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.
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
- Am-Az -
AMC - Air Materiel Command
AN/ARC-3 - Transmitting and receiving equipment designed to provide air-to-air or air-to-ground communications. The set could be operated anywhere between 100 and 156 megacycles. Frequencies of this range are characterized by line of sight distances. Average communications distances are 30 miles at 1,000 feet above terrain and 135 miles at 10,000 feet. These distances vary depending on atmospheric conditions and on intervening terrain and other obstructions.
AN/M64 - General purpose bomb. See 500-pound bomb.
AN/URC-4 - The AN/URC-4 Emergency Radio Set was in very short supply—only 13 were on hand “with no resupply in sight. The assistance the URC-4 afforded in the successful rescue of downed pilots makes it extremely important that more satisfactory supply action be afforded on this item,” Col. Saltsman noted. Due to the success of recent rescue operations in which these radios have been used there is an increasing demand for them by the pilots.” 1st Lt. William Bryan of the 12th Squadron was put in charge of a project to design and produce a “carrier” for the radio consisting of a girdle supported by suspenders with two pockets that held the radio set and its battery. The pockets were positioned “over the stomach between the parachute leg straps and below the harness release.” The pilots liked it for its “comfort and handling qualities.”
AOCP - Aircraft Out of Commission for Parts. “The landing strip at K-10 is dirt and problems were immediately encountered. Large rocks on the runway were sucked into the propeller during run-ups, resulting in damage to numerous propellers and only extraordinary supply action kept such aircraft from becoming AOCP.”
AP - Armor-piercing.
Armed Reconnaissance - “Formation to the target area will be battle formation flown at an altitude of 7,000 feet or at an altitude practical to avoid known anti-aircraft guns, small arms fire and overcasts,” 18th Fighter-Bomber Group Standardized Procedures for Combat Operations explained. “The Flight Leader should be on the deck (i.e. close to the ground), flying at an indicated air speed of at least 300 mph. He should pull up occasionally (above 3,000’) in order to orient himself and to regain his low level air speed. The leader's wing man should fly up with No’s. 3 and 4, who should be flying at least 4,500’ above the terrain. These three aircraft will fly a spread formation, weaving for mutual protection as well as flak evasion. The element leader will advise the flight leader of known flak positions, towns, villages, railroads, etc., that the Flight Leader cannot see. When a worthy target is found, the flight leader will determine whether to utilize two or four aircraft in the attack. In either instance, spacing between aircraft should be such that the most difficult target is presented to ground fire. This is usually accomplished with four aircraft in the form of a Clover Leaf Pattern with one aircraft always in a firing position. With two aircraft in the attack, the wing man should make his pass at least 45 degrees off from the axis of the leader’s attack. At the completion of the last pass, the Flight Leader will so inform the flight. Aircraft on the deck will be constantly turning to present a difficult target for enemy ground fire. Do not “Stooge” at low air speed, straight and level, or in one small area. Make a few turns then move down on a road a few miles farther over this area, then move to another road. Don’t follow one road from town to town, if you do, the enemy will be waiting for you with everything they have. Find targets for your napalm early so you’ll have a more responsive aircraft. It is almost impossible to see small arms fire unless you see the flash or the person shooting, so assume that you are being fired at continuously and make yourself hard to hit. Fire your guns until you reach your tracer ammunition, the rest of your .50-caliber ammunition is a reserve to fight you home if you are jumped. After you have completed your reconnaissance and have expended your ordnance, climb to a safe altitude and proceed Home. Use tactical formation from the target area to your home base. Don’t go to sleep going Home! Keep looking around.”
Armistice Agreement - Agreement between the United Nations Command and the military forces of the North Korean People’s Army and the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) that went into effect July 27, 1953.
Armor - Mustang pilots were partially protected by armor plate at three points: behind the pilot’s seat, for protection from the rear; at the firewall in the opening between the engine and the fuselage; and, behind the spinner, in front of the coolant tank. They were “further protected by the bulletproof glass windshield and the engine itself, which protects you from head-on gunfire.” The armor plate was designed into the aircraft when its primary function was bomber escort. Therefore, the armor was quite effective in protecting pilots from attacks by other fighter aircraft from the rear or head-on. There was no armor protection for pilots against flak or ground fire that hit the aircraft from the side or from below.
ARS or ARSvc - Air Rescue Squadron/Service
ASI - Airspeed Indicator
Augur in - Pilot slang for crash. “Heard that two of my classmates augured in...”