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
- K -
K - K-site, Korean Airbase
K-1 - Pusan West
K-2 - Taegu
K-3 - Pohang
K-5 - Taejon
K-6 - Pyongtaek
K-8 - Kunsan
K-9 - Pusan East
K-10 - Chinhae, approximately 3 miles southeast of Chinhae, Korea. K-10 served as the headquarters and main base of operations for the 18th Fighter-Bomber Group from January 1951 until June 1952.
K-13 - Suwon
K-14 - Kimpo
K-16 - Seoul
K-40 - Cheju-do Island
18th Fighter-Bomber Wing offices at K-46.
K-46 - Approximately 7 mi. NNE of Wonju—127 degrees 57 minutes 30 seconds longitude west, 38 degrees 26 minutes 30 seconds North--approximately five miles southeast of Hoensong, Korea. The 18th Group used the K-46 air strip as a forward combat operations base until June 1952, when the Wing, Group and squadrons made it their headquarters, as well.
K-47 - Chunchon
K-55 - Osan-ni, approximately 12 miles southeast of Suwon, Korea. Became the headquarters and operating base for the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing in January 1953.
Kaesong - A city in western Korea just south of the 38th Parallel, Kaesong was the ancient capital of Korea. It was the first city to fall to the North Koreans June 25, 1950.
KANSAS-WYOMING - Korean War defensive lines in the vicinity of the 38th Parallel
KATUSA - Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army.
KComZ - Korean Communications Zone
KG - Kilogram
KHz - Kilohertz, the frequency of a radio carrier wave measured in thousands of cycles per second. 1 kHz = 1,000 Hertz.
KIA - Killed in Action
(Operation) KILLER - Launched Feb. 21, 1951, Operation Killer (and its extensions, Operations Ripper, Courageous, Rugged and Dauntless) marked the beginning of the Allied counteroffensive to drive the Chinese Communist Forces and the North Korean People’s Army out of South Korea. “The Eighth Army launched Operation KILLER to destroy large numbers of enemy troops while moving the UN line northward to the Han River.”
King, Lt. Col. Max J. - 18th FBW Operations Officer, Feb. 18, 1953. DFC and BS in Spring 1953. On 23 January 1953, King as CO of the 67th Squadron led George and How flights on the last F-51 mission. Turned over command of the 67th to Major James P. Hagerstrom on 3 February 1953.
Km - Kilometer
KMAG - Korean Military Advisory Group (Army). See EUSAK.
KMC - Korean Marine Corps
KMC - Korean Marine Corps
Knot (kt) - One nautical mile per hour (never one knot per hour), the standard unit of aviation speed measurement. One knot equals 1.1515 mph; one nautical mile equals 6,080 feet.Koje-do - Location of major prisoner of war camps. In May 1952 major riots took place at Koje-do.
Korean Communications Zone - (KCOMZ) Op Plan 14-54 See Operation GLORY.
Kotzenberg, Capt. R.P.G. - 2nd Squadron SAAF pilot KIA on 22 August 1952. ‘Piet’ Kotzenberg was Deputy Commander of the 2nd Squadron. His four-ship flight, led by Captain ‘Jan Bal’ Bolitho, was briefed for a dive-bombing mission against enemy artillery positions at CT154343. Kotzenberg was flying No. 4. The bombing run was started at 10,000 feet and pulled out at 4,000 feet, a new FAF rule designed to cut pilot losses by mandating higher release altitudes. Following the attack all flight members checked in except Kotzenberg. Returning to the bombed target, Captain Bolitho could locate only a secondary fire. The higher search altitude requirements made it impossible for him to determine whether the secondary fire was the missing aircraft. After 45 minutes of searching, he returned to base. No sign of the pilot or aircraft were found.
KPA - Korean People’s Army
Krause, 1st Lt. Lyle R. - 67th FBS pilot KIA 2 June 1953. Lt. Krause was taking off from Kisarazu, Japan to bring a new aircraft to the squadron when he crashed. His injuries proved fatal and he died on 19 June 1953.” 2nd Lt. Lyle R. Krause “received fatal injuries when his aircraft crashed on take-off from Kisarizu AFB, Japan.”
Krohn, Capt. G.H. - 2nd Squadron SAAF KIA on 24 November 1951. George Krohn was flying as No. 3 on rail interdiction mission led by 2nd Lt. Grobler. A radiator defect on take-off forced Krohn to abort his take-ff and pull off the runway. After a delay of ten minutes, he managed to take off and tried to catch up with his flight, a fact that was observed by two USAF flights. His earlier flight completed their mission prior to his arrival, and he radioed that he was going to attack a position with the Americans, which he did. After his bombs exploded, the last American pilot leaving the scene reported seeing a “Cheetah” turning south. Nothing further was heard from Lt. Krohn.
KT - Knots
Kunu-ri, Battle of - The site of one of the major battles of the Korean War, Kunu-ri is located in northwestern Korea about 20 miles upstream from the mouth of the Chongchon River and some 75 air miles Southeast of the Manchurian border.