USAF units and aircraft of the Korean War: Difference between revisions

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In the Korean War (1950-53), the newly independent United States Air Force, shaped in World War II by an increasing concentration on the strategic role of attacking an enemy's homeland, now faced a conflict almost entirely tactical in character and limited as to how and where airpower could be applied.

Like the rest of the American military establishment, the Air Force was in no way prepared for battle at the western rim of the Pacific. Yet despite these limitations, the Air Force responded quickly and effectively, proving in many ways the utility of airpower in modern war. With virtually no warning, the Air Force injected itself into the war in the first critical week. It transported troops and equipment from Japan to Korea, evacuated American nationals, provided significant intelligence through aerial reconnaissance, and most importantly helped to slow the North Korean advance so that United Nations forces could construct a defensive position on the peninsula.

The Far East Air Forces Fifth Air Force was the command and control organization for USAF forces engaged in combat. Its units were located in Korea, Japan and Okinawa. In addition, Air National Guard units were activated to federal service and were engaged in combat.

This is a compilaton of the known USAF units which saw Korean Service, known bases the units were assigned to, and the aircraft they flew. An operational narritive of the unit's activities are included in the unit's page.

Note: Assigned indicates that the unit is assigned and a part of the parent Wing. Attached indicates that the unit is temporarily assigned for operational control to the wing listed. Several of the bomber and fighter-bomber units were rotational; that is, each served a set tour of duty and then transferred its assets and personnel to the next rotating unit (no actual exchanges of aircraft and personnel took place).

Operational Units:

• 8th Fighter-Bomber Group (Assigned: duration, except detached August - November 1950)
  • 35th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
  • 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
  • 80th Fighter-Bomber Squadron

• 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing (Attached September - October 1950)
• 452nd Bombardment Wing (Attached November 1950)
• 49th Fighter-Bomber Group (Attached July - September 1950)
• 9th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (Attached June - July 1950)
• 68th Fighter-All Weather Squadron (Attached March - December 1951)
• 77th Squadron, RAAF (Attached July - October 1950 and June - August 1951)
• 80th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (Attached August - October 1950)
• 339th Fighter-All Weather Squadron (Attached June - July 1950)

First USAF unit to enter combat in Koren War. Participated in combat operations, June 1950 - July 1953.

Stations:

• Itazuke AB, Japan (March 1949 - December 1950)
• Pyongyang, North Korea (K-21) (December 1950)
• Seoul AB, South Korea (K-14) (December 1950)
• Itazuke AB, Japan (December 1950 - June 1951)
• Kimpo AB, South Korea (K-13) (June - August 1951)
• Suwon AB, South Korea, (K-21) August 1951 - October 1954)

Aircraft Flown:

• Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star (1950-53)
• North American F-86F Sabre (April - June 1953)
• North American F-82F/G Twin Mustang (1950-51)
• North American P-51D Mustang (1950)
• Gloster Meteor (1951)
• Douglas B-26 Invader (1950)

Operational Units:

• 18th Fighter-Bomber Group (Assigned: duration)
  • 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
  • 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
  • 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (Attached May 1951 - May 1952)
  • 2nd Squadron, South African Air Force (Attached November 1950 - March 1951 and April 1951 - June 1953)

Stations:

• Taegu AB, South Korea (K-9) (July - August 1950)
• Ashiya AB, Japan (August - September 1950)
• Pusan East AB, South Korea (K-13) (September - November 1950)
• Pyongyang East Afld, (K-24) North Korea (November - December 1950)
• Suwon AB, South Korea (K-13) (December 1950)
• Chinhae, South Korea (K-10) (December 1950 - June 1952)
• Hoengsong, South Korea (K-46) (June 1952 - January 1953)
• Osan-ni AB, South Korea (K-55) (January - June 1953)

Aircraft Flown:

• North American P-51D Mustang (1950-53)
• North American F-86F Sabre (March- June 1953)

Operational Units:

• 49th Fighter-Bomber Group (Assigned: duration)
  • 7th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
  • 8th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
  • 9th Fighter-Bomber Squadron

Began operations in the Korean War first under its parent wing (June 1950), then the 8th FBW, (July - September 1950) then 6149th Tactical Support Wing (October - November 1950). Returned to 49th FBW December 1950.

Stations:

• Misawa AB, Japan, (1948 - July 1950
• Itazuke AB, Japan (July- October 1950)
• Taegu AB, South Korea (K-9) (October 1950 - April 1953)
• Misawa Air Base, Japan (1953 – 1957)

Aircraft Flown:

• Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star (1948 – 1951)
• Republic F-84G Thunderjet (1951 – 1953)
• North American F-86 Sabre (1951)

Operational Units:

• 58th Fighter-Bomber Group: duration
  • 310th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
  • 311th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
• 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing: (Attached March - June 1953)
• 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing/Group: (Attached April - June 1953)

On 10 July 1952, the 58th FBW activated and absorbed the personnel and equipment of the 136th FBW. The 58th had some assets in Japan and some in South Korea until August, when the entire wing moved to Korea. The 58th FBW tested a "reinforced wing" concept in the spring of 1953, taking on the support and administrative functions of the 49th FBW while exercising direct control of both the 58th and 49th FBGs. 474th FBW headquarters and support units were reduced to "paper status" and its group tactical units attached to the 58th FBW, April 1953.

Stations:

• Itazuke AB, Japan (July - August 1952)
• Taegu AB, South Korea (K-9) (August 1952 - March 1955)

Aircraft Flown:

• Republic F-84G Thunderjet

Operational Units (Assigned: duration)

• 116th Fighter-Bomber Group
  • 158th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
  • 159th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
  • 196th Fighter-Bomber Squadron

Composite Air National Guard unit whose personnel came from Georgia, Florida, and California National Guard units, was ordered to active duty in October 1950. On 10 July 1952, the 116th designation returned to control of the Air National Guard, with the 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing absorbing its personnel, equipment, aircraft and other resources.

Stations:

• Misawa AB, Japan (July 1951 - July 1952)
  (deployed to Kusan AB, South Korea (K-8), November 1951 - June 1952)

Aircraft Flown:

• Republic F-84G Thunderjet

Operational Units:

• 136th Fighter-Bomber Group
  • 111th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
  • 154th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
  • 182d Fighter-Bomber Squadron

World War II 368th Fighter Group, assigned to Texas Air National Guard and redesignated 136th FW 1946. Ordered to active duty in October 1950. Returned, without personnel or equipment, to the Air National Guard on July 10, 1952.

Stations:

• Itazuke AB, Japan, (May - November 1951)
• Taegu AB, South Korea (K-9), (November - July 1952)

Aircraft Flown:

• Republic F-84G Thunderjet

Operational Units:

• 474th Fighter-Bomber Group (July 1952 - April 1953)
  • 428th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
  • 429th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
  • 430th Fighter-Bomber Squadron

474th FBW activated at Misawa AB, Japan, taking over the personnel and F-84E ThunderJets of the 116th FBW in July 1952. Headquarters and support units were reduced to "paper status" and its group tactical units attached to the 58th FBW April 1953.

Stations:

• Misawa AB, Japan (July 1952)
• Kunsan AB, South Korea (K-8) (July 1952 - April 1953)
• Taegu AB, South Korea (K-9) (April - June 1953)

Aircraft Flown:

• Republic F-84G Thunderjet

Operational Units:

• 27th Fighter-Escort Group (November 1950 - July 1951)
  • 522d Fighter-Escort Squadron
  • 523d Fighter-Escort Squadron
  • 524th Fighter-Escort Squadron

To help meet the threat of the Soviet-built MiG-15 fighter in Korea, the U.S. Air Force diverted Strategic Air Command's 27th FEW with its F-84 ThunderJets to the Far East instead of sending it as planned to England. In early December 1950 the wing established a rear echelon at Itazuke, Japan, and took its F-84s to Taegu AB, South Korea. Less than two months later, fearful that Chinese ground forces would overrun UN jet bases in South Korea, Fifth Air Force withdrew the 27th to Japan. The wing continued combat from Japan until replaced in late June 1951 by the 136th FBW

Stations:

• Yokota AB, Japan, (November 1950)
• Taegu AB, South Korea (k-9) (advanced echelon), (December 1950 - January 1951)
• Itazuke AB, Japan (rear echelon), (December 1950 - January 1951)
• Itazuke AB, Japan (Feburary - July 1951)

Aircraft Flown:

• Republic F-84G Thunderjet

(F-84)

• • 27th Fighter-Escort Group (522d, 523d, 524th Fighter-Escort Squadrons)

(F-86)

• • 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group (334th, 335th, 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons)
    (RAAF No. 77 Squadron (Meteor)

(to 25 May 1951) (F-80)

• • 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group (39th FIS - to March 1951, 40th FIS)

(F-80, F-86 November 1951)

• • 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group (16th, 25th Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons)
    (39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron - from 12 June 1952)

In December 1951, Fifth Air Force determined a need for additional nighttime all-weather air interceptors in the Seoul area. In response, the U.S. Air Force provided the F-94-equipped 319th FIS, which was reassigned from the 90th Bombardment Wing, Medium, based at Moses Lake AFB, Washington, to Suwon AB in February and early March 1952. Until November 1952, Fifth Air Force restricted the use of the Starfires to local air defense in order to prevent the possible compromise of its airborne intercept radar equipment in a loss over enemy-held territory. From November until the end of the conflict, the 319th used F-94s to maintain fighter screens between the Yalu and Chongchon Rivers, helping to protect B-29s from enemy interceptors.

Stations:

• Suwon AB, South Korea, (K-13) (March 1952 - June 1953)

Aircraft Flown:

• Lockheed F-94 Starfire

• 3d Bombardment Wing (Light) (B-26)
  • 3d Bombardment Group (Light) (8th, 13th, 90th Bombardment Squadrons)
• 17th Bombardment Wing (Light) (B-26)
  • 17th Bombardment Group (Light) (34th, 37th, 95th Bombardment Squadrons)
• 452d Bombardment Wing (Light) (B-26)
  • 452d Bombardment Group (Light) (728th, 729th, 730th Bombardment Squadrons)
• 19th Bombardment Wing, Medium
  • 19th Bombardment Group, Medium (28th, 30th, 93d Bombardment Squadrons)
• 22nd Bombardment Group, Medium (2d, 19th, 33d Bombardment Squadrons)
• 92nd Bombardment Group, Medium (325th, 326th 327th Bombardment Squadrons)
• 98th Bombardment Wing, Medium
  • 98th Bombardment Group, Medium (343d, 344th, 345th Bombardment Squadrons)
• 307th Bombardment Wing, Medium
  • 307th Bombardment Group, Medium (371st, 372d, 373d Bombardment Squadrons)

• 543d Tactical Support Group
  • 8th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic
  • 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
  • 162nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night Photographic
  • 6166th Air Weather Reconnaissance Flight
• 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (RF-80, RB-45)
  • 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
  • 6166th Air Weather Reconnaissance Flight
• 31st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic
• 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, Photographic
• 512th Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Weather
• 56th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, Weather

• 1st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional)
• 61st Troop Carrier Group, Heavy
• 314th Troop Carrier Group, Medium
• 315th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium
• 374th Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy
• 403rd Troop Carrier Wing, Medium
• 437th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium
• 483rd Troop Carrier Wing, Medium

• 502nd Tactical Control Group
• 6147th Tactical Control Group
• 1st Shoran Beacon Squadron
• 5th Communications Group
• 10th Liaison Squadron
• 20th Weather Squadron Detachments
• 30th Weather Squadron
• 75th Air Depot Wing
• 417th Engineer Aviation Brigade
• 801st Medical Air Evacuation Squadron
• 3903rd Radar Bomb Scoring Group Detachments C (11), K (5), and N (22)
• 6004th Air Intelligence Service Squadron Detachments 1, 2, 3, and 5
• 6146th Air Force Advisory Group
• 6167th Air Base Group
• 6204th Photo Mapping Flight Detachment 1
• 6405th Korea Air Material Unit

• Futrell, Robert Frank (1983) The United States Air Force In Korea, 1950-1953, Maxwell AFB, Alabama Office of Air Force History, ISBN 0912799714
• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
• [1] USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present
• [2] Air Force Historical Research Agency