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
- C-Cl -
C-46 - The C-46 “Commando” was first delivered to the AAF in July 1942 for the Air Transport Command and Troop Carrier Command. During WW II, the AAF used over 3,100 C-46s to haul cargo and personnel and for towing gliders. The C-46 became famous during WW II while transporting war materials over the “Hump” from India to China after the Japanese had closed the Burma Road. The Commando had a greater cargo load capacity than the famous C-47 and it provided better performance at higher altitudes. However, the C-46 required extensive maintenance and had a relatively high loss rate. The C-46 had a wing span of 108 feet and a length of 76 ft. 4 inches. Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800s developed 2,000 hp each. It cost about $230,000.
C-47/R4D - Douglas “Skytrain”: twin-engine transport plane. Also known affectionately as a “Goony bird.” The Skytrain was adapted from the DC-3 commercial airliner that was introduced into service in 1936. First ordered in 1940, by the end of WW II, 9,348 had been purchased for AAF use. Skytrains carried personnel and cargo. During combat operations, they towed troop-carrying gliders and dropped paratroops into enemy territory. During the Korean War, Skytrains hauled supplies, dropped paratroops, evacuated wounded and dropped flares for night bombing attacks. The Skytrain had a wing span of 95 feet and a length of 64 feet 5 inches. It cost about $138,000.
C-54/R5D - The “Skymaster,” was also known in civilian aviation as the DC-4. The Skymaster began service with the USAAC in 1942, and carried up to 26 passengers. Later versions carried up to 49 passengers. The U.S. Navy also used the Skymaster, which was designated the R5D. One Skymaster named the “Sacred Cow” was converted into service for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Skymaster had a speed of 273 mph, a ceiling of 22,507 feet and a range of 3,877 miles.
Cable Trap - A cable strung across the valleys as a hazard for low flying aircraft.
Campaigns - The Korean War consisted of 10 campaigns, including: UN Defensive—June 27-Sept. 15, 1950; UN Offensive—Sept. 16-Nov. 2, 1950; CCF Intervention—Nov. 3, 1950-Jan. 24, 1951; First UN counteroffensive—Jan. 25-April 21, 1951; CCF Spring Offensive—April 22-July 8, 1951; UN Summer-Fall Offensive—July 9-Nov. 27, 1951; Second Korean Winter—Nov. 28, 1951-April 30, 1952; Korea Summer-Fall 1952—May 1-Nov. 30, 1952; Third Korean Winter—Dec. 1, 1952-April 30, 1953; Korea Summer-Fall—May 1-July 27, 1953.
CAP - Combat Air Patrol, or “CAP,” is an aircraft patrol stationed over an objective area, a force to be protected, or in an air defense area whose mission is to intercept and destroy hostile aircraft before they can reach their targets. Often used as a verb, as in “we capped the crash site.”
Capped - Provided combat air patrol for, e.g. “The procedures of capping a downed pilot were also changed in hopes that the change will cut down the losses suffered on capping missions.”
CAS - Calibrated airspeed — indicated airspeed corrected for air density and compressibility. See Close Air Support.
Casualties - A broad term encompassing those killed or wounded in action, those who later died of their wounds, those missing in action and those taken as prisoners of war.
CAVU - Ceiling and visibility unlimited, i.e. cloudless (or scattered cloud) conditions with visibility in excess of ten kilometers.
Capt. (later Col.) Ed Mason wears a happy smile as he completes his 100th combat mission during the Korean War.
Century Flight - 100th combat mission. Pilots who completed 100 combat missions were honored with a "lucky" horse collar and usually rotated back to the Z.I. (Continential United States) soon after.
CCAF - Chinese Communist Air Force
CCF - Chinese Communist Forces
CCRAK - Covert, Clandestine, and Related Activities in Korea.
CCS - Combined Chiefs of Staff
CCT - Combat Crew Training
CCTF - Combat Crew Training Flight, a provisional unit of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing established in early 1953 as the 18th Group converted from F-51s to F-86 fighters. See MTD.
CCTS - Combat Crew Training School. The 18th Group found it was necessary in November 1951 to establish a new training program at K-46 that covered “all phases of combat flying in F-51 type aircraft. Although the majority of replacement pilots required little training prior to being assigned to flights, it was found that some pilots had not graduated from CCTS before coming overseas. A brief course, approximately that of CCTS training given at Luke AFB, was initiated at K-46. A survey of new pilots revealed that very few had experience with napalm, rocket firing or high angle strafing.”
Ceiling - Height above ground or water lowest layer of clouds below 20,000 feet that covers more than half of the sky. An aircraft’s service ceiling is the density altitude at which its maximum rate of climb is no greater than 100 feet per minute. Its absolute ceiling is the highest altitude at which the aircraft can maintain level flight.
CG - Commanding General; also Center of Gravity
CH - Compass Heading
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff - Senior officer of the U.S. armed services. A statutory adviser to the National Security Council, he presides over the Joint Chiefs of Staff consisting of the chiefs of staff from the Army and Air Force and the Chief of Naval Operations. Unlike during the Korean War, today the Joint Chiefs of Staff also includes the Marine Corps Commandant.
Chandelle - A climbing turn beginning from approximately straight-and-level flight, and ending after the aircraft has completed 180 degrees of turn in a wings-level, nose-high attitude at the minimum controllable airspeed.
Cherokee strike - Term used by Vice Admiral Joseph J. “Jocko” Clark, the last commander of the Navy’s 7th Fleet during the Korean War and a Cherokee descendent, for air strikes that concentrated his fleet’s efforts on destroying enemy weapons and supplies behind enemy lines. The Cherokee Strikes served as a much-needed morale boost for American frontline troops.
China Lobby - Label given to those in and out of government who supported the Nationalist government of Chiang-Kai-Shek and opposed the Communist government of Mao Tse-tung.
Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) - Elements of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army moved into Korea Oct. 4, 1950.
Chodo - Island about one third up the West coast of North Korea controlled by U.N. forces. Air surveillance and air rescue personnel based there saved many lives. Facilities included a tactical air-direction center with limited capabilities, but helpful in providing local air-control and warning services in that area of Korea. When fighter-bombers or Sabres ventured into Northwest Korea, an SA-16 would be deployed from Seoul to orbit north of Cho-do. If a fighter pilot ran into trouble he “Maydayed” and tried to reach a pre-determined orbit-rescue point off the west coast. His own flight would provide RESCAP until the Albatross arrived. See Bingo. By December 1951 a detachment of H-5 helicopters were stationed at Cho-do for rescue alert. In February 1952, more capable H-19 helicopters were stationed on Cho-do.
CHOKE - A main supply route interdiction plan used by FAF during which last-light (flying at twilight) fighter-bombers attacked selected road bridges. Then, shortly after dark, fighter-bombers--usually B-26’s--would attack vehicles stalled behind the blown-out bridges.
Chopline - The FEAF CHOPLINE or line of “no combat” demarcation was instituted on 15 October 1950, which limited the air operations to actions 20 miles south of the Manchurian border from longitude 12 degrees to the west coast. This was equally divided into three areas, Recce Areas I, II, and III. See Bombline.
CHOPSTICK 6 - Korean War plan for the envelopment of the high ground south of P’yong-gang by a reinforced Republic of Korea division.
CHOPSTICK 16 - Korean War plan for a two-division attack to drive the Communists from the area east and south of the Nam River.
Chosin Reservoir - The Chosin Reservoir (Changjin Reservoir in Korean) was part of North Korea’s Japanese-built hydroelectric system located in northeastern Korea. The Reservoir was the site of one of the best-known battles of the Korean War from Nov. 27-Dec. 11, 1950.
CHROMITE - Korean War (September 13, 1950) landing at Inch’on. Planning for Operation Chromite, the code name for the Inchon invasion, began August 12, 1950, and was completed the following month. It replaced a similar plan that had been called Operation Bluehearts. The objectives of Operation CHROMITE were to: neutralize the fortifications on Wolmi Island that controlled the access to Inchon Harbor; successfully complete an amphibious landing and capture Inchon and seize Kimpo Airfield (K-14), just south of Seoul; and, to capture the city of Seoul. The plan included preparations for the Eighth U.S. Army (EUSA) to breakout of the Pusan Perimeter at the same time as the Inchon landing, pushing the North Korean Army northward, and thus trapping it between the two forces.
CIA - Central Intelligence Agency
CINCAFPAC - Commander-in-Chief Army Forces Pacific
CINCFE - Commander-in-Chief, Far East
CINCPAC - Commander in Chief, Pacific
CINCPACFLT - Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet
CINCUNC - Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command
Clamped - See Socked-in.
CLAM-UP - Korean War operation to delude the Communists by imposing silence along the front lines 10-15 February 1952. Outposts were temporarily abandoned in the hope that Communist ground troops would increase patrolling and that the enemy patrols would fall into ambuscades. Clam-Up ended on Feb. 16th without success.
Clanky - Air Force fighter pilot slang for combat fatigue. Also “flak happy.”
Clark, Gen. Mark Wayne - On 12 May 1952, replaced General Matthew B. Ridgway as commander in chief, Far East Command and commander in chief, United Nations Command.
Clearance - Authorization from air traffic control to proceed as requested or instructed. Used for ground and air maneuvering, e.g. “cleared for take-off.”
Close Air Support - One of the three “classic” missions of tactical airpower, including air superiority and interdiction. CAS was the most complex of these three missions “since it involved an intimate cooperation of ground and air forces and an intricate system of communications.” 7 Close air support involves the use of fighter, fighter-bomber and, in exceptional cases, bomber aircraft to strike enemy targets just in front of the battle lines. “Upon reaching the target designated by the TACP, the flight leader should observe the terrain and other conditions in order to establish the best axis and method of attack,” 18th Fighter-Bomber Group Standardized Procedures for Combat Operations explained. “The objective is to deliver maximum firepower to enemy positions while absorbing a minimum of return fire from them. To accomplish this, the method of deploying aircraft to attack at different angles and altitudes has been proven highly successful. These aircraft, evenly spaced will provide almost continuous fire on enemy positions, while in the target area. After completing a bomb, rocket, or firing run, evasive action should be taken by a series of sharp turns, or a change in direction, or by hitting the deck. Aircraft making rocket-firing and gunnery runs at a high angle present a more difficult target for ground gun crews and at the same time provide a more effective concentration of fire against ground personnel and equipment. This type of attack is best utilized under good weather conditions, however, it is difficult to adapt to low ceiling conditions.
CLR - Clear