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This page is graphically intense with long load times due to photos. However, the photos and narratives by the men who served at Osan Air Base makes the wait well worthwhile. The opinions expressed are those of the author and in no way represents any official statement of Osan AB or the USAF. 
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Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Jack Terwiel, Capt, USAF (Ret) of the Osan Retired Activities Office and Ken Shallenberger (1974-1976) for his photos. Thanks for the photos of Harry Tezlaf for his photos of his second tour in Osan. Special thanks to Jackie Turner, 7th AF Historian, and John Okonski, 51st FW Historian, for their assistance with photos and guidance on the history of Osan AB. Thanks to the 36th Fiends site for the use of its materials dealing with the 36th TFS. Thanks to the 51st FW History Office for use of their photos. Special thanks to Ms. Jin Dal-lae of the Jisan-dong Ward Office for taking the time to research and provide historical materials on Songtan and Pyongtaek. Much of the information on Pyongtaek and the Songtan area extracted from the Pyeongtaek History, Pyeongtaek Si Sa. Thanks to the Songbuk Elementary School for permission to use their photos from their private collection.  View of Osan AB (USAF Photo) THIS IS A WORK IN-PROGRESS AND FACTS ARE BEING ADDED/DELETED DURING THIS PROCESS. THIS IS NOT A COMPLETED HISTORY.1975Commander, 51st Composite Wing (Tactical), Osan AB: Col. Vernon H. Sandrock, Aug. 12, 1975 -- June 15, 1977The following are photos of a trip to Seoul on the tollway by Ken Shallenbarger posted to the Osan Retired Activities Office. Of note is the construction that is going on in Seoul with high-rise apartments going up. The Miracle of the Han was starting with increased affluence. Factories were being built and the economy was booming. The ROK government established a protectionist system where by it exported, but limited imports. This would be a bone of contention well into the 1990s when it entered the World Trade Organization (WTO) after its signing of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT). Prior to the transformation to an export economy, the ROK relied of foreign currency from the remittances of its labor force overseas. Now it took its construction industry that had built cities in Saudi Arabia, Libya and elsewhere and turned it onto the local economy. With government subsidized housing, small apartments (15 pyong) sprouted everywhere to house the lower classes. Unfortunately, it was also during this period that the Chaebols (family-owned businesses protected by the government) started gaining extreme wealth and power -- but kept in check by the iron-fist of President Park Chung-hee. There still was an absence of cars on the highways. The explosion of Korean cars on the highways was not until the mid-1980s-early 1990s when the newly-emerged Korean middle class would start owning their own cars. Then the infrastructure weakness in roads was heightened with massive traffic jams -- especially during holiday seasons.
Songtan Area: ROK Self-Help Programs under President Park Chung-hee and his administration were demonstrated following planned courses of action designed to build national fiber, bolster cultural pride and promote self-reliance. A primary viehicle for this purpose continued to be the community development program (Saemaul Undong) designed to help the rural population attain economic self-sufficiency. During 1977 all villages completed the programs's first phase as average annual rural income rose to 1.5 million won ($2,887), exceeding average urban earnings. In Sep, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced plans to release $1.08 billion to improve living conditions and the overall environment in the less developed rural villages in order to achieve more balanced economic growth, facilitate the nation's modernization process at the grass roots level, and help curb rural migration to the cities.
Park Chung-hee Meets With Osan AB Commanders In 1975 Park Chung-hee visited the Songtan and Osan AB areas. At that time, the Osan AB commander requested another road to access MSR-1 due to the congestion along the one road (Shinjang Road) currently used. Park Chung-hee gave his approval. Also the expansion of the road to connect to the Hill 180 Gate to the Main Gate was approved. Prior to 1975, it was simple a dirt road up Milwal and then winding alleys to the Hill 180 gate. There was a small road from the Hill 180 gate that ran down the ridgeline to near Seojong-ni station and then left to Seojong-ni or right to K-6 at Anjung-ni. In one sense, this project tied in with Park Chung-hee's Saemual Undong (New Village Program) as it would aid in the growth of Songtan with a lot of the self-help labor coming from the community itself. The ROK government proceeded with its programs to electrify the villages and replace thatch-roofed houses with tile roofs thus erecting electric poles to the farm hamlets surrounding the Shinjang area -- including Namsan-teo, Jwa-dong, Jungang-dong and Jisan-dong areas. The road expansion projects in Songtan fell under the Saemaul Undong (New Village) Program. Though initially conceived as a rural self-help program, in 1977 it was extended to Seoul and other urban centers as a means of aiding low-income residents. The focus of the urban renewal projects in slums and commercial areas, a conservation program to reduce waste of oil, electricity, water in government offices and business firms, and initiation of monthly neighborhood meetings with community leaders to discuss urban problems and formulate new Saemual programs. (Source: USFK/EUSA Annual History (1977), p83) The US had agreed to give the ROK a $2 million AID loan to finance surveys on various economic projects during the ROK's third five-year economic plan (1972-1976) (Source: The US Military Experience in Korea 1871-1982, p158, Command Historian's Office, USFK/EUSA). Similar aid was forthcoming for the ROK's fourth five-year economic plan. Politically, it was wise to give the Americans anything they wanted dealing with the improvements to the area. In the long-run, they were funding the improvements through grants and aid. The second reason Park Chung-hee would have supported this project was it would have employed a large group of the workers that were laid off after the massive Seoul-Pusan road was completed. Some of these displaced crews were now expanding and upgrading roads to the secondary towns in Korea. The construction companies that came about due to the Seoul-Pusan project would prove to be the backbone of the Miracle of the Han drive to industrialize the country as it trained unskilled laborers (coolies) into skilled equipment operators and construction workers. As "chaebols" (government sponsored conglomerates), these construction companies enabled Seoul to be rapidly built up into a city of high-rise apartments and soon branched out into other labor-intensive manufacturing areas. (SITE NOTE: The Seoul-Pusan highway opened up on 30 Jun 1970. The $1.4 billion project for the 267-mile highway was a solely ROK project that took three years to build. However, once completed thousands of laborers were idled. Many of these skilled laborers became the backbone of the spectacular high-rise growth in Seoul, while others would be exported to projects in the Middle East. Though the World Bank and other financial groups had condemned the Seoul-Pusan highway as foolhardy, it proved to be the spark that became the Miracle of the Han.) The construction would start almost immediately as very little planning was needed to construct an overpass and lay out the grid pattern for the area. The process of condemning the land for public domain was not a problem. Under a dictatorship such as Park Chung-hee's it was simply a formality -- and did not need to be fought in the courts. People were offered monetary compensation in lieu of replacement land. In all cases, the money offered was a pitiance that did not cover expenses. If the people were "squatters" -- as many North Korean refugees were -- they were simply evicted. TDY GI Remembers Songtan Kalani O'Sullivan was with the 610 MASS out of Yokota AB, Japan (1972-1976) and used to fly into Osan TDY sometimes. Kalani stated in March 2005: This was over thirty years ago so the memories are rather fuzzy. I remember in mid-1970s when the Songtan area was really very small. To be truthful, I was NOT impressed with Songtan at all. We had numerous TDYs into Osan between 1974 - 1976 so they seem to blur together. Our time on the ground was used to recover and turn our aircraft for the next day's launch. If we were lucky, we would have some time downtown to toss back some beers.  MOH winner Col Lewis L. Millet with Col Richard Phillips, 51st FW Commander (6 Oct 1975) (Stars and Stripes) MOH Winner Visits Osan AB Reflecting on what he saw and heard during those observances, Millett said, "you have to stop and think of the price we paid, but one thing about it, the people here have done something amazing with the bloodshed that happened here 25 years ago. "They've proven that we were right in coming over here and helping them retain their independence," he continued. "I was surprised, I never expected it," he said of winning the nation's top award for heroism in combat. "Of course, a lot of real fine people had to die so that a few might get decorated. There's an awful lot of men who lie buried over here, and the only recognition they received was the purple heart." (See 13 Oct 1975 Stars and Stripes article for writeup.) The Diamond Area The Diamond area has always been the heart of the operations of Osan AB. View of Osan AB (USAF Photo)  Within the Diamond areas, hangars provided space for various aircraft activities: scheduled inspections; landing gear tests; weighing of aircraft; major work and maintenance of fuel systems and airframes; and technical order compliance and modifications. These activities can be more effectively accomplished while the aircraft is under complete cover. Hangars provided covered floor space to accommodate aircraft. The maintenance hangars are a mix of those constructed in the 1950s -- and upgraded in the 1970s -- to those built in the 1980s. The first large hangars were constructed for the F-86s in Diamond A in the 1950s and these were later used by the Matadors in the late 1960s. The aircraft maintenance facilities included: aircraft maintenance hangars, special purpose hangars, hangar access aprons, weapons system support shops, aircraft system testing and repair shops, aircraft parts storage, corrosion control facilities, and special purpose maintenance pads. The aircraft maintenance area included utilities, roadways, fencing, and security facilities and lighting. The aircraft maintenance facilities allowed simplified access among maintenance areas, aircraft, and support areas. Aviation operations support facilities included those facilities that directly supported the flying mission. Operations support included air traffic control, aircraft rescue and firefighting, fueling facilities, airfield operations center (airfield management facility), squadron operations/aircraft maintenance units, and air mobility operations groups. In the 1970s-2000s, the helicopter alert pads were located adjacent to the taxiway near Diamond B. Aircraft fuel storage and dispensing facilities are provided. Operating fuel storage tanks are provided where dispensing facilities are remote from bulk storage. Bulk fuel storage areas are accessible by tanker-truck. Both bulk storage and operating storage areas provide for the loading and parking of fuel vehicles to service aircraft. Hydrant fueling systems are authorized. Aviation fuel storage and operating areas also require lighting, fencing, and security alarms. On 5 April 1986, a 40,000 gallon fuel tank (located outside Diamond A) exploded killing in the initial blast one USAF NCO and fourteen contractor personnel who were cutting the grass nearby. Over the past 50 plus years, different forms of protection were built for aircraft and munitions stored within the Diamond area.
 Matador Missile on Diamond A (30 Dec 1958) (USAF Photo) After the Matadors were decommissioned, Osan AB had no active wing, however, many aircraft staged out of Osan AB including Forward FAC aircraft.    The 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron flying the OV-10A Broncos was assigned to the 314th Air Division on 15 Jan 1972 at Osan AB. On 30 Sept 1974, it was assigned to the 51st Composite Wing at Osan AB when the Wing assumed control of the base. Marvin Metzinger wrote in Aug 2007, "The A diamond belonged to the 19TASS, they worked almost exclusively with the US and ROK Army, and were part of the 5 TAC Air Gp, 314 AD. We had very little contact with them and even their Sqdrn building was fenced off and required an escort to enter. Around 1980 they became part of the 51 wing (the Tac Air Gp went away) and merged some offices, like Stan/Eval and Wing Weapons. Then the units began to work together more closely and even had parties together. Prior to that, we hardly knew them and rarely met any of their aircrews or maintenance personnel. Like all FACs, they would deploy with the army units and be gone for weeks at a time. They sort of operated in their own little 'sphere' of operations, 5 TacAir Gp and 314 AD, during the 1970s.  OV-10 Coming out of Osan Hangar (1979) (USAF Photo)  Diamond B: The Det 1, 347th TFW operations (35th, 36th and 80th TFS) had been pulling nuclear alerts in the Diamond area since 1958 with F-100s. The alerts continued with F-105s (1968) and F-4s (1968-1971) on one-month rotations out of Yokota AB, Japan. Though Osan AB was much more "civilized" than Kunsan, it had no real alert facilities until August 1958. Operation "Big Nickel" [would] redeploy 20 F-100 aircraft and 90 personnel from K-8 to K-55. (Source: Baugher site: B-57:) This was the move of the 8th TFW from Kunsan (K-8) to Osan (K-55) in 1958. USAF Memories: Dick Seeley stated, "Later in the year we moved our detachment operations to Osan AB, Korea and we took on a more serious mission." Later the 8th TFW would move their alert operations to Kadena, but in 1960 would move the alert back to Osan AB after the alert facilities were built.)" The "more serious mission" was standing nuclear alerts with their F-100s. The new "alert facilities" were Building 1185 near Diamond B. The special weapons were stored revetted bunkers in the center of Diamond C.  36th TFS F-100 #356. (1958) (Kiyo Noriye) During the Pueblo Incident, the Diamond area was a hive of activity. During the intial hours of the Pueblo Incident when no one knew what was going on, the alert forces of Det 1, 347th TFW with their F-105s were observed uploading their special weapons, then downloading them and uploading conventional weapons, then repeating the process. (NOTE: These were still the 35th, 36th and 80th TFS who had been transferred to the 347th after the 8th TFW departed to George AFB.)   (L) F-105s of 12th TFS, 18th TFW at Osan AB (R) 12th TFS Ops Bldg (Jan 1968) (Tom Utts) Soon the F-105s from the 18th TFW arrived to take on the conventional alert and the Det 1, 347th TFW returned to their nuclear alert. The following is from Tango Way relating Bill Bayless' experiences during the Pueblo Incident while deployed to Osan. He was an Engine Mechanic of the 18th TFW at Kadena and was part of the contingent that immediately deployed with their F-105s to Osan AB on 23 Jan. He stated, "We lived in barracks on the alert pad. The nuclear weapons bunker was across the street. The barracks consisted of four bays with a central shower and latrine. We put ninety-six men in a barracks designed for thirty-two. I set my alarm for 0300 so that I might have some hot water for a shower." In this, he is talking of staying in the Building 1185 between Diamonds B and C while the nuclear weapons bunkers were in the center of Diamond C.  Barracks
The Det 1, 347th continued their nuclear and air defense alert commitment at Osan. A former pilot wrote, "I was PCS’d to Yokota, AB with the 36th TFS after the Pueblo Incident in January 1968. Over the next 3 years, I pulled TDY duty in Korea with 90+% at K-55/Osan, AB. I was an F4 Pilot and remember: Pulling Nuke Alert, from the "Greenhouse" and the Diamond. Pulling Air Defense alert, conventional alert,..." In early 1971, the Det moved all their F-4C equipment to Kunsan to assist in the changeover of the 35th and 80th TFS to the 3rd TFW. Later the 36th TFS joined the 3rd TFW but returned to Osan AB in Oct 1971. In Nov 1971, the 51st ABW took over Osan AB and the 19th TASS joined the wing. In 1974, the 36th TFS was assigned to the 51st Composite Wing.
 "The Green house (Bldg 1185) is directly south of the 'doorstop' ramp along the taxiway, between B and C diamonds. If you ran out of the Greenhouse front door, thru the ditch and gate in the perimeter taxiway fence, you would be on the doorstop. The doorstop area was sometimes used for a 'scramble scenarios' and exercises for the 36th. It allowed the aircrews to stay at ops and physically run to the acft parked on the doorstop ramp. When the families were around (1980s), the doorstop area was used for Santa to pull up and distribute candy to the kids or group photos - see 1984 photo (it was the preferred location for photos, because it didn't require a lot of 'coordination' to arrange, nor disrupt Mx actions in diamond)."  Later Marvin wrote, "That picture shows the generator buildings on the east side of 1185 bldg. Because the 15 TRS and 36 TFS alert facilities were in the building, there were large electrical generators connected to the building. They provided emergency power to 1185 in case of power failure to the base or just to our bldg. It was funny, we had a test scheduled every month to make sure the generators would work when needed. But we never, never had to test them because the power went off so regularly, that whenever they 'kicked on' we would annotate that as the monthly test! That also reminded me of the mini-tower. It was torn down in the late 70's (maybe early 80's), but it was on the roof of the Greenhouse and was the alternate/emergency tower. There was a small structure in about the middle of the roof that had radios, lights, etc. for relocation of the tower personnel. Once a quarter, when I was the plans officer, I would fire up the systems and do radio, lights and operational checks from the rooftop tower. One of the strange little things you remember! Ha!"  Diamond B (Marvin Metzinger) (Click to enlarge) (Note that the ammo bunker area were not there. It was a flow through area. The 36th alert area was comprised of two movable fences to switch between a small alert configuration or to encompass the entire Diamond B.  Marvin went on, "The F-4Es were on alert in the B Diamond and the Recce's were in the C Diamond. One leg of B diamond was fenced off for alert acft. There was a gate guard (SP) at the entrance near Bldg 1185. The fence that crossed the taxiway was removable and the entire B diamond was then 'contained' as a alert area. For example, in 1976 when the 'Tree Incident' occurred, the entire B Diamond was an alert area because nearly every acft was put on alert. Six of the Sqdrn acft were on 5 min, 6 were on 15 min alert and the remaining flyable acft were on 30 min. The entire Sqdrn lived in the 'Greenhouse' for about 6 to 8 weeks? Can't remember exactly how long we stayed on 'heightened' alert status, but it was quite a while, more that a month! really a tense time in ops. Marvin continued, "Like the 19 TASS, in the 1970s we hardly had any contact with them (15th TRS). They were 'locked' behind the iron door and we were "doin' our own thing" - it sounds a little strange, I know. But the 36th was always undermanned, as were most units at Osan, so we worked long hours, and rarely had time to socialize. "When I first got to Osan, we flew 5 days a week, did FCFs and other issues on Sat and then usually had a half day of 'ground school' for all the aircrews on Sunday. It was real hard to remember what day of the week it was, they all just ran together. After the Tree incident (Aug 1976), we got some time off and soon went to 5 1/2 day work weeks, with ground school and FCFs, etc. on Saturdays and ususally had Sundays off, unless you were on alert. "Alert took a lot of our time. Each aircrew was on alert about 3 or 4 times a month, for 24 or 48 hrs depending on the type of alert. My first tour, time really flew by because we were so busy, but almost nothing was done outside the Ops bldg. Everyday, zero dark early wake up from BOQ to Ops (tried to stop by the PO on the way to or from to check mail), almost always went to the O'Club for dinner (no other dining was available for Officers), then back to the BOQ (maybe some card playing or letter writing, lots of times mission planning for the next day's flight(s), that is about all we did. When we started getting Sunday's off, that's when Paradise Lake became real popular and the hills around that area - the first real 'free time' we aircrews had seen since I arrived.  36th TFS F-16C Blk 40 in front of Whiskey Arch (USAF Photo) Diamond C: Marvin Metzinger wrote in Aug 2007, "The C diamond was divided into four sections, 1,2 3,4. 1 was closest to the runway on the west side, belonged to the Jolly Greens. Two bldgs for maintenance, 2 bldgs for spare acft, one bldg was their ops bldg and alert facility. That was the bldg with the pad in front, just off of the taxiway (don't remember bldg numbers). (NOTE: Starting in September 1964, Osan AB was supported by the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), 36th Air Rescue Service (ARS), Detachment 4. The unit flew the HH-43B Huskie which was dubbed "Pedro." Two HH-43B Pedros were assigned to Osan AB -- aircraft 60-251 and 60-252 as of September 64. Assigned under the under the Air Rescue Service (ARS) based in the Pacific Air Force (PACAF) region. The MATS, 36th ARS, Det 4 became Provisional Air Rescue Component (PARC), Det 9 on 25 July 1965 and remained with this designator until 8 January 1966. MATS changed to the Military Airlift Command (MAC) in 1969. On Dec 1969, the designator changed to MAC, PARRC, Det 4. The unit designator of MAC, 41st ARRW (Air Rescue and Recovery Wing), Det 9 which it maintained from February 1969 through June 1970. The Jolly Greens was Det 13, 4485ARRWg (Jolly Greens) with the HH-53 in the 1970s.) "Section 2 was closest to the munitions storage area on the west, that was the Recce area. The revetments with the high dirt mounds around them. "Section 3 was used for 'Special' Alert, T-33 parking, and along with section 4 was the usual location for the PI F-4 acft when they arrived for ORIs, exercises or to replace our deployed acft for Cope Thunder, Sage, etc. Also used for Xcountry acft. Just off this area is the U-2 buildings and ramp. They had two hangars and an ops bldg. The acft was prep'd and then taxi'd out quickly to TO w/o stopping, except at the end of runway for final checks. The 3rd Generation area, the flowthrough area, Txy AA and JJ were all 1980's projects, don't remember the dates for sure, but early 80s, 82or 83? The "special weapons" (nuclear devices) were stored in the middle of Diamond C in revetted bunkers. With the movable security fences, the "special weapons" could be transported within the secure area directly to the aircraft on Diamond C. (SITE NOTE: The nuclear SIOP previously handled by the Det 1, 347th TFW and then handed off to the 36th TFS was moved to 18th TFW at Kadena in 1974. In 1977, it was a tertiary mission and nuclear training was for familiarization purposes only. In fact, in late 1977 the nuclear storage facilities at Osan AB were closed. Nuclear Weapons storage shifted to Camp Ames at Waegan near Taegu. (Source: Nautilus.org.))  Osan Korea - DET II Here is a pilot being readied for flight. The steps up to the a/c are covered for two reasons: keep the sun/heat off of the pilot and to keep prying eyes from seeing what's going on. (1981) (Mike Troiano) (SITE NOTE: This is on the U-2 Ramp with the large hangar behind it.) The U-2 Black Cats of the 5th TRS celebrated its 30th Anniversary at Osan AB in 2006. In Mar 1975 the 100th SRW with its U-2s were ordered to deploy to Osan AB, Korea. (See U-2: 1976) In 1976, Detachment 2, 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (later the 5th RS, 9th RW) began monitoring and intelligence-gathering duties. Construction of a 4,500 square foot building for the tenant organization flying the U-2 aircraft was worked on by the 554th CESHR (RED HORSE) a twelve-hour shift, seven days per week. The entire facility was renovated, painted, and occupied within ten calendar days. They have been in the same location on Diamond C ever since their first U-2 arrival in the 1975. The U-2s screaming engines are heard throughout Songtan whenever it takes off and lands -- a daily occurrence for thirty years.      36th TFS F-4Es over Diamond C (1984) (USAF Photo) (NOTE: Notice the Jolly Green Ops bldg in the lower right-hand corner. The Jolly alert pad is outside the diamond, next to the taxiway A on a small pad in front of their Ops bldg. There is a helicopter on the alert pad. The helicopters on Diamond C are either in maintenance or parked, In the center of Diamond C are the "special weapons" revetted bunkers. To the left in front of the two large hangers is the U-2 pad. To the lower left corner of the picture is the Base Ops ramp.) Diamond D: In the 1950s, Diamond D was where the F-86s of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing (December 1952 - November 1954) were revetted. After that the 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing (March 1955 - November 1957) parked their F-86s in the area, but after the MAC ramp (Military Airlift Command) was added, its "diamond shape" was erased. In the 1950s, the F-86s were in low revetted positions at the base of Hill 170. After the Korean War, the area was used for cargo aircraft with the base flight aircraft near Base Operations. The area was expanded in the 1960s to accomodate more cargo aircraft and removing the "legs" of the diamond. In 1975, the 611th MASS took over the area with the new expanded MAC ramp to accommodate C-5A aircraft -- the first landing being in 1972. The Marshalling area and MAC ramp were expanded in the 1970s -- and now is called the AMC Ramp (Air Mobility Command). On 17 Aug 1978 the 554th CESHR (Red Horse) completed construction of revetments on "D" Diamond at Osan AB. Prior to this, on 1 August 1978, the quick turn construction project at Osan AB commenced, with an estimated completion date of 1 December 1978, This project would be the largest construction project ever attempted by a Red Horse unit in Korea since the Korean War. (Source: HQ 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) Chronology 30 November 1940 - 31 December 1980)  2nd South African Air Force (2SAAF) F-86 with base of Hill 170 in background. Now the Cargo Marshalling area and called Diamond D. (1953) (John Batchelder)  67th FBS with early tail markings. Base of Hill 170 in background. Now the MAC Ramp area and called Diamond D. (1953) (John Batchelder)  Base Camouflage Scheme a Success -- BUT Perhaps Too Much So Marvin Metzinger wrote in Aug 2007, "The camouflage of the taxiways and runways. This was not the typical Korean 'squiggle paint' on buildings, seen all over the ROK. This was a real effort to camo the base. That was a project in 1980 (I think that was the date, between 79 and 81) directed by Higher HQ, forgot the name - Project Warrior (?don't remember, for sure?). But, WOW did it work well! The base 'virtually' disappeared from the air! Transient aircraft, MAC aircrews, etc. complained that they couldn't find the base - if the Instrument landing systems were not ON and working! Even for us local area aircrews, it took a while before we could comfortably find the runway environment. Most pilots looked for the river, and then the 'hook or bend' until they found the base area - this depended on the rains and river level, of course! "The runway was done very well and several people tried to land on the taxiway A, more than once! A and B diamonds were so well done that from the air, it was hard to locate them, at all! The 'H TAC' building had almost disappeared into the side of the hill! It went from a standout target, to a really difficult to find area that blended into its surrouondings. Pilots had to find entirely new visual clues to locate the runway and surroundings from the air. The MAC ramp was almost non-existent! Some of that camo can still be seen on the ramp and notice how the sides of the ramp areas just 'disappear' into the surrounding.  Camouflage of Osan AB (Marvin Metzinger) (Click to enlarge) "Some of the roads on the main base and non-tactical buildings tended to standout, because they were not involved/re-painted. So there was discussion as to how far the camo effort needed to continue. At the end of phase one, we were given a briefing on the 'success' of the project and plans for the second phase, which I don't think ever happened. It consisted of deception camo, like - painting cars, sidewalks, or parking lot lines on a rooftop, painting bldgs on a roadway, a water tower on a large bldg, etc. I don't know if it was a funding issue, or complaints from the transient aircrews, or why it was stopped. It was amazing how effective it was. "There were plans to expand the camo'd areas in phase two, but for some reason it was stopped/cancelled. I wasn't part of the group involved, so I don't know the details. But as suddenly as it happened, it just stopped, I never new why? The only reason we ever came up with, was that it didn't fit in with the 'beautification of the base' ideas that were being proposed at the time. I think, in an effort to make the base more 'family friendly' and attract more accompanied tours. We speculated that it made 'the wives' and non-combatants in Hq staff feel like they were in a 'combat zone' (they were!) and was not conducive to promoting accompanied tours. It was and is a great idea for any base that takes its mission seriously, it was VERY effective! 611th MASS Moves to Osan AB On 15 January 1975, the 611th was moved to Osan AB, Korea. On 1 January 1972, it became a direct reporting unit under the 61 MASW upon deactivation of the 65 MASG. In October 1978, for reasons of geographical proximity, the 611 MASS became a subordinate of the newly established 316th Tactical Airlift Group (TAG) at Yokota AB. It was the only one of the four MASSs in the Pacific not to be aligned under the also newly established 834th Air Lift Division (ALD) located at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. On 1 November 1983, the 611th realigned under the 834 ALD, where it remained until 1 April 1992, at which time the 834 ALD was deactivated. The 611th would then report directly to Headquarters, 22nd Air Force at Travis AFB California. On 1 June 1992, when the Military Airlift Command reorganized and became the Air Mobility Command, the 611th was re-designated as the 611th Air Lift Support Squadron and placed under the 603d Air Lift Support Group at Kadena AB. At this same time, the 611th Aerial Port Squadron was deactivated. On 1 July 1994 the 611th was re-designated as the 631st Air Mobility Support Squadron. With this name change came the realignment of the unit under the 615th Air Mobility Support Group tying us once again to Hickam AFB, Hawaii as it was in the beginning, over 40 years ago... On 15 Mar 2001, the 631st was re-designated as the 731st Air Mobility Squadron. Along with this change, the 615th changed it's name to the 715th Air Mobility Operations Group. (Source: Osan AB Public Affairs) Osan Developments: Osan AB was judged the most improved base in the Pacific during FY75, is the first recipient of the newly established PACAF Commander's Award.
The following is from Robert G."Andy" Anderson's Red Horse Country:
36th TFS Developments 14 Jul 1975 F-4Es participated in the Sin Gal Highway Airstrip Landing Exercise, the first of its kind in South Korea during Team Spirit 75. Several highways in South Korea are designed for emergency use as landing strips. (Source: 36th Fiends History.) (SITE NOTE: On June 7, 1976. the Team Spirit Exercise was first carried out. This type of exercise had been carried out for years in Korea testing the forces from Japan, Okinawa and stateside. However, this was the first time they were tied together into an all-encompassing scenario that tasked various units in the war skills that they would be expected to perform in the event of an invasion by North Korea. Instantly, North Korea rattled its sabre threatening violence. It continued to rattle its sabre for the entire time that Team Spirit was in existence. (Source: The US Military Experience in Korea 1871-1982, p194, Command Historian's Office, USFK/EUSA) Kalani O'Sullivan wrote in Aug 2007, "I was with the 610MASS pushing Marines/Army on USAF C-130s from Iwakuni-Osan-Taegu-Kadena-Clark on these exercises in Korea during 74-76 -- while fixing any C-141/C-5s that were broke in Korea at any base we stopped at as a side duty. At that time, Team Spirit was simply another *&(^*(* exercise -- and not the monster it grew into later. We lived for two years with 15 days at home and one month on the road -- with too many divorces along the way to want to remember those days. In 75 perhaps the name wasn't official, but it certainly was Team Spirit.) Osan AB Developments On 28 Feb 1975 the 51st Services Squadron was inactivated. On 15 Apr the 6168th Air Base Squadron was reassigned to the 51st COMPW (T) from Hq 314th AD. The United Nations Command/USFK announced reduced dependent access to exchanges, commissaries, and Class VI (liquor) Stores. On 1 Dec 1975 the Pacific House Dining Facility was closed for a renovation project that would probably take six months. Enlisted personnel in the grades of E-6 and abover were once again given BAS due to the crowded conditions in the remaining Dining Facility. Two-year accompanied tours (seven in all) were granted for select key personnel assigned to the 51st COMPW(T) (Source: HQ 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) Chronology 30 November 1940 - 31 December 1980) USFK Developments On 3 Jan in responding to a US News & World Report release that major US military withdrawals from the ROK are in the offing, DOD reaffirmed that there was "no plan to reduce the present level of US forces in Korea." A similar pronouncement was made by President Ford during his 22-23 Nov 74 visit to the ROK. Present US strength is approximately 40,000. (Source: 8th Army Chronology (1975)) On 18 Jan a Japanese news agency claims the US has 3,500 tactical nuclear warheads deployed in the ROK, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines. The arsenal in Korea is reported to include 150 ADMs and 210 artillery munitions. (NOTE: The Air Defense Missiles (ADM) are the Nike-Hercules batteries which would be turned over to the ROK in 1978 -- minus the airburst warheads.) A variety of joint-exercises were instituted. On March 17, 1975, a small array of exercises, which had been carried out since 1961 were incorporated into the Doksuri (Foal Eagle) Exercise. On May 5 the Ulchi Exercise (ROK) and the Focus-Lens Exercise (the ROK and the US) were combined to become the Ulchi Focus-Lens Exercise. According to the New York Times on 12 Jun 1975 the War Scare eased in Seoul, but Both Koreas remained in a high state of military alert. A war scare swept through Seoul after the fall of Indochina but soon died down. Blackmarketing was becoming critical. On 20 May the command announced reduced dependent access to USFK exchanges, comissaries and Class VI outlets. Action is predicated by overtaxed physical and logistical resources and a ROK/US SOFA Joint Committee recommendation to alleviate the situation. After this date, dependents acquired in the ROK were to be authorized entrance to cited facilities only if they had spent one year or more with their sponsors out-of-country. Some 3,000 will be denied shopping privileges and ration control plates. Exceptions were to be made on a case-to-case basis. On 1 Nov 75 the USFK instituted a new ration control policy in order to curb black marketing and insure equitable distribution of goods. Changes reduce monthly amount families can spend in exchanges and increase dollar limit for unaccompanied personnel. Commissary purchase ceilings are increased for families of up to three persons, remain the same for those of four, and are reduced for larger households. Other major revisions include limitations on cosmetic purchases and a 20 percent liquor ration reduction for all individuals. (Source: 8th Army Chronology (1975)) On 20 Jun 1975, Secretary of Defense Schlesinger acknowledged that the US had tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Korea. He warned that America "cannot foreclose any option" in defending against a NK invasion, but adds that nuclear weapons would be used only as a last resort. (Source: The US Military Experience in Korea 1871-1982, p187, Command Historian's Office, USFK/EUSA) On 1 Jul 75, I Corps (ROK/US) Group commemorated the fourth anniversary of its reorganization as an integrated corps. The binational headquarters, situated 19 miles north of Seoul near Uijongbu, controlled a composite of ROKA/ROKMC/EUSA combat elements (12 divistion, 4 brigades) which comprised the largest Army corps in the Free World. (Source: 8th Army Chronology (1975)) (NOTE: This was the predecessor of the Combined Field Command when I Corps departed the country for Camp Zama, Japan and the hat was switched to the Commander of the USFK.) On 2 Jul 75 The National Observer reported that the DOD recently decided that relocation of the 2d US Infantry Division to a position south of Seoul was impossible due to the $500 million cost of such a move. (Source: 8th Army Chronology (1975)) (NOTE: In 2003 when the US announced unilaterally that the 2d ID would relocate south of the Han River to Pyeongtaek, the cost was estimated at $3.5 billion -- including the closure of Yongsan Garrison in Seoul. The ROK had wished to retain the 2d ID on the DMZ because it ensured a "tripwire" for guaranteeing the US involvement in case of a North Korean attack. In truth, the ROK was heavily dependent upon the USFK high-tech weaponry to defend the DMZ even though it had the responsibility for the entire DMZ -- minus the small UNC area at Panmunjeon. However at the same time, there was growing anti-Americanism and demands from "progressive" civic groups for the US forces to depart Korea.) On 25 Jul 1975 a DOD spokesman announced that the USAF fighter squadrons at Osan and Kunsan area at their normal 18-20 aircraft strength. Units had been operating at the 13-17 level during the Vietnam era. USFK manning increased from 38,000 back to 42,000 levels. (Source: The US Military Experience in Korea 1871-1982, p187, Command Historian's Office, USFK/EUSA) The UNC flag is removed from most US military installations in Korea on 9 Sep 1975 This action, begun on 16 August, leaves the flag at sites where approximately 300 US forces are directly connected with UNC functions and lowers it at those bases where American personnel are serving under the 1954 US-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty. AP reports the move is designed to counter the Communists' 11 August demand that US troops serving under the UN flag in Korea be withdrawn. (Source: The US Military Experience in Korea 1871-1982, p189, Command Historian's Office, USFK/EUSA) Surprisingly after the episodes of racial tension in Korea between Korean nationals and blacks, a Pentagon study announced on 17 Dec 75 revealed that the 2d ID has a greater ratio of blacks, 30.1 percent, than any other active Army division. It was reported that blacks consider Korea a good country with very little racial prejudice. The study shows that blacks comprise 31.7 percent of all first-term reenlistments, and that black strength in the Army rose from 17 to 22 percent between 1 Jul 72 and 1 Jan 75. (Source: 8th Army Chronology (1975)) ROK Developments The tensions on the peninsula increased. On March 19 Tunnel No. 2 was discovered. As a result, the ROK took measures to bolster their defense posture. On June 30 the ROK Combat Reserve Forces was created. On Sept. 22, the Civil Defense Corps was created. Internationally, on April 23, 1975, the ROK signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. (SITE NOTE: It was later found that Park Chung-hee had secretly attempted to gain nuclear weapons but was blocked by the US.) On 9 Apr 1975 some 3,000 youths from five universities clash with police in a "demand for restoration of democracy." President Park issued Emergency Measures 8 and 9. The former withdraws troops from and reopened Korea University which was closed on 8 Aprl due to student demonstrations. The latter banned all acts opposing the 1972 Yushin Constitution which strengthened presidential authority. It also limited the outflow of capital from the country. On 14 Jan at a nationally broadcast press conference, President Park said he would not oppose dissolution of the UNC provided that effective measures were implemented to maintain the 1953 Armistice Agreement. He adds that loss of the UN banner in Korea would have no bearing on the continued presence of American troops here, since they are deployed under the ROK/US Mutual Defense Treaty of 1954. On 3 Jul 75, among the nations backing the US 30 Jun proposal to the UN are Britain, Canada, Costa Rica, Japan, New Zealand, Uruguay and Netherlands. The resolution would dissolve the UNC by 1 Jan 76 provided US/ROK military officers are designated successors in command and the 1953 Armistice Agreement is continued. In Aug 75 some North Korean-supporting nations place a proposal on the agenda for the fall's UN General Assembly which called for the dissolution of the UNC, withdrawal of all foreign troops stationed in the ROK under the UNC, and a the replacement of the 1953 Armistice Agreement with a peace treaty. (Source: 8th Army Chronology (1975)) Interviewed by the New York Times, ROK President Park Chung-hee stated that his nation currently would need only US naval, air and logistics support to counter a NK attack if mounted without external aid from Communist allies. Further, given the expected completion of the $1.5 billion Military Assistance Program (MAP) for ROK force modernization and the anticipated raising of an addition $5 billion (US equivalent) in local defense taxes, he avered that by 1980 the ROK would not need American assistance to repel unsupported NK aggression. He asserted, however, that until strengthening of ROK forces was completed "...it is absolutely necessary for US forces in Korea to be kept at their present level." Commenting on relations with the North, he offered to meet personally with Kim Il-sung to discuss easing of tension on the peninsula. (Source: 8th Army Chronology (1975).) The UNC flag is removed from most US military installations in Korea on 9 Sep 1975 This action, begun on 16 August, leaves the flag at sites where approximately 300 US forces are directly connected with UNC functions and lowers it at those bases where American personnel are serving under the 1954 US-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty. AP reports the move is designed to counter the Communists' 11 August demand that US troops serving under the UN flag in Korea be withdrawn. (Source: The US Military Experience in Korea 1871-1982, p189, Command Historian's Office, USFK/EUSA) On 1 Aug 75 the ROK government dedicated the new National Assembly Building on Yoido, an islet just south of Seoul. Six years and 13.5 billion won ($27 million) were expended on the parliament structure, th largest of its kind in the Orient. A number of downtown Seoul government, civic and commercial buildings are being relocated to Yoido which is envisioned as a model urban center. Tensions over Human Rights Violations There was growing criticism of the Americans against human rights violations by the Korean government. In 1975, Jimmy Carter in running for President told the Washington Post that he saw no reason for American troops to be stationed in South Korea and that, if elected, he would pull them out along with the nuclear weapons stationed there. In the 1992 publication, Kim Young-Sam and the The New Korea (p99) it states, "Carter apparently wanted to removed the "trip-wire" U.S. force to avoid any possibility of an American entanglement in a future land war in Asia. But Carter also appeared to be motivated by his and his advisers' deep antagonism to the authoritarian government in South Korea and its violations of human rights. It appears that they were also heavily influenced by the so-called Koreagate scandal of 1971 involving a lobbyist for South Korea, Tong-sun Park, with ties to the Korean Central Intelligence Agency." Koreagate involved the dispersal of between $500,000 to $1 million annually in cash gifts and campaign contributions. President Jimmy Carter's plan to withdraw the ground troops of the US from South Korea caused grave concerns for the national security. The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff warned of the superiority of the North Korean forces, but did recommend a scaling down of the American forces.
1976 Songbuk Elementary School (1976) (Songbuk Elementary School) (NOTE: The soil embankment at the front of school has been replaced with concrete bleachers.)  Pyeongtaek girl students after school (1976) (John Madden) (NOTE: The school bags were standard for all students as this was prior to the backpack era. Girls most likely high school as middle school girls only allowed shoulder length hair. Uniforms were required for middle school and high school students. Notice the dress length indicating a strict dress code.) The Jaeil Theater was a fixture in Songtan since the 1960s. However, by the 1976 there was also the Seojung (later Jungang) Theater that was at the top of the Milwal Road as well. According to local residents, this theater could seat about 200, but never had more than 30 people at a time. The Jaeil Theater was up the street from the "Y" intersection leading to Shinjang Mall Road. (NOTE: Across the street from the Kyungmin Bank is the Woori Bank. Up the block at the florist, turn right and there is an empty area across from the Jungang Sauna. This is where the Jaeil Movie Theater was located.)  
(L) Jaeil Theater (Circa late 1970s) (51st FW Archives) (R) Jaeil Theater (1976) (Harry Tezlaf)  
(L) Old Jaeil Theater location (2005) (Kalani O'Sullivan) (Notice the house in the background of old photo and the house in this photo.) (R) Old Jaeil Theater location (2005) (Kalani O'Sullivan)  Tanhyeon Road (MSR-1) at the old intersection to the Shinjang Mall Road. (2005) (Kalani O'Sullivan) (The road is heading up the ridgeline. The Kyungmin Bank is on the left. Behind the bank was where the bus depot was. One block up to the right behind the Woori Bank was where the Jaeil Theater was.) Fatal Accident Off-base near Main Gate On 14 Aug 1976 a retaining wall near the main gate of Osan AB collapsed at approximately 0245 hours causing the deaths of three local nationals. (Source: HQ 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) Chronology 30 November 1940 - 31 December 1980) (SITE NOTE: In attempting to research this incident, long-time local Koreans stated that they seem to remember it, but not the specifics. The only area that there was a retaining wall near the main gate was on the Namsan-teo side. The Namsan Village road had not been built at the time and the perimeter was further out from the base than it is in the present. The perimeter extended out to the area where there was a spring directly below fenceline in the Aragon alley vicinity. The well -- now long sealed -- was used by the Chicol Village residents along with the well now sealed under the Young Chon Hotel. The well was at the base of the hill. The August date suggests that it might have been during the monsoon season creating weakened earth conditions and early morning hours suggests the wall collapsed onto some houses while the residents were inside. There is one area at the end of the old Aragon Alley where the hillside seems to have collapsed leaving a hole in the hillside, but we don't know if this is the area.) Construction on Shinjang Road Overpass Started Construction on the overpass officially started on 29 Sep 1976. The Milwal Road expansion had taken place with the left side (heading up the hill) being cut back about fifteen feet and the right side cut back about 7 feet. The Shinjang Road was straightened so that it went straight ahead to the Main Gate. Then the road was cut to the overpass. The people who lost their homes were compensated with money -- not land -- but the monetary sum didn't cover the personal losses. The majority of the people affected were the North Korean refugees who had resettled in the Milwal area. The first step in the construction was to widen Milwal Road by 7 feet on the right side and 3 feet on the left side (as one looked up the hill). The construction literally chopped homes in half to make way for the road expansion. The road to Hill 180 Gate was simply a graded dirt road that followed the perimeter. Mr. Son Kwang-chil, the owner of Hanyang Kalbi, has been a resident of Milwal Road since 1957. He watched the small dirt road widened on both sides that cut down the houses fronting the road. The monetary compensation amounted to very little. The second phase was to clear the path from the main gate to Milwal Road. They simply bulldozed the one-story shanty-town structures (that had just been replaced with concrete after the 1968 fire). Thus when the path was finally cleared, there were only one story structures along the two-lane Main Gate road. The third phase was to construct a road from the Main Gate Road to a planned overpass. The planned road would go over the overpass up to the Jwa-dong area. The road would continue over the Jwa-dong hill with with a road that would become Terminal Road. This area was the old shanty town area filled with twisted alleyways. The construction process was simply to raze a two-lane road straight ahead to the railroad tracks to allow the start of construction on the overpass in 1976. Mr. Oh Sun-soo and his family owned land just outside the Main Gate. The shop (GQ Tailor) and home was torn down to make way for the Milwal Road expansion. Of course, Mr. Oh Sun-soo complained that his family was not recompensed adequately -- holding up a "zero" hand sign gesture. However, the family picked up and restarted the business in a new location. The fourth phase was to construct the overpass. Construction on the overpass officially started on 29 Sep 1976 and was completed on 10 May 1977. It was constructed by the Kaelim Construction Company. The overpass was 15 feet wide and 180 feet long. Maximum carrying load was 54 tons. (Source: Marker on Shinjang Overpass Bridge) The road connected to MSR-1 (Jwadong Road). The fifth phase (after the overpass was completed) was to construct the Jungang Market Road along with the Rodeo Road (Fashion Road) from the Overpass. The "new" Jungang Market Road is where the Sambo Department Store was built and ran a block below the original Jungang Market Road and ran from the railroad spur parallel with the original Jungang Market road and curved up to meet the Shinjang Road near the Main Gate. Rodeo Road was cut from the overpass to the Shinjang Road. This area had been the "pink light" district that was off-limits after 10 pm. The road cut a two-lane road through the existing buildings and new construction was started on each side. The two story buildings built in the 1980s are easily identified as having ceramic tile facings. (NOTE: Though the lower floors have been extensively modified over the years, the upper floors still bare the ceramic tile facing on the buildings.) The sixth phase was to "modernize" the roads in the Songtan area into a grid system. (NOTE: Remember that in 1978, the population was concentrated around Osan AB and spreading out into the Songbuk dong area of the Morning Market (Songbuk Farmers Market).) The construction of the roads in this period can be differentiated from previous period roads as being laid out on a grid pattern, while older roads (alleys) followed the contour of the land -- and normally zig-zagged along till they ended in a dead end. At this time, the grid pattern was laid out in Shinjang 2-dong area starting just past the old structures of the shantiy town. One road was cut down the hill from Milwal Dong (at the present Capital Hotel) down through the old area and then ran diagonally to the base of the overpass. The rest of the roads ran in an east-west direction between north-south Milwal and Taegwang Roads. Starting at Songwang Church (Onori Church) and Songshin Elementary School, three east-west roads were cut from Taegwang School Road next to the railroad tracks to Milwal Road that followed the ridgeline to the west. The Taegwang School Road route was chosen because it was on elevated ground, while further west was the lower areas and rice fields that still were unreclaimed. The Taegwang School Road was cut from the overpass past the Taegwang Middle School and High School to the existing overpass that connected the road to the MSR-1 (Jijangdong Road). This overpass was extremely narrow and was expanded in 2002. The remainder of the land between Songtan and Seojong-ni was still rice fields. Also a grid pattern of narrow roads was also cut through the Seomi-ri and Jokbong areas and down the slopes of Milwal-dong, but for the most part followed the existing topographical pattern because of the two small hills at the base of Hill 180. The Hill 180 Gate Road was cut following the perimeter of Osan AB until it reached the Hill 180 Gate near Makum-ni. In effect, it simply widened selected existing alleyways that joined the Hill 180 Gate Road down the slope to Milwal Road running south. In the Jokbong area, the Milwal Road was intersected by an old path that ran along the ridgeline. This was also widened to connect to the narrow railroad overpass to Jijangdong and Taekwang School Road. During this process, the massive graveyard along the perimeter fence was relocated with much controversy by the local government. The graves were disinterred and the bones were cremated enmasse. The mass cremation stirred up much controversy as the graves belonged to mostly the North Koreans who had settled in the Milwal, Seomi-ri, and Jokbong-ri areas. However, as North Koreans did not possess any political power, their protests were disregarded. (SEE 1963 and 1968 for photos of this graveyard that abutted the perimeter fence in the Milwal area. In 1963, there were few graves there with a marker for a Chosun Dynasty scholar and very few houses in the area. However by 1968 the graveyard was a mass of mounds and the surrounding area was filled with mudwattle houses. Life was hard in those years and the poorest community was the North Korean refugees who were clustered around this area.) In the seventh phase, the Terminal Ridge Road was cut over the Jwadong Ridge down to the Songbuk Market Road. At the same time, the main road in the Jwadong area was cut from the Terminal Ridge Road through Jwadong to Jinangdong. (NOTE: The other roads in the area were not laid out until the mid-1980s when the city's population was swelling due to the movement of industries into the area. There were few houses in 1978 in the area and the other roads on a grid pattern one sees today were added after the population increased in the mid-1980s and Songtan-eup (town) became Songtan-shi (city) in 1981. At that time, the Bukbu-Jungang Route was constructed from the Terminal Ridge Road to Seojeong-ni and the planned population center was shifted to near the new city hall.)  Seoul, South Korea, April 8, 1976: "One if by sea, two if by Greyhound" might be the battle cry as three members of the U.N. Command Honor Guard, wearing Revolutionary War uniforms, board a bus at Yongsan Garrison. The retro garb and specially-decorated bus were in honor of America's Bicentennial; the musket-toting servicemembers were, left to right, Spec. 4 Elmer Jones of Port Orchard, Wash.; Pfc. David Anderson of Decatur, Ill.; and E4 Jeff Mabus of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. (8 Apr 1976) (Stars and Stripes) Osan AB TV Reception Improved and Preparation for Color TV TV Service was improved in the Osan area in Nov 76 when a newly approved UHF channel became operational. The TV broadcasts were still in black-and-white, but future plans were announced to convert to color TV broadcasts. The Los Angeles-based American Forces Radio and Television Service advised its TV networks in early 1974 that it intended to convert to full color in the near future. Accordingly, AFKN, along with its sister networks, began planning for procurement of color TV equipment. Upgrade was necessary as AFKN, and other networks, have found that in many cases replacement parts for black and white TV systems were no longer being manufactured. In Apr 74 Department of the Army's Material Procurement Priorities Review Committee approved FY 76 funding of $828,000 for AFKN color TV equipment. (Source: UNC/USFK/EUSA Annual Historical Report 1974, p. 210) 51st Composite Wing adds Korean Tactical Air Control System (KTACS) The Wing gained an F–4E tactical fighter squadron (36th TFS) and an OV–10 tactical air support squadron (19th TASS), but its support responsibilities continued under the direction of a combat support group. In Jan 1976, the Wing was further augmented by a tactical control squadron (621st TACS) and in Apr 1976 by a direct air support squadron (36th TFS) and a tactical air control center squadron (621st TACS). These additions, combined with the tactical air support squadron (19th TASS) already assigned, comprised the Korean Tactical Air Control System (KTACS). The 51st lost control of Taegu AB on 1 Oct 1978, but reassumed responsibility for that base when the Wing gained a second F–4E squadron stationed there in Jan 1982. In the interim, direct responsibility for KTACS had passed to a newly assigned tactical air control group, along with control of the Wing’s tactical control elements. On 1 Jun 1982, relinquished its tactical control mission when the Wing’s KTACS elements were reassigned to the 314th Air Division. In their place, received a squadron of A–10 aircraft (25th TFS). Based at Suwon AB, South Korea, this unit’s close air support capability complemented the Wing’s existing air superiority role; the new mission mix resulted in redesignation as a tactical fighter wing on 1 Jul 1982. (Source: 51st FW History.) Det 1 19 TASS at Camp Casey Detachment: 1, 19th TASS operated at Camp Casey, ROK from 15 Apr 1976 to 8 Jan 1980. U-2 Detachment Established at Osan: Det 2, 100th SRW The U-2 program remained under the reigns of the CIA from 1954 until 1974 when it was turned over to the United States Air Force. In February 1976, personnel from the 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (SRW) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base(AFB), Arizona and the 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron(SRS) at operating location UA, U-Tapao Airfield Thailand, deployed to Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea (ROK), to establish a 90 day test program. The first Temporary Duty (TDY) Commander was Colonel L. M. Kidder who was replaced in late March 1976 by Lieutenant Colonel R.B. Birkett. In April of that year the Joint Chiefs of Staff directed the 99th SRS to move from U-Tapao to Osan. In mid-May 1976, Lieutenant Colonel David G. Young arrived with the last contingent from U-Tapao and replaced Lieutenant Colonel Birkett. Shortly after his arrival, Lieutenant Colonel Young established the "Blackcat" as the Operating Location(OL) nickname. In 1976, Detachment 2, 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (later the 5th RS, 9th RW) began monitoring and intelligence-gathering duties. In July 1976, Lieutenant Colonel Jerry C. Sinclair arrived as the first Permanent Change of Station(PCS) Commander. In September 1976, the 100th SRW was inactivated and OL-AO became Detachment 2 of the 9th SRW of Beale AFB, CA. (Source: GlobalSecurity.org, Blackcats.net and TaiwanAirpower.org: U-2.) 554th CESHR Squadron "Red Horse" Mike Grim of Fredericksburg, VA wrote in Aug 2007, "I was in the 554th 1976 to 1977 in the Paint shop.I was one of the first AB's almost everyone there was a Buck Sgt or above when I got there, I remember the 1st shirt asking me if I had a note from my mother. I then went back to Osan 1978-1983 Working in Base CE. Lots and lots of good times and people." The following is from Robert G."Andy" Anderson's Red Horse Country:
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