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A Study on the Growth of ROK Air Force and the US Air Force 6146th Unit's Support during the Korean War

Jang Sungkyu 1

1국방대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to identify the 6146th Unit's support activities for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) during the Korean War. The ROKAF and the 6146th Unit were living together, fought together, and grew together. Through the Korean War, the ROAKF could reborn into the real independence force and the ROAKF and the 6146th Unit had a strong partnership. The ROKAF's growth can be largely divided into four phases. The First Phase is ‘Unit Organization'. From June 26, 1950 until July 26. Baut-I unit were organized in order to accomplish a training mission to the ROKAF pilots. As the USAF-led air campaign gradually escalated, the ROKAF need independence training and operations. So Baut-I were approved to form the USAF 6146th Air Base Squadron to meet the requirements of the ROKAF. The Second Phase is ‘Joint Combats'. From July 27, 1950 until May 31, 1951. The support to the ROKAF was a central task of the 6146th Unit. The elementary training and combat support was executed to the ROKAF. But the ROKAF were hard to grow because the 6146th Unit were gripped the leadership and committed to move several times during the battle. When the ROKAF move the all combat troops in Sacheon to concentrate on training, The joint tasks of this time were ended finally in May 31, 1951. The Third Phase is ‘Operational Independence'. From the early 1951 to the end of July 1951, the 6146th Unit concentrated on expansion the abilities to perform their own missions of ROKAF. The ROKAF was verified their operational capabilities through attacking against guerrillas in Mountain Jiri. The Forth Phase is ‘Air Power Reinforcement and Advisory Group Constitution'. From early 1952 until the signed day of the Armistice Agreement. The next subject of the ROKAF which attains an operational independence is to extend a size in order to face North Korea Air Force and to support the ROK Army. The ROKAF drew up `ROKAF 3-Year Plan' which requests the potential assistance and establishment of the air force advisory group which is a window of war potential assistance. The ROKAF tried to elicit a favorable response of this blue print. Although the US Government refuse the plan, but the establishment of the air force advisory group was authorized. There are some implications in the relationship between the ROKAF and the 6146th Unit. First, is an effort of operational independence. If the ROKAF did not conduct the effort for operational independent by expansion of self ability, the ROKAF must be satisfied as one unit of the United States Air Force and couldn't make his own voice. The ROKAF's efforts were accomplished from all fields of operation division training. When the operational capability arrives to the every critical point, the ROKAF was actively created a training circumstance and improved combatant abilities. After operational inspection, the ROKAF proved his capability systematically and grandly accomplished an operation with the name of the ROKAF. Second, is an air power reinforcement effort. The ROKAF developed the air force expansion campaign to the ROK and the United States Governments. ROKAF acquired fighter jets by his own effort and approved front deployment plan of the combat troops. Also visualized 3 years plan for the future air force build up opportunity. The important thing is the relationship between the ROKAF and the 6146th Unit. It was not biased to ‘support’ or ‘supported'. The directing point of the ROKAF goes over operational independence passed from securing battle ability and went over with war potential reinforcement. And the role of the 6146 Unit was from battle accomplishment changed in location of director and military advisor. By this kind of relationship, they could achieve both objectives which are a operational capability improvement and a war potential reinforcement of the ROKAF.

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