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
- E -
EA - Engineer Aviation; Executive Assistant
EAD - Extended Active Duty
EAS - Equivalent Air Speed
Echelon formation - See Formations.
ECM - Electronic countermeasures
Eighth U.S. Army - The major U.S. Army headquarters in Japan when the Korean War began.
Eisenhower, General of the Army Dwight David - Although he retired from active duty in February 1948, he returned to active duty in 1951 to assume duties as supreme commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). A year later, he resigned that post to run for President and in November 1952, he was elected the 34th President of the United States. During the period 2-5 December 1952, President-elect Eisenhower toured the front in Korea and met with South Korean President Syngman Rhee, during which visit his aircraft was escorted by 18th Group aircraft.
Elastic bridge - On August 19, 1950, nine Superfortresses of the 19th BG dropped fifty-four tons of one thousand-pound bombs on the west railway bridge at Seoul, called the “elastic bridge” because repeated air attacks had failed to bring it down. Thirty-seven USN dive-bombers from two aircraft carriers followed up the USAF attack. Aerial reconnaissance the next day revealed that two spans had collapsed.
Element - A “two ship” unit of a “four ship” aircraft flight (see).
Elsewhere - Early radio call sign for the 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. Major General Earle E. Partridge fired off a Letter of Commendation to the 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on November 9, 1950 that singled out the “Elsewhere Squadron” for a special commendation. “Within the Joint Operations Center, the code name ‘Elsewhere,’ is fast becoming a legend. It appears regularly in conjunction with reports of downed enemy aircraft,” Partridge wrote. “I wish to commend the officers and airmen of the 67th Fighter Squadron of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Group for their fine display of courage, aggressiveness, and determination to seek out and destroy the enemy in the air. The exploits of this unit reflect a spirit of cooperation that is exemplary of the best traditions of the United States Air Force. We are now encountering an enemy who possesses aircraft of performance equal or superior to our own and who is daily growing bolder. We must depend upon the superior quality of our fighter pilots and the aggressive spirit exhibited by the “Elsewhere” squadron to maintain supremacy in the air over our Forces in North Korea.”
Emergency Radio Set - See AN/URC-4.
Erk - South African pilot slang for ground crew personnel. “Every man to his plane now. The erks are scraping the ice off the windscreens and cockpit canopies while you make a hurried inspection to see that all the essential parts; aircrews, engines, control surface, etc., are all there...”
Escape and Evasion Drop Tank - An externally carried F-51 drop tank “properly modified was prepared for swift transport to a downed pilot” in January 1951.
EUSAK - Eighth United States Army in Korea, title created on July 13th at Taegu City, SK by Lt. Gen. Walton H. Walker upon assuming command of all American ground forces in Korea. The new command absorbed the Army personnel of USAFIK, ADCOM and KMAG, all of which were discontinued.
Everest, Lt. Gen. Frank Fort - Assumed command of Fifth Air Force on 1 June 1951, replacing General Timberlake. General Everest became commanding general of the Fifth Air Force, Far East Air Forces, in Korea in May 1951. Through his efforts, the Fifth Air Force became a powerful fighting machine that was able to attain, and maintain, air superiority over the enemy, the Air Force biography noted. A native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he was born in 1904, he graduated from the U.S. Military Academy June 9, 1928 and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Field Artillery. During WWII then Colonel Everest was assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the South Pacific Area, where he served successively as liaison officer to the commander, aircraft, South Pacific; commanding officer of the 11th Heavy Bomb Group at New Hebrides Islands and Guadalcanal; and Army air officer on the staff of the commander of the South Pacific Theater. Following duty at Air Corps Headquarters as Air Force director of the Joint War Plans Committee in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Plans in January 1944, he was promoted to brigadier general in June. Following WWII he commanded the Yukon Sector, Alaskan Air Command, and was named assistant deputy chief of staff for operations at Air Force Headquarters in Washington. He became a major general in April 1948. In March 1950 he assumed the additional duty of senior Air Force member on the Military Liaison Committee to the Atomic Energy Commission. Following his tenure as Commander, Fifth Air Force, in mid-1952 he was appointed deputy commander of the Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Va. He was named director of the Joint Staff in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, in April 1953. One year later he was designated deputy chief of staff for operations at Air Force Headquarters, a post he held until July 1, 1957, when he was appointed commander-in-chief of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and promoted to a full general.
EVERREADY - Korean War plan covering eventualities of Republic of Korea domestic disturbances and disengaging United Nations Command forces
Ex - Executive Officer. The comparable term in the U.S. Navy is “XO.”
EXEC - Execute