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
- Si-Sz -
Sig - Signal
Sitrep - Situation Report
Sitting duck mission - “It was a sitting duck mission—that is, we go up there and take whatever targets are given us. And that’s just what those boats turned out to be: sitting ducks.” Captain Richard D. Kimball, Truckbuster, September 30, 1952. “In sitting duck missions, aircraft were assigned to the Naval Forces near Chodo Island to attack shore defenses around the Chinnamipo Estuary,” the 12th Squadron reported in 1953. The Group was also called on in January 1953 to fly sorties for “sitting duck” missions. “On these missions, a flight of four aircraft was dispatched to Chodo Island where they contacted the Naval forces stationed there. They were then directed, usually by the Fire Control Section of one of the destroyers, into attacks on observed shore batteries or activities across the straits from Chodo Island.”
Ski jump - The 3,200-foot runway at K-16 had a “hump” at the 2,200-foot point. Unless a Mustang pilot was very careful, it would tend to propel the heavily laden aircraft into the air before it had sufficient air speed. The premature leap into the air, followed by sudden, high-speed stall back onto the runway was catastrophic for many 18th Group pilots, including Lt. Mickey Rorke, who was prematurely ‘tossed into the air in a stalled condition’ by the notorious ‘ski jump’ at the 2200' point of the short 3200 foot runway. Lt. Col. Duane “Bud” Biteman remembered “that particular bump at Seoul’s K-16 airport very well.” It taught him “personally, quickly and regularly, the benefits of sudden rudder-exercise stall recoveries until adequate take-off speed could be accumulated in over-loaded, war-weary F-51 Mustangs.”
Skip bombing - Skip bombing and glide bombing are “adaptations of dive-bombing and require more technique that does dive-bombing, the 18th Fighter-Bomber Group Standardized Procedures for Combat Operations explained. “The bomb in both instances is released from a lower altitude and should incorporate a delayed fuse. In glide bomb runs, allowance must be made for a bigger arc in bomb trajectory than was true of dive-bombing. Skip bomb runs are made from low altitudes with the aiming point in front of the target. A hit can be scored by either skipping the bomb into the target or by driving the bomb directly into the target. The most common error in skip bombing is aiming short of the target and skipping over it. In the case the aiming point should be moved back. As was the case in other bomb runs, accomplish evasive maneuvers at all times except while on the alignment run prior to bomb release.” See Post-holing.
Skynight - F3D; USN and USMC jet fighter designed with powerful radar systems to search, find, and target enemy aircraft in darkness.
Slot - Number Four position in the Diamond formation was known as “the slot.”
SMACK - Korean War plan January 25, 1953, for a combined air-tank-infantry-artillery assault on Spud Hill by elements of the 31st Infantry Regiment (7th Infantry Division).
Snap out - See Bailout.
Snowball - During Operation SNOWBALL, October 1-3, 1951, 315th AD C-119s dropped experimental fifty-five-gallon drums filled with napalm behind enemy lines.
SO - Special Order
SOB - Souls on board, the number of persons on board an aircraft. Also POB.
Socked-in - Colloquialism referring to an airport closed to air traffic by bad weather; also, similarly “clamped,” a term inherited from the British, recalled Col. Robert “Pancho” Pasqualicchio.
SOP - Standard operating procedure.
Sortie - One trip by one plane. From June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1953, U.N. aircraft flew more than 1,040,708 close support, counter-air, interdiction, cargo and miscellaneous sorties in support of the U.N. military operations in Korea.
SP - Self-propelled
Spam - A spicy canned ham product packaged in a 12-ounce can produced by the Hormel Company since 1937. A overnight success, Spam, as it was called following a naming contest, grabbed 18 percent of its market. Over five billion cans have been sold.
Spam-can - Pilot’s term for the F-51 Mustang. “Ten pilots of this organization climbed into the old familiar ‘Spam-can’ and the mission was completed successfully.”
Spinner - The “hub” for the propeller. Spinners were often painted in various colors and designs to create unique visual effects, e.g. “blinker noses.”
Split Operation - A situation whereby the tactical effort in whole or in part is made at a forward base, while the administration, base supply and field maintenance is conducted at a rear installation.
Spot Promotions - Temporary promotions to the next highest rank. Used as a morale boosting policy, especially for junior officers/pilots.
Spotlight - See Project Spotlight.
Spring Thaw - An intensive aerial interdiction attack planned by FEAF in March 1953 that was expected to disrupt enemy supply lines, destroy transportation, and force him to consume supplies that were stored in forward areas.
Squadron - See Formations.
STAB - Stabilizer
Staging Operation - “A situation similar to refueling and rearming (see) except that aircraft are staged at the forward strip but rotated to their home base for inspection and heavy maintenance.”
Stanton, Lt. Col. Carroll L. - Succeeded Major James P. Hagerstrom as CO of the 67th Squadron in May 1953.
Stars and Stripes - Stars and Stripes was the official military newspaper of the Far East.
Stf - Staff
Col. Glenn A. Stell, 18th FBG Operations Officer, Jan. 13, 1953. On May 31, 1953, while Group Executive Officer, risked his life to remove Captain Beneke from burning aircraft, for which he received the Soldier’s Medal.
Stooge - Pilot slang for “loiter” or linger unnecessarily long in a specific area. “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.”
STRANGLE - Korean War (1951-1952) air operations plan to disrupt North Korean logistics through interdiction bombing. The FEAF Rail Interdiction Program—“Operation Strangle”—was conducted in Korea from the summer of 1951 to early 1952. Its official objective was to interfere with and disrupt the enemy’s lines of communications to such an extent that he will be unable to contain a determined offensive by friendly forces or be unable to mount a sustained major offensive himself.” 36 The name “Strangle” was “devised to glamorize the task for the benefit of ground officers who had never been charmed by “interdiction.” 37 FAF set out to exploit all means of interdiction, including: bridge attacks, tunnel attacks, cratered roadbeds, delayed action bombs. Initially, Operation Strangle was successful in slowing and catching retreating Communist troops. Eventually, the flexibility of the Communist logistic system enabled the damage to be repaired or circumvented to a great extent.
Strategy - In its simplest sense, it is the use of means to accomplish ends. In its broadest sense, it has to do with the use of power—political, economic, and psychological as well as military—to achieve the political goals, aims, and objectives of a nation.
Stratemeyer, Gen. George Edward - Became the commanding general, Far East Air Force in April 1949 and was in command there when the Korean War began. He suffered a severe heart attack on 20 May 1951 and relinquished his command to Gen. Otto P. Weyland in June 1951. He retired from active duty Jan. 31, 1952. He was succeeded by General Partridge, and MGEN Edward J. Timberlake, Jr., USAF, took his place as Fifth Air Force Commander.
Strip alert - “The squadron was also called on to perform ‘strip alert’—four or eight aircraft parked at the end of the take off runway in readiness for immediate take-off.”
SU-76 - A self-propelled gun mounted on a lengthened T-7 light tank chassis and armed with a 76-mm gun. Those used in Korea had open topped, lightly armored (1/2 inch plate) fighting compartments. See T-34 and BA-64.
Summ - Summary
SUMMIT - During Operation SUMMIT on September 21, 1951, a U.S. Marine Corps Company of 228 Marines was lifted by 12 Sikorsky S-55s—the first helicopter deployment of a combat unit.
SUNDIAL - Korean War plan (postponed November 11, 1951) to establish the DULUTH defensive line. When Operation Sundial was postponed by UN commander Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway, offensive action was limited to small-unit attacks and patrolling the front lines. Developed by Ridgway’s predecessor, Gen. James Van Fleet, SUNDIAL had called for an offensive move to a line named Duluth, south of Pyongyang.
Supp - Supplement
Surg - Surgical
Switch, Operation - Personnel rotation plan begun by the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing in February 1951 “wherein airmen and officers (non-combat) who had served six months in Korea would be returned to 13th Air Force jurisdiction if detailed to the theatre.”