USAF Organizations in the Korean War
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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 the [[United Nations]] forces could construct a defensive position on the peninsula.
The [[PACAF|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 and [[Japan]]. The [[Twentieth Air Force]] controlled the 19th and 307th Bomb Groups which were based in [[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. An operational narrative of the unit's activities, known bases the units were assigned to, and the aircraft they flew are included in the unit's linked page.
== Fighter Units ==
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* [[4th Fighter Wing|4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing]]
* [[8th Fighter Wing|8th Fighter-Bomber Wing]]
* [[18th Wing|18th Fighter-Bomber Wing]]
* [[27th Fighter Wing|27th Fighter-Escort Wing]]
* [[35th Fighter Wing|35th Fighter-Interceptor Wing]]
* [[49th Fighter Wing|49th Fighter-Bomber Wing]]
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* [[51st Fighter Wing|51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing]]
* [[58th Special Operations Wing|58th Fighter-Bomber Wing]]
* [[116th Air Control Wing|116th Fighter-Bomber Wing]]
* [[136th Fighter Bomber Wing|136th Fighter-Bomber Wing]]
* [[474th Tactical Fighter Wing|474th Fighter-Bomber Wing]]
* [[319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]]
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== Bombardment Units ==
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* [[3d Wing|3d Bombardment Wing (Light)]]
* [[17th Training Wing|17th Bombardment Wing (Light)]]
* [[19th Air Refueling Wing|19th Bombardment Wing, Medium]]
* [[22d Air Refueling Wing|22d Bombardment Group, Medium]]
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* [[92d Air Refueling Wing|92d Bombardment Wing, Medium]]
* [[98th Range Wing|98th Bombardment Wing, Medium]]
* [[307th Bombardment Wing|307th Bombardment Wing, Medium]]
* [[452d Air Mobility Wing|452d Bombardment Wing (Light)]]
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== Reconnaissance Units ==
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* [[543d Tactical Support Group]]
* [[67th Network Warfare Wing|67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing]]
* [[31st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron]]
* [[91st Network Warfare Squadron|91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron]]
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* [[512th Reconnaissance Squadron]]
* [[56th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron]]
* [[6204th Photo Mapping Flight|6204th Photo Mapping Flight Detachment 1]]
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== Transport Units ==
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* [[1st Troop Carrier Group|1st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional)]]
* [[61st Air Base Wing|61st Troop Carrier Group, Heavy]]
* [[314th Airlift Wing|314th Troop Carrier Group, Medium]]
* [[315th Airlift Wing|315th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium]]
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* [[374th Airlift Wing|374th Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy]]
* [[403d Wing|403d Troop Carrier Wing, Medium]]
* [[437th Airlift Wing|437th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium]]
* [[483rd Troop Carrier Wing|483d Troop Carrier Wing, Medium]]
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==Tactical Air Control Units==
* [[502nd Tactical Control Group]]
* [[6147th Tactical Control Group]]
== Other Units ==
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* 3rd Air Rescue Group
* 1st Shoran Beacon Squadron
* 5th Communications Group
* 10th Liaison Squadron
* 20th Weather Squadron Detachments
* 30th Weather Squadron
* 75th Air Depot Wing
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* 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
* 6405th Korea Air Material Unit
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== Temporary Tactical Support Wings ==
In July 1950 Allied planners did not foresee that the Korean campaign would be of long duration. Consequently, the Fifth Air Force modified its command structure only to meet immediate needs. When the time came to move tactical air units to Korean airfields, Fifth Air Force did not deploy its permanent wings because they were heavily committed to the air defense of Japan. Instead, it utilized temporary air base squadrons and air base units to support tactical units in Korea. By August, the situation called for larger organizations with greater allotments of personnel and equipment, and Fifth Air Force set up five temporary tactical support wings to support the combat groups.
Formed to assist in the projection of force to Korea, these temporary wings provided facilities, administration, services, and operational control for assigned and attached combat units. The task was formidable, for the installations the wings controlled were usually "bare base" operations with no amenities and only marginally serviceable airfields.
Logistically, poor roads and rail lines, limited port facilities, and overextended airlift hampered the wings. Organizationally, they were without regular status, such as authorization for personnel and equipment or for promotions. Even with these handicaps and hardships, the tactical support wings performed valiantly. They worked hard to make combat airfields operable and to provide the support and control combat units needed. They struggled to keep pace with the dynamically changing battle lines, opening new bases and forward operating locations as needed.
Their success bought time for the Fifth Air Force to reorganize, and on December 1, 1950, regular wings replaced them.
* '''6002d Tactical Support Wing'''<BR>Organized effective August 1, 1950, at [[Daegu Airport|Taegu AB]], to support the [[18th Wing|18th Fighter-Bomber Group]]. Forced to withdraw with its tactical units to [[Ashiya, Fukuoka|Ashiya]] AB, Japan, on August 8, it returned to Korea on September 5 and advanced to Pyongyang on November 22. It retreated to Suwon AB (K-13) on November 30, where it was replaced on December 1, 1950, by the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing.
* '''6131st Tactical Support Wing'''<BR>Organized effective August 8, 1950, at [[Pohang]] AB (K-3), to support the [[8th Fighter Wing|8th Fighter-Bomber Group]], the wing moved to [[Suwon]] on October 7 and to [[Gimpo, Gyeonggi|Kimpo]] AB (K-14) on October 28. On November 25, it advanced to [[Pyongyang]] AB (K-23), where it was replaced by the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing effective December 1, 1950.
* '''6133d Tactical Support Wing'''<BR>This wing organized August 12, 1950 at [[Iwakuni, Yamaguchi|Iwakuni]] AB, Japan, to support the [[3d Operations Group|3d Bombardment Group]] and was replaced by the [[3d Wing|3d Bombardment Wing]] on December 1.
* '''6149th Tactical Support Wing'''<BR>Organized September 5, 1950 at [[Daegu Airport|Taegu AB]] (K-37) to support the [[49th Fighter Wing|49th Fighter-Bomber Group]], this wing was replaced by the 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing effective December 1.
* '''6150th Tactical Support Wing'''<BR>Organized September 5, 1950 at [[Tsuiki, Fukuoka|Tsuiki]] AB, Japan, to support the [[35th Fighter Wing|35th Fighter-Interceptor Group]], the wing moved to [[Pohang]] AB (K-3) on October 5 and to Yonpo AB (K-27) on November 27, where it was replaced by the 35th Fighter-Interceptor Wing on December 1.
== Unit Emblems ==
<center>
<gallery>
Image:8th Fighter Wing.png|8th Fighter-Bomber Wing
Image:18thWingPatch.jpg|18th Fighter-Bomber Wing
Image:49th Fighter Wing.png|49th Fighter-Bomber Wing
Image:58th Special Operations Wing.jpg|58th Fighter-Bomber Wing
Image:116th Air Control Wing.png|116th Fighter-Bomber Wing
Image:136thfbw.jpg|136th Figher-Bomber Wing
Image:27th Fighter Wing.png|27th Fighter-Escort Wing
Image:4th Fighter Wing.png|4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing
Image:35th Fighter Wing.png|35th Fighter-Interceptor Wing
Image:51st Fighter Wing.png|51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing
Image:319thfis.jpg|319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Image:3d Wing.png|3d Bombardment Wing (Light)
Image:17th Training Wing.png|17th Bombardment Wing (Light)
Image:452d Air Mobility Wing.png|452d Bombardment Wing (Light)
Image:19th Air Refueling Group.png|19th Bombardment Wing, Medium
Image:22d Air Refueling Wing.png|22nd Bombardment Group, Medium
Image:92d Air Refueling Wing.png|92nd Bombardment Wing, Medium
Image:98 RANW.jpg|98th Bombardment Wing, Medium
Image:307bw.jpg|307th Bombardment Wing, Medium
Image:67th Network Warfare Wing.png|67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
Image:31rs.jpg|31st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
Image:91rs.jpg|91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
Image:512rs.jpg|512th Reconnaissance Squadron
Image:61st Air Base Wing.png|61st Troop Carrier Group, Heavy
Image:314th Airlift Wing.png|314th Troop Carrier Group, Medium
Image:315th Airlift Wing.png|315th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium
Image:374aw.jpg|374th Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy
Image:403d Wing.png|403rd Troop Carrier Wing, Medium
Image:437th Airlift Wing.png|437th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium
Image:483taw.jpg|483rd Troop Carrier Wing, Medium
Image:512tcg.jpg|6147th Tactical Control Group
Image:6147tcg.jpg|502nd Tactical Control Group
</gallery>
</center>
== Aircraft Gallery ==
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<gallery>
Image:F-80d-48-708-80fbs-8fg.jpg|Lockheed F-80C-10-LO Shooting Star 49-8708 of the 8th Fighter-Bomber Group, Korea, 1950
Image:8fbg-80fbs-f-86.jpg|North American F-86F-30-NA Sabres of the 8th Fighter-Bomber Group, Korea, 1953. Serial 52-4877 in front in Wing Commander's colors, 52-4473 alongside
Image:F-51-67thfbs-korea.jpg|North American F-51D-25-NT Mustangs of the 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. Serials 44-84916 and 44-75000 identifiable
Image:49fbg-f-80-c-49-689.jpg|Lockheed F-80C-10-LO Shooting Star serial 49-689 of the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group at Taegu AB (K-9) South Korea, 1950
Image:F-86-4fiw.jpg|North American F-86F-25-NH Sabres of the 4th FIW over Korea. Serial 52-5346 identifiable
Image:3dbg-b-26-44-34306.jpg|3d Bomb Wing B-26B-50-DL Invaders during the Korean War. Serial 44-34306 identifiable.
Image:F-82-korea.jpg|North American F-82G Twin Mustang Serial 46-394 of the 68th FIS in flight over the night skies of Korea
Image:B-29s-korea.jpg|B-29s over the daytime skies of North Korea early in the conflict.
</gallery>
</center>
==See also==
* [[Pacific Air Forces]]
* [[Fifth Air Force]]
* [[United States Air Force Korean War Campaigns]]
* [[United States Air Force Aircraft of the Korean War]]
== References ==
* 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.
* [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html] USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present
* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/rso_index.html] Air Force Historical Research Agency
==External links==
[[Category:Orders of battle]]
[[Category:USAF Organizations in Korea]]
[[Category:Korean War]]
[[Category:Four Digit Wings of the United States Air Force]]