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
- Hf-Hz -
HF - High Frequency
High timers - Aircraft with above average hours of flight time i.e. required inordinate maintenance to keep them serviceable for the missions they had to perform.
HIGHBOY - Korean War I Corps artillery operation to bring direct fire on enemy positions and bunkers not accessible to other artillery and mortar fire.
HIGHTIDE - During an air refueling test on June 7, 1952, code named Operation HIGHTIDE, thirty-five F-84 ThunderJets took off from Japan, refueled from KB-29M aircraft over Korea, and attacked targets in the north.
Hist - History, Historical
Hit and run - Due to the “vastly increased amount of flak utilized by the enemy,” it was becoming “common practice” to use the tactic of “hit-and-run”—“striking those targets closely protected by the enemy no more than twice per mission. It is believed this effects a valuable saving in equipment and personnel while still accomplishing the assigned mission.”
Hit the deck - Slang term meaning to either fall onto the ground, or if flying an airplane, to fly as close to the ground as possible (without touching).
Holcomb, 1st Lt. Francis A. - 67th FBS pilot killed 19 February 1951 “when his F-51 crashed into the bay at K-10 after take-off.” Lt. Holcomb “was killed by head injuries and drowning when his engine cut-out on takeoff. His ditching attempt was unsuccessful.” [Lt. Ken Barber’s diary reports this accident on 19 February] On 18 March 1951, 1st Lt. Francis A. Holcomb initiated a take-off to the south of Chinhae (K-10 AB) with a full load of napalm tanks (2) and rockets (6). During his take-off run his engine repeatedly cutout at which time both napalm tanks were jettisoned at a point approximately 2/3 down the runway. The aircraft was observed emitting white and black puffs of smoke as it became airborne. Approximately 2,000 feet south of the runway, complete power loss occurred at which time the aircraft was ditched. The altitude attained was estimated to have been approximately 90 feet; after being bellied in, the aircraft deaccelerated abruptly and swerved 90 degrees to the right of the flight path, hung momentarily tail high and almost immediately sank. The pilot’s body was recovered the following day. Medical opinion disclosed that death was due to drowning. Salvage operations conducted by the ROK Navy retrieved the wrecked aircraft on 19 March 1951.” As a result of Holcomb’s death, new SOPs were put into place, including: all takeoffs were accomplished with 100% oxygen ON; all takeoffs would be made with 10-20 degrees of flaps to decrease load stresses as well as to increase the stability of the aircraft; tire changes were effected—8 ply nylon to 10 ply nylon on all aircraft.” “We lost “Slow Motion” Holcomb the other day in #350, the plane I ferried down from Johnson AFB in July,” Lt. Ken Barber noted in his diary, “and which was my plane before I went into the Infantry. He had just been on R&R to Japan, called his wife in Texas, heard that his son had just been born.” Barber and Shuler had been in the briefing room “and heard this engine coughing on take off. We ran out. A plane had ditched off the south end of the runway. Capt. Smith took off in an L-5 and circled the spot, but saw no sign of the pilot. They hauled him out the next day. He had smashed his head against the gunsight and his safety harness was unlocked. They think he tried to jump out.”
Holtzhausen, 1st Lt. J. O. - 2nd Squadron SAAF KIA on 10 April 1952. ‘Holtsie’ Holtzhausen was flying No. 2 in a pre-briefed flight of four aircraft whose mission was to attack railroad stock at YE5004. As the flight neared the target it was formed up in starboard echelon, and Flight Leader Mouton noted that both his No.2 and No.3 pilots were in their proper positions. Low clouds and haze required the flight to bomb from a lower than usual altitude. Following the attack, as the aircraft headed to the designated rendezvous point, Mouton radioed for them to check-in. Only No. 3 responded. Finally, No. 2 responded that he was joining a nearby U.S. Air Force flight. Upon his return to base, Mouton was advised that Lt. Holtzhausen had not returned with any other flight. Neither pilot nor aircraft were ever found.
Holy Land - Site of peace negotiations at Panmunjom. “In fact, the whole Kaesong area—whose “Holy Land” status protected it from air attacks, even though the truce negotiations had not met there very long—was probably a Communist military concentration point.”
HOME COMING - Korean War plan for limited operation offered as a substitute for BIG STICK.
Honcho pilots - Term used by FEAF pilots for Communist pilots who were highly trained, capable and confident—probably instructor pilots—from “honcho” meaning “boss” in Japanese.
Horn, Capt. John Lucas - 39th FIS pilot KIA on 14 August 1951 near Pyongyang, NK. “Captain Horn, the Operations Officer, was flying a F-51D carrying a K-25 camera. After his flight had made their napalm drops, he made a 180-degree turn to take strike photos. Due to intense fire he never reappeared and it was believed that he was shot down in the immediate target area,” reported David R. McLaren in August 1997.
HP - Holding Pattern; horsepower
Howell, Capt. Robert - Operations Officer of 67th FBS KIA on 5 August 1950. “Later, on the last mission of the day, Captain Howell had his rudder control shot away by ground fire. His wingman stayed with him as he made it back over the bomb line. He had jettisoned his canopy and was loosening his belts to bail out, when the plane suddenly nosed over and dove into the ground. His wingman saw it all. No one knows why he waited so long to get out. No one ever will know. No one ever does know what happens at these times, or what thoughts run through a man’s mind.”
Hq - Headquarters
The North Korean port of Hungnam as it looked in December 1950 showing the effects of the Korean War's devastation. It was evacuated in December 1950.
Hungnam, Evacuation of - A seaport on North Korea’s eastern coast, Hungnam was the port from which the five divisions of the U.S. X Corps were evacuated following the massive Chinese Communist Forces intervention in November 1950 and the subsequent retreat from the Chosin Reservoir. During the first week of November, U.S. forces began to encounter elements of Chinese military units. By 15 November, elements of the U.S. 7th Infantry Division reached Hyesanjin on the Manchurian border. On 27 November eight full corps of CCF troops struck simultaneously at the U.S. 8th Army in the west and at the 5th and 7th Marine Regiments near the Chosen Reservoir. Hopelessly outnumbered and in the dead of a brutal winter, U.S. forces began a fighting withdrawal to force their way out of the massive trap. Aided by close air support from Fifth Air Force and Navy TF 77, U.S. forces linked up at Chinhung-ni on 9 December, the same day that General MacArthur ordered the evacuation of the 10th Corps from Hungnam. The evacuation of U.S. forces from Hungnam and Wonsan was a logistical achievement comparable to the evacuation of the British Army from Dunkirk in 1940. Over 105,000 soldiers, 91,000 civilians, and 17,500 vehicles were taken from Hungnam.
Hunter Groups - Volunteer members of Communist gunnery groups that were promised “hero” decorations and furloughs for destroying three UN aircraft during any 90-day period.
Hunter-Killer Plan - A roadblock plan developed in September 1952 during which the “hunter” crew reconnoitered an assigned roadblock area and determined the best location to establish a roadblock with bombs or other ordnance. After making the roadblock, a “killer” would arrive later to attack backed up vehicles. The locate-block-wait-attack process could be repeated as long as results were obtained.
Hv - Heavy
High Velocity Aerial Rockets being loaded under the wing of an F-15 Mustang of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing during the Korean War.
HVAR - High Velocity Aircraft Rocket. USAF fighter-bombers used the HVAR to knock out Communist tanks, trains, and bunkers. Originally developed by the U.S. Navy in World War II, the HVAR’s warhead carried a deadly load of TNT to the target at 1,360 feet per second. Two types of aircraft rockets were employed in Korea, the 5.0" HVAR and the 6.5" ATAR (anti-tank aircraft rocket). The 5.0" HVAR was the standard USAF and USN aircraft rocket and was used with a MK-148 nose fuse and a MK-149 tail fuse installed in the warhead. The warhead was a blast type with approximately eight pounds of HE (high explosive) filler. In July, 1950, when an urgent need was identified for a shaped charged anti-tank aircraft rocket, the 6.5" ATAR development was accelerated and rushed to the theater. The first 200 ATARs reached the FAF early in August 1950. The ATAR used the standard 5.0" HVAR and had a shaped charge warhead, with a filler weight of approximately 19 pounds. It was detonated by an electrical fuse using a M-36 special detonator.
Hyde, 2nd Lt. Samuel - 18th FBG pilot killed 18 June 1953 at Tachikawa AFB, Japan. Two 18th FB Group pilots, 2nd Lt. Samuel Hyde and 2nd Lt. William Church, were aboard the “ill-fated C-124 that crashed on take-off from Tachikawa AFB, Japan…killing all aboard. “Sam Hyde had been an Air National Guard, 171st Ftr. Sqdn. mechanic, who had gone through pilot training and ended up with me in the 12th,” recalled Lt. Col. Howard “Ebe” Ebersole. “I knew his family back home. His sister, Parge, was widowed in WW-II when her husband was killed as an instructor in the Training Command. She married his twin brother, Lou Gillette, a survivor of the Ploesti Raid as a B-24 pilot, shortly after the War. Lou was a B-26 (Douglas) Pilot in the Mich. Air Guard at Romulus where I was an F-51 pilot. When I returned from Korea, my wife and I visited Parge and Lou, to express condolences. She could not have been more gracious. It was not the unpleasant experience I had dreaded. She and Lou were grieved, of course, and I was glad that I made the trip to their house.”