U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 5 (of 5): Operations in West KoreaUnited States. Marine Corps
History
U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 5 (of 5): Operations in West Korea
United States. Marine Corps
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Campaigns; United States. Marine Corps -- History -- Korean War, 1950-1953
Quite naturally the episode brought forth high praise for the
rescue system, and particularly for those individuals whose skills,
initiative, and courage made downed crew rescues of this type possible.
But Colonel Galer also saw some weaknesses. He pointed out that rescue
helicopter pilots should be kept up to date on changing enemy flak
positions. The Marine group commander also stressed the need for rescue
helicopters to establish and maintain a minimum safe fuel level which
would depend largely upon the position of the downed aircraft. One
final suggestion, not about the system but the aircraft itself, was
that fixed-wing aircraft have ejection-type seats. Remembering his
own difficulties, the MAG-12 commander further cautioned pilots to be
certain they were free of all straps and cords before bailing out.
In addition to attack missions by tactical aircraft and rescue work by
its helicopters, the Marine wing was also responsible for providing
antiaircraft defense. It was not until July 1951, 13 months after
the NKPA invasion of South Korea, that a formal air defense had been
established for the country. Fifth Air Force was given the command
responsibility of coordinating the aerial defense net for South Korea
and its adjacent sea frontiers. In mid-November 1951, the FAF commander
had revised the defensive system, dividing his area into a northern
and southern sector, at a point exactly halfway between the 36th and
37th Parallels.
FAF commanded the northern air defense sector while the southern sector
became the responsibility of CG, 1st MAW. In turn, these two sectors
were further divided into subsectors. Each of these, through a tactical
air direction center (TADC), maintained radar surveillance of its
assigned area and performed plotting and identification functions. Each
subsector was charged with being “directly responsible for sector air
defense.”[102]
[102] Futrell, _USAF, Korea_, p. 616.
Although the 1st MAW commander had been designated as the Air Defense
Commander, Southern Sector, Korea, he was not actually given the means
to carry out this responsibility. He still did not have command over
his tactical squadrons, nor could he exercise control over operations
of his tactical air coordination center (TACC) or TADC.[103] Moreover,
his southern sector could not originate practice air warning messages.
The wing commander had to obtain permission from JOC before he could
begin practice intercepts for training his radar intercept controllers.
[103] TACC is the senior agency for controlling all tactical
aircraft and air warning functions; the TADC performs
similar functions in an area controlled by the TACC. JCS,
_Dictionary of United States Military Terms for Joint
Usage_ (Short title: JD). JCS Pub. 1 (Washington, 1964),
p. 141, hereafter _JCS, JD_.
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