Museum Audio Tour 18: Modern Flight Gallery: Korean War Close Air Support

DAYTON, OH, UNITED STATES

12.31.1969

Audio by NMUSAF PA 

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

When the Chinese began to support North Korea, the Air Force used both tactical fighters and strategic bombers for close air support, attacking vulnerable communist troops in the open, and helping to slow the enemy drive. After the front stabilized in 1951, close air support was less effective against the dug-in communists. Even so, when they left their trenches to attack, close air support once again thinned their ranks. A joint system of coordinating Air Force, Navy and Marine ground support had its first test in Korea. Perhaps the most important element of Air Force close air support was the extensive use of airborne forward air controllers known as FACs and ground-based Tactical Air Control Parties or TACPs. The airborne FACs, known in Korea by their radion call-sign “Mosquitos,” flew "low and slow," locating and marking targets for other aircraft to attack. The Air Force TACP personnel also called in airstrikes and coordinated with ground troops. The Air Force continuously improved its methods of directing close air support in Korea. Advances in radar, communications, vehicles, aircraft, and tactics all helped Airmen protect troops on the ground. The Airmen of the U.S. Air Force, along with Navy, Marine and UN aircrews, provided more air support to ground forces than ever before.

• Date Taken: 12.31.1969
• Date Posted: 09.02.2015 12:12
• Category: Newscasts
• Audio ID: 41919
• Filename: 1509/DOD_102704091.mp3
• Length: 00:01:32
• Album: Museum Audio Tour
• Track #: 18
• Location: DAYTON, OH, US