502nd Tactical Control Group
At the beginning of the Korean War, the U. S. Air Force's only tactical control group was the 502nd at Pope AFB, NC. To meet the emergency in the theater, the Fifth Air Force organized the 6132nd Tactical Air Control Squadron (later, Group), which established a full-scale Tactical Air Control Center (TACC) at Taegu, South Korea, on July 23, 1950. Less than three months later, the 502nd moved to Korea and in October 1950, replaced the 6132nd in the mission of directing tactical air operations in Korea. Through its 605th Tactical Control Squadron, the group operated the TACC and worked with the U. S. Army in a Joint Operations Center (JOC). Other squadrons operated tactical air direction centers (TADC), which used stationary and mobile radar and communications equipment to guide aircraft on close air support missions. The group also deployed tactical air control parties (TACP), which accompanied ground units to communicate with USAF strike aircraft. The TACPs followed advancing UN troops into North Korea in October and November 1950, but the Chinese Communist offensive soon overran several of them. The 502nd headquarters and the TACC, which operated at Seoul in November and part of December, were forced to return to Taegu at the end of the year. During the spring and summer of 1951, the 502nd directed night bombing of enemy targets, including troop concentrations, supply dumps, and motor convoys. As UN ground forces drove the enemy back across the 38th parallel, the group, TACC, and JOC returned to Seoul in June. In October, the 502nd set up a communications station 100 miles behind enemy lines on Cho-do (Cho Island), three miles off the North Korean coast. From this location the detachment guided UN fighters against enemy airplanes in MiG Alley, bombers against strategic targets along the Yalu River, and search and rescue aircraft toward survivors who had ditched at sea. On June 6, 1952, the 502nd was instrumental in the destruction of nine MiG-15 aircraft through highly effective control procedures to maneuver F-86 Sabres into attack positions. The following month, the 502nd guided warplanes in devastating attacks on enemy troop formations, which blunted communist offensives until the Korean truce in July 1953.

Mission Components

605th Tactical Control Squadron: duration.
606th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron: duration.
607th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron: duration.
608th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron: November 2, 1951-.
6132d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron: October 9, 1950-November 2, 1951.
1st Shoran Beacon Unit (later, Squadron): attached September 27-December 1, 1950 and September 6, 1952-.

Stations

6132nd: Taegu, South Korea, July 23, 1950; Pohang, South Korea, July 28, 1950; Pusan, South Korea, July 30, 1950; Taegu, South Korea, September 24-October 10, 1950.
502nd: Pusan, South Korea, September 24, 1950; Taegu, South Korea, October 3, 1950; Seoul, South Korea, October 11, 1950; Taegu, South Korea, December 20, 1950; Seoul, South Korea, June 15, 1951-.

Commanders

6132nd: Unknown.
502nd: Col. William P. McBride, -February 18, 1951; Col. Henry Riera, February 18, 1951; Col. Francis R. Delaney, May 3, 1952; Col. Ernest J. White, Jr., July 25, 1952; Col. Hugh C. Moore, June 15, 1953-.

Campaign Streamers

6132nd: UN Defensive; UN Offensive.
502nd: UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea, Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953.

Decorations

Two Distinguished Unit Citations for actions November 3, 1950-April 21, 1951 and May 1-November 30, 1952.
Three Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations for periods September 16, 1950-January 25, 1951, January 25, 1951-March 31, 1953, and October 1, 1952-July 27, 1953.

6147th Tactical Control Group
The 6147th Tactical Control Group originated at Taejon, South Korea, within the "operations section" of the Joint Operations Center - three pilots and two aircraft testing the airborne forward air controller concept. On July 9, 1950, two airborne controllers flew their first mission in L-17s borrowed from the USA 24th Infantry Division. Despite attacks from enemy aircraft, each controlled about ten flights of F-80s. The next day, controllers testing T-6s spotted and directed the destruction of seventeen enemy tanks. The following day the small group of controllers left for Taegu to organize as a squadron. The 6147th Tactical Control Squadron, Airborne, activated effective August 1 to provide target spotting information to tactical aircraft in flight. After the UN landings at Inchon in late September, the squadron (nicknamed "Mosquitoes"), directed air strikes against retreating enemy troops ahead of the advancing UN lines and operated as the eyes of UN ground forces. Squadron controllers also conducted deep penetrations into enemy country, search and rescue, night direction for B-26s, parachute-drop mission coordination, and artillery adjustment. As the enemy fled, the squadron moved to Kimpo AB, where the pilots were within minutes of their working areas but also within range of enemy snipers on takeoffs and landings. By late October, the squadron had moved to Pyongyang but in December retreated to Taegu, where it returned to controlling close air support missions. In January 1951, the 6147th TCS gained a C-47 that provided an airborne radio relay between the Joint Operations Center and controllers, enabling Mosquitoes to adapt to the changing combat situation. In April 1951, the 6147th elevated to group-level and organized three squadrons, two of which provided airborne controllers while the third provided the U.S Army with ground tactical air control parties. A year later, the group moved to Chunchon, from where it directed interdiction missions. In the closing days of the war, it assisted allied aircraft in crushing a last-minute enemy offensive in the vicinity of the Kumsong River. The 6147th TCG earned three Distinguished Unit Citations during the war.

Combat Components

942nd Forward Air Control Squadron: attached June 20, 1953-.
6148th Tactical Control Squadron: April 25, 1951-.
6149th Tactical Control Squadron: April 25, 1951-.
6150th Tactical Control Squadron: April 25, 1951-June 20, 1953.


Stations

Taegu AB, South Korea, August 1, 1950; Kimpo AB, South Korea October 5, 1950; Seoul Afld, South Korea, October 18, 1950; Pyongyang East Adrm, North Korea, October 28, 1950; Taegu AB, South Korea, late November 1950; Pyongtaek Adrm, South Korea, March 12, 1951; Chunchon, South Korea, April 18, 1952-.

Commanders

Lt. Col. Merrill M. Carlton, August 1, 1950; Col. Timothy F. O'Keefe, March 28, 1951; Col. John C. Watson, c. January 1952; Col. Paul Fojtik, January 10, 1953-.

Campaign Streamers

UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea, Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953.

Decorations

Three Distinguished Unit Citations for actions July 9-November 25, 1950, July 9-November 27, 1951, and December 1, 1952-April 30, 1953.
Two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations for the periods July 9-November 25, 1950 and October 1, 1952-April 30, 1953.