Korean War Air-Ground Glossary
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
- O -
o/r - On Request.
o/t - Other Times.
Oak Leaf Cluster - A metallic oak leaf cluster is worn on the ribbon of a medal to denote subsequent awards of the same decoration in the Army and Air Force.
OAT - Outside Air Temperature. OAT affects the measurement of indicated airspeed and its value is needed to calculate true airspeed.
OB - Order of Battle
OCMH - Office of the Chief of Military History
Ofc - Office
Off - Officer, Officers
OJT - On-the-Job-Training. “All airmen received [in December 1951 by the 18th Group] were either recruits who possessed only technical school training or airmen of the top three pay grades who had been on recruiting duty or away from normal operations for a period of several years. Intensive on-the-job training materially assisted in improving the qualifications of airmen but at the cost of decreased efficiency” for the squadrons,” noted Group Commander, Col. Seymour Levenson.
OP - Operational
OPAREA - Operating Area
Operation Glory was conducted by the Graves Registration Group.
Operation Glory - The Armistice Agreement signed in Panmunjom in June 1953 included a provision agreeing to the exchange of military war dead on both sides. On July 20, 1954, it was agreed that the exchange of deceased personnel should formally commence on 1 September 1954 and end no later than 30 October, if possible. Implementation of Korean Communications Zone (KCOMZ) Op Plan 14-54 – better known as “Operation GLORY” – was put into effect on 22 July 1954. On August 30, 1954, the disinterment of all enemy deceased military personnel was completed, and all remains delivered and stored at “Glory Railhead,” near Munsan-Ni, Korea. The exchange of deceased military personnel between the United Nations in South Korea, and the Communists in North Korea, continued daily, except Sundays, until September 21, 1954. A final tally indicated that 4,023 UN deceased personnel had been received from the North Koreans, and that 13,528 had been delivered to them.
Operational Damage - “Any damage to the aircraft not due to enemy action. Operational damage includes engine failure, canopy failure, fragments or debris from the aircraft’s own armament, or damage sustained in scraping trees or terrain.”
Operational Loss - “Any aircraft that is lost on a combat mission due to aircraft malfunction or pilot error.”
OPLR - Outpost Line of Resistance, a series of strong points in advance of the MLR (main line of resistance).
Opns - Operations
OPPLAN - Operational/operations Plan
OPT - Optimum
Ord - Order
ORT - Operational Readiness Test
Orth, Maj. Frank L. - Succeeded Lt. Col. Joseph T. Crane, Jr. as CO of the 12th Squadron on June 18, 1952. Orth had “considerable World War II fighter experience to recommend him for the job,” the 12th reported. For a short period, Orth was Commander of the 18th Group, before turning it over to Col. Sheldon S. Brinson on June 18, 1952.
OSAF - Office of the Secretary of the Air Force
OSI - Office of Special Investigation
OTC - Officer in Tactical Command
Out of Commission for Parts - See AOCP.
OVERWHELMING - Korean War (1951) plan for an offensive by Eighth Army to the P’yonggang-Wonsan line (cancelled).