Cowboy1968
Charter Member
No these aren't airplanes i had laying around, but findings from some research.
I have been working on a series of articles for a magazine. they cover the USAF during the 1950's. and they discus the varies flying commands.
While working on the info for the Tactical Air Command (TAC), I discovered just how unprepared for the Korean Conflict the USAF was. When the action borke out in 1950, TAC was flying the F-80 Shooting Star, the F-84 Thunderjet and beginning to take on the F-86 Sabre. They were using these birds as fighter bombers.....same role used in Korea. Most Air National Guard (ANG) units that were seconded to TAC were flying F-51D Mustang fighters. A few ANG units were also flying P-47N Thunderbolts in the attack role.
Meanwhile the PAF (Pacific Air Forces) based out of Japan and heavyhearted in Hawaii were flying only two groups of modern equipment. Two squadrons of F-80C Shooting Stars were in Japan, and the other two in Hawaii. Most other fighter elements in PAF were flying the F-51D and a couple of squadrons of F-82 Twin Mustangs provided the main interceptor force over Japan.
The USAFE (USAF in Europe) was nearly completely equipped with jets. It had a modern force of F-80s, F-84s, and they were starting to recieve the first of the Northrop F-89 interceptors.
As the fighting intensified in Korea, Truman ordered the USAF to transfer appropriate recources with out effecting the USAF's operational ability in Europe and not effecting the US ability to defeand against Soviet threats.
In effect his orders made it imposible for the USAF to take recources away from the Air Defense Command (ADC), Alaskan Air Command (ALCOM) or USAFE. The only source for the aircraft needed became TAC.
At the beginning of the conflict TAC operated a large force of jets. The only prop fighters in the force were ANG. By 1952, nearly 80% of TACs flying force in the US were flying F-51D and F-51H Mustangs. The F-51Hs were actually aircraft pulled out of the reserve stock. Most of these were put back into the air still wearing the pre-1947 national insignia and markings. They only had USAF painted on the wings. The other 20% of the operating force were actually short of aircraft and pilots. As fast as TAC could raise F-86 units, they were immediately transferred to the PAF for the duration of the conflict.
Given the nature of TACs duties, it isn't surprising that TAC was the source that the aircraft needed for the Korean conflict were pulled from, but it just goes to show the state of thinking and readiness the US had prier to the conflict.
BTW TACs duties were to provide tactical support to US operations. This was acheived by using fighter bomber Groups/Wings (FBS, FBG, FBW), tactical recon groups (TRS, TRG). TAC also operated some medium bomber groups and wings flyine B-45 Tornado bombers and some B-26 (A-26) Invaders. These units were designated as BS, BG, BW, also a few transport wings used to drop Paratroopers were assigned to tack at the time of Korea. These units were known TCW.
USAF fighter squadron designations
Tactical support-fighter bombers
FBS - fighter bomber squadron
FBG - fighter bomber group (2 sqns)
FBW - fighter bomber wing (3 or more sqns)
standard fighter units were known as intercepters. These were used in PAF, USAFE and ADC
FIS - Fighter Intercepter Squadron
FIG- group
FIW - Wing
Tactical Reconnasence-photo recon.
TRS - Tactical Reconacense Squadron
TRG - "" Group
TRW - "" Wing
Bomber elements assigned to TAC and SAC
BS - Bomber Squadron
BG - group
BW - Wing
and so on.
I have been working on a series of articles for a magazine. they cover the USAF during the 1950's. and they discus the varies flying commands.
While working on the info for the Tactical Air Command (TAC), I discovered just how unprepared for the Korean Conflict the USAF was. When the action borke out in 1950, TAC was flying the F-80 Shooting Star, the F-84 Thunderjet and beginning to take on the F-86 Sabre. They were using these birds as fighter bombers.....same role used in Korea. Most Air National Guard (ANG) units that were seconded to TAC were flying F-51D Mustang fighters. A few ANG units were also flying P-47N Thunderbolts in the attack role.
Meanwhile the PAF (Pacific Air Forces) based out of Japan and heavyhearted in Hawaii were flying only two groups of modern equipment. Two squadrons of F-80C Shooting Stars were in Japan, and the other two in Hawaii. Most other fighter elements in PAF were flying the F-51D and a couple of squadrons of F-82 Twin Mustangs provided the main interceptor force over Japan.
The USAFE (USAF in Europe) was nearly completely equipped with jets. It had a modern force of F-80s, F-84s, and they were starting to recieve the first of the Northrop F-89 interceptors.
As the fighting intensified in Korea, Truman ordered the USAF to transfer appropriate recources with out effecting the USAF's operational ability in Europe and not effecting the US ability to defeand against Soviet threats.
In effect his orders made it imposible for the USAF to take recources away from the Air Defense Command (ADC), Alaskan Air Command (ALCOM) or USAFE. The only source for the aircraft needed became TAC.
At the beginning of the conflict TAC operated a large force of jets. The only prop fighters in the force were ANG. By 1952, nearly 80% of TACs flying force in the US were flying F-51D and F-51H Mustangs. The F-51Hs were actually aircraft pulled out of the reserve stock. Most of these were put back into the air still wearing the pre-1947 national insignia and markings. They only had USAF painted on the wings. The other 20% of the operating force were actually short of aircraft and pilots. As fast as TAC could raise F-86 units, they were immediately transferred to the PAF for the duration of the conflict.
Given the nature of TACs duties, it isn't surprising that TAC was the source that the aircraft needed for the Korean conflict were pulled from, but it just goes to show the state of thinking and readiness the US had prier to the conflict.
BTW TACs duties were to provide tactical support to US operations. This was acheived by using fighter bomber Groups/Wings (FBS, FBG, FBW), tactical recon groups (TRS, TRG). TAC also operated some medium bomber groups and wings flyine B-45 Tornado bombers and some B-26 (A-26) Invaders. These units were designated as BS, BG, BW, also a few transport wings used to drop Paratroopers were assigned to tack at the time of Korea. These units were known TCW.
USAF fighter squadron designations
Tactical support-fighter bombers
FBS - fighter bomber squadron
FBG - fighter bomber group (2 sqns)
FBW - fighter bomber wing (3 or more sqns)
standard fighter units were known as intercepters. These were used in PAF, USAFE and ADC
FIS - Fighter Intercepter Squadron
FIG- group
FIW - Wing
Tactical Reconnasence-photo recon.
TRS - Tactical Reconacense Squadron
TRG - "" Group
TRW - "" Wing
Bomber elements assigned to TAC and SAC
BS - Bomber Squadron
BG - group
BW - Wing
and so on.