron. In August, 1951, Major Colson created a fifth flight, Easy Flight, “to permit more effective operations, and to permit one flight to return aircraft to K-10 where better maintenance facilities are available, and to take care of additional duties for a period of one or two days before being returned to the advance base.” During that period the operations section was led by Major Michael E. Adams, Operations Officer, with 1st Lt. Harold K. Wimberly serving as Assistance Operations Officer. Flight Commanders included: 1st Lt. Walter H. Burke (A-Flight); 1st Lt. George N. Leitner (B-Flight); 1st Lt. James W. Lee (C-Flight); Capt. Robert P. Pasqualicchio (D-Flight); and, 1st Lt. George L. Coyle, Jr. (E-Flight).
Combat Crew Training School - See CCTS.
ComCarCom - Combat Cargo Command
Comd - Command
Comdr - Commander
COMFAIRJAP - Commander, Fleet Air Wing Japan
COMINT - Communications intelligence (now known as SIGINT, i.e., signals intelligence)
COMNAVFE - Commander, Naval Forces Far East, Vice Adm. C. Turner Joy.
Company - In the U.S. Army and Marine Corps a company is the basic organizational unit.
Compressibility - Compression waves or shock waves that develop over the wings and other control surfaces of an aircraft as it approaches the speed of sound. Instead of following the contour of the airfoil, the air is disrupted by the shock waves and the “lift characteristics” of the airplane are largely destroyed—intense drag develops and “the stability, control and trim characteristics of the airplane are all affected. The buffets, the controls stiffen as the airplane begins to develop uncontrollable pitching and porpoising, or uncontrollable rolling and yawing. For F-51 pilots, the first effects of compressibility was a “nibbling” at the stick—a vibration, that soon developing a definite “walking” stick, the pilot would not be able to use the joy stick because it was moving of its own volition. A porpoising—pitching up and down—would then follow unless the pilot reduced speed. For example, if a pilot failed to cut his throttle during a steep angle dive, trying to regain control of the aircraft when it experienced compressibility could cause the plane to loose so much altitude that it would not have enough to recover before it crashed.
COMSEVENTHFLT - Commander, Seventh Fleet
COMUNBLOCKANDCORTFOR - Commander, United Nations Blockading and Escort Force
Connors, 1st Lt. Archibald "Archie" Haddock, Jr. - 67th FBS pilot KIA 25 June 1952. On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 25, 1952, 1st Lt. Connors of Jacksonville, Florida was in a flight of four 67th FBS F-51’s departing K-46 (Hoengsong, SK) on a ResCap (Rescue Combat Air Patrol) to protect a helicopter on a mission north of the P’yonggang area of North Korea, only about 20 miles north of the 38th parallel. 1st Lt. William E. McShane and 1st Lt. John E. Hill were “top cover” while Connors and Captain Elliott D. Ayer (KIA 25 July 1952) were bottom cover with another flight. The mission was ordered to rescue a Navy pilot (Ens. Ronald Eaton) who been forced down over enemy territory. The flight of F-51's were to render suppression of the enemy while the helicopter effected the rescue. On the first descent intense enemy fire was encountered. On their third descent they were successful in rescuing the downed Navy pilot. Even though the helicopter was damaged by enemy fire during this action the pilot skillfully handled a helicopter and directed the craft toward a friendly territory. Unfortunately, before being able to reach friendly territory the helicopter was observed by one of the accompanying escort planes to go into a diving spin. Three men were seen to leave the helicopter before it crashed to the ground. However, only one person was seen to successfully parachute to the ground. While flying low cover trying to suppress the ground fire that was threatening the helicopter, 1st Lt. Connors stated over his radio that his aircraft had been hit. “His aircraft was observed in a right turning spiral until it struck the ground. The aircraft did not explode or burn and the major parts of it were still recognizable,” reported Major Stanley A. Long, Commanding Officer of the 67th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 18th Fighter Bomber Group. “The flight leader [Capt. Ayer] made several low passes over the area, but failed to observe any sign of Lt. Connors,” Long said. He noted in his letter to the family: “Lt. Connors was flying his 33rd combat mission when this unfortunate incident occurred. He was outstandingly well qualified as an officer and pilot as evidence by his devotion to duty and his record of past accomplishments.”CONUS - Continental United States. See ZI.
Coolant - The Mustang’s Merlin engine and four-blade prop both needed to be cooled. The engine cooling system is a high-pressure system (30 psi) with a coolant capacity of 16 ½ gallons. The coolant used was a mixture of ethylene glycol and water. The after cooling system cooled the supercharger fuel-air mixture.
Corps - Refers to a group of men and women who share similar functions such as the Medical Corps or the Signal Corps. It also designates an organizational unit subordinate to a field army composed of two or more divisions.
Cosmoline - A substance essentially the same as Vaseline, but of a stiffer consistency, that is obtained from the residues of the distillation of petroleum. Used as a coating on machinery (including aircraft) to reduce saltwater corrosion during sea transportation.
COUNTER - Korean War plan (June 6, 1952) for the 45th Infantry Division (I Corps) to capture strategic outpost sites. The 45th Infantry Division launched a two-phased series of attacks to establish 11 patrol bases in the Old Baldy area.
COURAGEOUS - Korean War operation for the March 23, 1951 advance to the Imjin River as a follow-on to RIPPER. Intelligence analysts concluded that the three divisions of the enemy I Corps are vulnerable. Once they are attacked and forced to withdraw, their only route is across the Imjin River at the town of Munsan-ni. General Ridgway approved Operation Courageous, an enlargement of Ripper, to take advantage of that vulnerability. Paratroops jumped into the area around Munsan-ni before dawn on March 23. The air assault phase was code named Operation Tomahawk.
Cox, Lt. Col. Homer M. - Assumed command of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Group from Colonel Ira F. Wintermute on 20 February 1951.
CP - Command post
Crabtree, Lt. William - Second Lieutenant Billie R. Crabtree “was the first casualty of the unit [51st Provisional Squadron] … when be dove his F-51 too close to his target,” on 25 July 1950, Colton recorded. “We had been fortunate, at first. We didn’t suffer our first fatality for almost ten days after beginning our daily routine of intense ground attack combat operations against the North Korean enemy,” recalled Lt. Col. Duane “Bud” Biteman, a friend and fellow fighter pilot, “when Second Lieutenant Billie Crabtree was unable to avoid his bomb blast, hitting the crest of a hill near Kwangju, near the west coast of South Korea. (USAFHRA. “The Story of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Group in the Korean United Nations Police Action.” 6002nd Tactical Support Wing, Public Information Office. S/Sgt Sandy Colton.)
Crosswind leg - See Final.
Crow, Lt. Col. Julian - Commanding Officer, 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. The Executive Officer of the 12th Squadron, Major Julian F. Crow was reassigned in November 1951 as Commanding Officer of the 67th Squadron, succeeding Major Carl C. Colson.
CRS - Course, the intended direction of flight in the horizontal plane expressed in degrees of the compass.
CS - Constant-speed (propeller). A variable-pitch propeller that maintains constant rpm by automatically changing blade angle.
CSUSA - Chief of Staff, U.S. Army
CTF - Commander Task Force (Navy)
CTG - Commander Task Group (Navy)
CTU - Commander Task Unit (Navy)
CUDGEL - Korean War plan for an advance from the WYOMING line in the I and IX Corps sectors. See Wrangler.
CW - Continuous wave
Cree, Capt. Ronald Ross - 67th FBS pilot who was KIA 1 June 1951. “Ross did a helluva good job as a '51 fighter pilot for the 67th,” remembered his friend LTC Duane “Bud” Biteman, “racking up close to 75 successful missions before he was finally sent back to the Philippines for a "rest break" early in January, 1951. Cree returned to Korea in May, 1951 when, as in Biteman’s case, it was decreed that all fighter pilots must complete 100 combat missions before they could return to the United States. Cree immediately began flying with the 39th Squadron, out of Chinhae, and Seoul City Airport . On 24 May 1951 he was seriously wounded by a .50 cal. machine gun bullet in his arm ... just above the elbow. “Fortunately, it tore into the fleshy, lower part,” Biteman recalled, “but it made a nasty gash, and was undoubtedly very painful.” It was Cree’s 90th combat mission. After being in the Far East for almost a full year beyond his "normal" two year overseas tour, he fantasized that he might be returned to the 'States to recuperate. Biteman last saw Cree on May 25th, 1951, with his arm all bandaged and in a sling; he was a little perturbed because he had found that he would not be sent home, but he had resigned himself to going the full 100 missions, and the injury was keeping him grounded while the current Chinese Spring Offensive was underway. “They need me up there..." he said, repeatedly, to Biteman. By June 1st, just one short week after being wounded, Cree apparently convinced the Flight Surgeon and the C.O. that his arm was no longer bothering him ... it had "healed" enough for him to start flying again. Biteman found that incredibly hard to believe ... after just one week on the ground...! So Ross Cree, friend and contemporary, took off on another combat mission on the morning of June 1st ... just because he thought..."they need me up there...” It was his 91st combat mission in Korea. He was hit by enemy ground fire even before he could release his bombs or rockets; his airplane simply rolled over onto its back, and he drove his Mustang twenty feet into a fertile rice paddy of North Korea. See Lt. Harry Moore.