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U.S. Marine Aviation in Korea by Major General John P. Condon, USMC (Ret) Supplemented by Commander Peter B. Mersky, USNR (Ret) he first major sur- free, independent, and democratic set up some form of new defensive prise of the post Korea. When in 1948, they refused positions. The South Korean gov- World War II years to participate in elections, super- ernment had displaced to Taejon came into play when vised by the United Nations to well to the south when the fall of in late June 1950, the form the first National Assembly, Seoul became imminent. This state United States found itself respond- the hopes for a united Korea died. of near collapse was the basic sit- ing in crisis fashion to the North The Soviets formed a separate uation faced by the United States Korean invasion of the new repub- Communist state in their sector, and the United Nations in the lic of South Korea, just four years the People's Democratic Republic of opening week of the war. It was the and nine months after VJ-Day. The Korea. With the elections complet- A graduate of the open cockpit and nation became involved in Korea as ed for the National Assembly in silk scarf era of Marine ColDs avia- a result of the Cairo and Yalta con- the south, the Republic of Korea tion, BGen Thomas J. Cushman saw ferences in which the United (ROK) was established and the service in Nicaragua, Haiti, and the States and the Soviet Union agreed United States trusteeship in the Central Paqflc before being named to the concept of a free and inde- country came to an end. Assistant Wing Commander, 1st pendent post-war Korea. Included On 25 June 1950, the North Marine Aircraft Wing, in June 1950. in the agreement was a joint occu- Koreans attacked with nine well- He commanded the wing's Jbrward pation of the country by the two equipped infantry divisions, spear- echelon, which provided air support powers, with the Soviets north of headed by one armored division for the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade the 38th Parallel and the United equipped with Soviet-built T-34 at Pusan, and later served as Commanding General, Tactical Air States south. The concept of the tanks. The Republic of Korea's Group (X ColDs) during Inchon and occupation had a general objective army had been in existence for the advance on Seoul. of settling down Korea for a period just about a year and could only Department of Defense Photo (USMC) A2108 so that it could learn to govern oppose the invasion with four itself as a nation after many lightly equipped divisions and one decades of Japanese rule. As the additional regiment. Needless to United States was painfully learning, say, although there were some however, it soon became apparent spirited but isolated small unit that what the Soviets said was one defensive actions, the Republic's thing and what they intended was forces were no match for the quite another with respect to a invaders. The North Koreans reached out with rapidly advancing ON THE COVER: After strafing enemy armored columns, moving almost at troops positions, a Vought F4U Corsair will during the first four days. pilot hunts out a suitable target for his Seoul fell on 28 June, and at that remaining napalm bomb. Depart- time, the ROK army had 34,000 ment of Defense Photo (USMC) troops missing, although many of A133540 them later returned to their units. AT LEFT: A Grumman F9F Panther jet With the capture of Seoul, the is directed into take off position for a invaders halted to regroup and raid against enemy positions in North Korea. Department of Defense Photo those ROK forces, which were still intact, fell back through Suwon to (USMC) A43151 1 the 56 respondents to the United Nations resolution, only three Korea were opposed: the Soviet Union, Ii Poland, and Czechoslovakia. U,, IlK' The United Nations participat- / CHINA ing pledges were substantial and included aircraft, naval vessels, fCti'nigjin medical supplies, field ambu- SII )•r•,.ll1 In lances, foodstuffs, and strategic t materials. In addition to the Army K.i,iggu forces authorized by President Truman, a naval blockade of the Resen,4p j Ct,. I ii,.',, Ri.i'n 0 / ('bo,dn P ft entire Korean coast was ordered, and U.S. Air Force units based in Japan were authorized to bomb Fl,IIIII liii III a —— specific targets in North Korea. It is / also important to note that these • NORTH KOREA Rowa Ba)' a< ''pnano - critical actions met with the (hLflflflfl1çh I'vongyang '" •'L'II of/aptu; wholehearted approval of the American people. Americans also C R'' liIT1\'IIfl applauded the strong stance of the Kumliwa ' 38" C"1 1.Ih1. K It-',, ,'4i i'i..i'èI-.ou. Ltt•flaI 'nU uh',, 1Ner,',,Ir United Nations, and they repeat- • , vTfIIIIoIiom edly expressed their thoroughgoing tIM1L>utfl '- '—' • \liun'..in-nI Chunchon kingnung pride in the responses of their •i -p.flhI Kimpa Pen,nsnI,i--' Iiu'4tIiooni,IaI,ipi"°'"4' S:iiIiok nation to the seriously deteriorating .4sc,pa Bay QC),r •'.tiw..i"r-"°" international situation. N_tn/ 'L ,N/C —-SOLrrH KOREA K,hona,nt/' (cC Alidialig )Whu' - • /, 7Thnj4IIIk In response to urgent requests for rarin 's" llrnCIl.tl Wacgwan f ''hang American reinforcements from the Kunsan hon Far East Command, and as a result O(honiu l'aegu 1: of unit offerings and proposals from the United States, the 1st OKwau Provisional Marine Brigade was ', '4. çLJ1Q activated on 7 July 1950. It was an ,4 °°pa b A air-ground team built around the Q a 5th Marine Regiment and Marine JAPAN tssssbImaV Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33), both based on the west coast at Camp Pendleton and Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, respectively. first time that a Soviet-supported Nations resolution condemning Brigadier General Edward A. state was permitted to go as far as the breaking of world peace by Craig, with Brigadier General open warfare in their post-World the North Koreans. President Thomas J. Cushman, a renowned War II depredations, and it consti- Harry S. Truman gave General of and experienced Marine aviator, tuted a definite showdown the Army Douglas MacArthur, assigned as his deputy comman- between the Communist and non- Commander in Chief, Far East, the der, commanded the brigade. Communist worlds. go-ahead to send Army units into The time and space factors in The United States responded to Korea from Japan and to take the activation and deployment of the invasion of South Korea both other actions in support of the the brigade were, to say the least, independently, and through strong shocked and shattered ROK something extraordinary. Acti- support and leadership in a United forces. It is important to note that of vated on 7July, the unit was given 2 at the same time a sailing date five instead of three, and deep cuts in let alone the seven days granted in to seven days later. In looking normal logistic back-ups of all this case. A super performance is back at this first of the post-World types of "ready" supplies of every- simply a classic understatement for War II surprises, it is again impor- thing from ammunition to field the mount-out of the 1st tant to fully understand what the rations were common. It also must Provisional Marine Brigade to radical demobilization steps had be emphasized that normally, after Korea. accomplished. It is impossible to the cutbacks and reductions fol- In late June 1950, Marine list them all in this short account, lowing World War II, the division- Fighter Squadron 214 was the only but it will suffice to point out that wing teams on both coasts would Corsair squadron operating from rifle companies were at two pla- have been very hard-pressed to El Toro. Marine Fighter Squadron toons instead of three, infantry deploy one reinforced brigade of 323 was in the process of returning battalions at two rifle companies regiment-group-sized in 30 days, to the air station following several Marine Corps Air Units and Primary Aircraft Forward Echelon, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (July— Marine Fighter Squadron 212 (Redesignated Marine September 1950) Attack Squadron 212 on 10 June 1952) (Vought F4U Corsair, Vought AU-i Corsair) Marine Aircraft Group 33 Marine Fighter Squadron 2i4 Headquarters Squadron 33 Service Squadron 33 (Vought F4U Corsair) Marine Fighter Squadron 311 Marine Fighter Squadron 214 (Vought F4U Corsair) (Grumman F9F Panther) Marine Fighter Squadron 312 (Redesignated Marine Marine Fighter Squadron 323 Attack Squadron 312 on 1 March 1952) (Vought F4U Corsair) Marine Night Fighter Squadron 513 (Vought F4U Corsair) Marine Fighter Squadron 323 (Redesignated Marine (Grumman F7F Tigercat, Douglas F3D Attack Squadron 323 on 30 June 1952) Skyknight) Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 2 (Vought F4U Corsair, Vought AU-i Corsair) Marine Attack Squadron 332 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (September 1950 —July 1953) (Vought F4U Corsair) Headquarters Squadron 1 Marine Attack Squadron 251 Marine Wing Service Squadron 1 (Douglas AD Skyraider) Marine Wing Service Group 17 Marine Night-Fighter Squadron 513 Headquarters Squadron 17 (Vought F4U Corsair, Grumman F7F Tigercat, Marine Air Base Squadron 17 Douglas F3D Skyknight) Marine Aircraft Repair Squadron 17 Marine Night-Fighter Squadron 542 Marine Aircraft Group 12 (Grumman F7F Tigercat, Douglas F3D Skyknight) Headquarters Squadron 12 Marine Transport Squadron 152 (Vought F4U Corsair, General Motors TBM (Douglas R4D Skytrain) Avenger) Marine Ground Control Squadron 1 Service Squadron 12 Marine Air Control Group 2 Marine Air Base Squadron 12 Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 2 Marine Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 12 Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 1 Marine Aircraft Group 33 Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 3 Headquarters Squadron 33 Marine Photographic Squadron 1 (Vought F4U Corsair, General Motors TBM (McDonnell F2H-P Banshee) Avenger) Marine Composite Squadron 1 Service Squadron 33 (Douglas AD Skyraider) Marine Air Base Squadron 33 Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 161 Marine Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 33 (Sikorsky HRS-1 Helicopter) Marine Fighter Squaclron 115 Marine Observation Squadron 6 (Grumman F9F Panther) (Consolidated OY Sentinel, Sikorsky HO3S Marine Attack Squadron 121 Helicopter, Bell HTL Helicopter) (Douglas AD Skyraider) 1st 90mm Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion 3 As can be readily imagined, Camp Pendleton arid El Toro were twin scenes of mad confusion as Marines arrived hourly by train, bus, and plane, and "demoth- balled" equipment of all types arrived for marking and packing, literally at a rate measured in tons p per hour. "Sleep on the boat" was the order of the day as the date of embarkation at San Diego and Long Beach for the first elements, 12 July, rapidly drew closer. By 14 July, all units were on board assigned shipping and underway westward. At departure, the total strength of the brigade was 6,534. MAG-33 totaled 192 officers and 1,358 enlisted men, composed principal- Department of Defense Photo (USMC) A130091 ly of the two fighter squadrons, Marines of the wing's forward echelon receive their inoculations in earlyjuly at VMF-214 and VMF-323, a night Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, before leaving for Korea on board the escort fighter squadron, VMF(N)-5 13, and carrier Badoeng Strait (CVE 116) and transport General A. E. Anderson (AP 111). an observation squadron, VMO-6. months of training at Camp only Krulak could project, he An important and historic compo- Pendleton and on board the asked Keller: "Major, are you ready nent of VMO-6 was a detachment of Essex-class carrier Philippine Sea to go to war?" Keller, reflecting on four HO3S- 1 Sikorsky helicopters, (CV 47) off the California coast. the training and experience level of hurriedly assigned and moved to El Following its return, the aircraft the squadron, assured him that the Toro from the helicopter develop- and men of the squadron quickly Black Sheep were ready. With no ment squadron at Quantico, HMX- prepared to deploy. The Black time to enjoy Hawaii, the midship- 1. This was the first time that the Sheep of Marine Fighter Squadron men were offloaded and the carri- United States Armed Services had 214 likewise were in a high state of er made a beeline back to actually deployed helicopters in a readiness, but had been "out of California in anticipation of mobi- unit mounting out for combat ser- pocket" when the war broke out. lization orders. vice overseas, although a few had The squadron was enroute to The Badoeng Strait (CVE 116) was the carrier home from which the "Death Hawaii on board the escort carrier Rattlers" of Marine Fighter Squadron 323 launched their initial Korean combat Badoeng Strait (CVE 116), having missions in August L950. been awarded the privilege of Marine corns Historical Center Photo Collection hosting the annual Naval Academy midshipman's cruise, when it received word of the North Korean invasion of South Korea. It was not long before the squadron's commanding officer, Major Robert P. Keller, was sum- - a' moned to Headquarters Fleet t Marine Force, Pacific, at Camp a Smith. After flying off the carrier, - Keller met with Colonel Victor H. '- . .. 6.t4jj .ir--.-- Krulak, Lieutenant General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.'s chief of staff. -_ a- -- -- With a tone of dead seriousness -J- 4 c .,z' 4 I U- Courtesy of cdr Peter J. Mersky, USNR (Ret) An F4U Corsair of Marine Fighter Squadron 214 launches ation, the "U-Bird"was still considered a first-rate close air from the escort carrier Sicily (CVE 118). In its second support aircraft. major war infiveyears, as the workhorse of Ma rine Corps avi- been tried out in both the of the peninsula. On 2 August, the Reinburg, was assigned to the Fifth European and Pacific theaters at brigade debarked at Pusan and on Air Force for control and began the end of World War II on an 3 August at 0600, departed Pusan shore-based operations from experimental basis. Aircraft for the front by rail and 50 bor- Itazuke Airfield on the southern strength at deployment added up to rowed Army trucks. MAG-33 ship- island of Kyushu. Its mission was to 60 Vought F4U Corsairs, eight ping had been directed to Kobe provide night "heckler" operations Consolidated OY "Sentinels," and when the force reached far east- over the brigade and the Korean the four Sikorsky HO3S-ls. ern waters, and debarkation began combat area generally, while the By 16 July, the brigade com- there on 31 July. The fighter two carrier-based units would pro- mander and a key advance party squadrons were flown off the vide close air support. To furnish took off by air for conferences and Badoeng Strait to Itami near the essential communications and briefings at Honolulu and at the Osaka, where they were checked tactical links for close air support Far East Command in Tokyo. As for combat by the ground crews and general direct support to the these meetings progressed and the and hastily transported overland brigade, on arrival at Kobe a tank possibilities of immediate commit- from Kobe. With just one refresher landing ship was waiting to reem- ment on arrival of the main body hop at Itami, VMF-214, now com- bark Marine Tactical Air Control came clearly into focus, an original manded by Lieutenant Colonel Squadron 2 (MTACS-2), led by plan to hold the brigade in Japan Walter E. Lischeid, landed on Major Christian C. Lee, and the temporarily was abandoned. This board the escort carrier Sicily (CVE ground echelon of VMO-6, com- was a result of the deteriorating 118) for operations on 3 August, manded by Major Vincent J. position of the United Nations and on 5 August, Major Arnold A. Gottschalk, for transport to Pusan. Command in Korea, which by the Lund's VMF-323 returned to the The aircraft of VMO-6 were readied fourth week of the war had drawn Badoeng Strait for the same pur- at Kobe and Itami and ferried to into a perimeter-type defense of pose. VMF(N)-513, under the com- Pusan by air. Thus the air-ground the port of Pusan at the southern tip mand of Major Joseph H. integrity of the brigade was held 5 intact as it entered its first combat less than 30 days after activation, a truly remarkable achievement. pit Pusan Perimeter Air Support At the time of the commitment to action of the brigade in early August 1950, the United Nations defense had contracted to a perimeter around the southern- most port of Pusan. It was vital that the perimeter contract no more, since the port was the logistic link to a viable base position in support of a United Nations recov- ery on the peninsula. In bringing this desirable outcome to reality, the brigade became known vari- ously as the "Fire Brigade," the Sicily Hihlightsfroni 1946 to 1951 "Marine Minutemen," and other The commanding qfficer of VMF-214, LtCol Walter E. Lischeid, center, and the into the breach sobriquets. In the Sicily's captain, Capt John S. 7immy" Thach, seated righi, listen intently as returning pilots report on the results of their mission. process of their month-in-the- perimeter employment, the invincible. Marine aviation carried board the fast carriers in World Marines were accorded the honor its portion of the brigade load in War II, the basing of VMFs -214 of restoring the confidence of this restoration of pride and and -323 on board the escort carri- United Nations troops through stature, once again relying on its ers Sicily and Badoeng Strait once destruction of the myth that the ability to operate afloat as well as again showed the lasting wisdom of North Koreans were somehow ashore. Like the deployments on the long-standing commonality policies between naval and Marine On the afternoon of3 August, the "Black Sheep" of VMF-214 made their first air aviation. strikes against North Korean positionsfrom Chinju to Sachon. Earlier in the day the squadron's 24 planes landed on board the Sicily, then cruising in the From Sicily, in the form of eight Tsushima Straits, following two days of field carrier landing practice and a Corsairs, came the first Marine short flight from Itami Air Force Base, Japan. offensive action of the war. Led by Sicily Highlightsfroin 1946 to 1951 Major Robert P. Keller, the squadron's executive officer, the eight VMF-214 Corsairs took off at 1630 on 3 August in a strike against Chinju and the Communist-held village of Sinhan- ni. Using incendiary bombs, rockets, and numerous strafing runs it was a more than suitable and impressive greeting for the previ- ously almost unopposed North Korean troops. On the following day, 21 additional sorties were flown to help relieve the pressure on the Eighth Army southern flank. These struck at bridges, rail- roads, and troop concentrations in the Chinju and Sachon areas. With -214 continuing the march from 6 as their highest priority, and in support of other United Nations units as a lower priority. The brigade control organization con- sisted of three battalion Tactical Air Control Parties and one regimental TACP, each consisting of one aviation officer, an experienced and fully qualified pilot, and six enlisted technicians. Each party was equipped with a radio jeep, portable radios, and remoting communications gear. In addition, there were the facilities and per- sonnel of MTACS-2 at brigade headquarters, as well as the brigade air section of the staff, one officer and one enlisted. The air section was responsible for air planning, tactical control, and Department of Defense Photo (USMC) A130914 coordination of supporting aircraft. Against a backdrop of rugged Korean terrain, an OYSentinel light observation Lastly, but certainly of no lesser aircraft of Marine Observation Squadron 6, piloted by the squadron's com- importance, there was also the manding officer Maj Vincent f Gottschalk, spots concentrations of North brigade observation section con- Koreans for Ma rine Corsairs to sear with napalm. sisting of the tactical air observer, the deck of the SIcily, VMF-323 every-day occurrence, the daily three gunnery observers, and the joined the fray from Badoeng sorties from the two carriers so light observation and rotary-wing Strait on 6 August with strikes west conveniently nearby, began to aircraft of VMO-6. When supporting of Chinju along the Nam River, hit- climb in both number and effec- other United Nations forces, ting large buildings and railroad tiveness all along the length of the Marine air units operated under lines with rockets and 500-pound entire perimeter. MAG-33 aircraft the Air Force-Army system for tac- bombs. Because the carriers were so were constantly orbiting on station tical air control. close to the frontlines of the over the frontline as the ground The foregoing gives an abbrevi- perimeter, the strikes could reach forces advanced, and communica- ated description of the brigade air their targets in a matter of minutes tions within the air-ground team support system, which operated at almost any point where support was steady from the Tactical Air very effectively through some of was requested. That the North Control Parties (TACP) with the the most rugged fighting of the Koreans realized something new battal.ions, all the way back to the Korean War. The operations in the had been added was apparent brigade headquarters. The air sup- Pusan Perimeter basically were when on 11 August, -323 teamed up port system, controlled by the divided during the six-week period with North American F-Si active presence of Marine Tactical into three major actions. The first Mustangs of the U.S. Air Force near Air Control Squadron 2 and VMO- was the counterattack in the Kosong in what became known as 6 at brigade headquarters from 6 extreme southwest which ran the "Kosong Turkey Shoot." In this August on, worked to the won- approximately from 3 to 15 action, the Corsairs hit a convoy of drous amazement of the associated August, and was known as the more than 100 vehicles of a North U.S. Army and other United Sachon offensive; the second was Korean motorized regiment, a Nations units. the First Naktong counteroffensive, mixed bag of jeeps, motorcycles, The Fifth Air Force exercised from 16 to 19 August; and the third and troop-carrying trucks, stop- overall control of tactical air oper- was the Second Naktong from 3 to ping the convoy at both ends on the ations in Korea, but Marine avia- 5 September. All three, rugged as road. They got every one with the tion units, as components of an they were, resulted in thorough help of the F-51s. While hitting the integrated Fleet Marine Force, defeats for the Communist forces jackpot in this manner was not an operated in support of the brigade but were not without cost to the 7 brigade: 170 killed, 2 missing, and working a revolution in command Marines in Corsairs swoop in to 730 wounded. Estimates showed observation, inspection, and staff deliver ordnance oftentimes within that the brigade had inflicted procedures. 100 yards of the frontlines. The almost 10,000 casualties in killed Most importantly, it was apparent pilots became part of the fight on and wounded on the enemy units from action in the Pusan Perimeter the ground and as a result gained a faced in the six weeks of its partic- that the Marine Corps air-ground sense of pride and accomplish- ipation in the perimeter operation. team concept was a winner. The ment in helping ground troops Throughout these three vital tight knit integration of close air accomplish their mission. Captain actions the morale and confidence support into the ground scheme of John E. Barnett, one of the Corsair of the United Nations forces facing maneuver proved to be devastat- pilots summed up how aviators felt the North Koreans was restored. ingly effective. From 3 August to about their relationship with Marine air units of the brigade car- 14 September 1950, the two ground Marines: "With consum- ried their part of the rebuilding squadrons of MAG-33 on board the mate conceit we doubted not that process on a daily, and nightly, carriers (VMFs -214 and -323) and Marines were the best pilots sup- basis. In addition, Major Vincent J. the shore-based night fighters of porting the best infantry, employing Gottschalk's VMO-6 established so VMF(N)-513, flew 1,511 sorties, of the best tactics; a brotherhood many "firsts" with its helicopters which 995 were close air support non-parallel. Pilots were in awe of during the period that it was obvi- missions in response to requests the infantry, lavish praise from ous that a major tactical innovation from engaged ground troops. whom (regarding close air sup- was in the making. The new steed The strikes by Marine aircraft port) fed our ego." that Brigadier General Craig, his not only decimated the enemy's To sum up the air component chief of staff, Colonel Edward W. forces, but they rekindled the bond performance in the perimeter, the Snedeker, and G-3, Lieutenant between air and ground that char- words of General Craig said it all: Colonel Joseph L. Stewart, had dis- acterizes the Marine air-ground "The best close air support in the covered clearly indicated that the team. Ground Marines gained history of the Marine Corps. . out- . helicopter was fully capable of courage from seeing their fellow standing in its effectiveness." And from the envious viewpoint of an For the first time in any war helicopters were used on the battlefront as liaison adjacent Army infantiy regiment: aircraft and in evacuating the wounded. Although underpowered and hard- pressed to carry more than a pilot, crew chief and one evacuee, the Sikorsky HO3S The Marines on our left was relatively dependable. were a sight to behold. Not Marine Corps Historical Center Photo Collection only was their equipment superior or equal to ours, but they had squadrons of air in direct support. They used it like artillery. It was 'Hey, Joe—This is Smitty—Knock the left off that ridge in front of Item Company.' They had it day and night. It came off nearby carriers, and not from Japan with only 15 minutes of fuel to accomplish the mission. While there was literally no air opposition from the North Korean Air Force because it had been wiped out by the initial U.S. Air Force efforts at the beginning of the war, such accolades in addition to others were pleasant music to Marine aviation and to the brigade 8