U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 1 (of 5): The Pusan PerimeterMontross, Lynn
History
U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 1 (of 5): The Pusan Perimeter
Montross, Lynn
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Campaigns; United States. Marine Corps -- History -- Korean War, 1950-1953
The workings of the control organization of the Brigade air-ground team
in the Pusan Perimeter have been described as follows in the survey of
the Marine Corps Board Study:
“Battalion TACP’s made requests for air support missions direct by
TAR net to the Air Support Section. The regimental TACP and Brigade
Air Section monitored this net. The Brigade control agency having
received a request for a mission, contacted the TAC and the Flight
Leader (FL) of the aircraft orbiting on station awaiting a mission.
The TAC and the FL were then directed to the vicinity of the TACP
from whom the request had originated.
“The TACP controlled the execution of the mission in accordance with
the wishes of the battalion commander. The TACP gave the location of
the target to the TAC. The latter designated the target to the FL and
his flight of supporting aircraft. The unit being supported marked
its front lines. The TAC directed the attacking aircraft in making
attacks on the target. His directions related to the technique of
attacking specific targets with aircraft. Control of the attack was
exercised by the ground unit being supported.
“In many instances the TAC or the TAO would locate targets not yet
located by ground units. This was often done in response to a request
from ground units. Both the TAC and TAO located targets beyond the
vision of ground units, and both were capable of, and did, designate
these targets to flights of supporting aircraft and directed attacks
on such targets, when requested to do so by ground units. Conditions
favored delegating control to forward TACP’s beyond convenient VHF
range between them and the Brigade (Air Support Section). Brigade
attack formations frequently consisted of battalions in column.
The forward battalion was free to employ air support at a moment’s
notice.”
This was the situation on the afternoon of 11 August 1950 as the 3d
Battalion of the 5th Marines attacked toward Sachon, followed by 2/5
in trace. Overhead a flight of VMF-323 Corsairs orbited on station,
and OY observers reported the enemy to be pulling back rapidly toward
Sachon.
How Company led the Marine attack, with lead tanks employing
reconnaissance by fire. At 1800, after the column had covered several
miles, a lone enemy machinegun in a valley on the left held up the
advance by wounding three Marines. By the time the tanks silenced the
weapon with .50-caliber fire, it was decided to halt. Taplett deployed
his battalion on two hills north of the road, and the infantrymen
settled down for a quiet night.
The gravel crunchers could thank air and other supporting arms for
an impressive demonstration of power that day. There was even the
suggestion of an amphibious operation in the Brigade advance, for
an LST followed the column and anchored near the fishing village of
Tanghong-ni after the securing of Kosong.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account