Ronald Reagan elected President Ronald Reagan campaigned on the requirement to restore the US military prowess, and his new Secretary of Defense, Caspar Winberger, saw to it that every promise was fulfilled. The B-1 program was reintroduced, the MX (Peacemaker) was approved. Army divisions were brought up to strength, and the Navy was authorixed to build to a strength of 600 ships. The secret B-2 stealth program (which had been one of Carter's considerations in canceling the B-1) was still in the "black" (i.e., its budget was a highly classified secret) but received adequate funding. Military spending grew by more than $300 billion in the first four years of the Reagan administration, with about $75 billion earmarked for strategic modernization and another $75 billion for research and development. However, the JCS was skeptical as the funding might later be withdrawn causing expensive adjustments.

The Reagan program intended to expand to be able to wage a protracted nuclear war and limited conventional war simultaneously. At the same time, it was negotiating with the Soviet Union for strategic arms reduction. (Source: Beyond the Wild Blue, Walter J. Boyne, pp250-251)

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New Regime: With the assassination of Park Chung-Hee, the nation was in a state of turmoil. The restoration of national stability became the most urgent task. A new constitution was to be adopted early in 1980.


Chae Kyu Ha. (Pyeongtaek City) (Source: Pyeongtaek History (CD), Pyeongtaek Si Sa)

Roh Tae-woo. (Pyeongtaek City) (Source: Pyeongtaek History (CD), Pyeongtaek Si Sa)

Chae Kyu Ha took over the reins as President, but only for a short time. On Dec 12, 1979, Maj.Gen. Chun Doo-hwan took control of government in a military coup. After Chun Doo-hwan became President of the Fifth Republic, things returned to normal...though tensions were just below the surface.

On 17 May 1980, the ROK extended martial law nationwide to include Cheju (previously exempted), in an effort to quell widespread anti-government demonstrations by students and others in Seoul and five provincial cities. Decree No. 10 is issued immediately thereafter, which directs closing of all universities or colleges; bans political rallies and labor strikes; requires prior censorship for newspapers and other publications, as well as radio broadcasts; and prohibits "slanderous statements" against either former or incumbert presidents. Promulgation of the decree is accompanied by the arrest of hundreds of dissidents, including prominent political leaders.

On 19 May 1980, Martial Law Command closes down the National Assembly and the headquarters of both major political parties. This latest action follows the arrest of former presidential candidate Kim Dae-jung, majority party head Kim Jong-pil, opposition party leader Kim Young-sam, and other political figures on suspicion of illicitly amassing wealth or instigating social unrest. The US State Department says it was "deeply disturbed by the extension of martial law" in the ROK.

Expressing displeasure with Lt. Gen. Chun's growing power, the Carter administration officials disclose a series of measures affecting its relations with Korea. Among them: US economic mission scheduled for Seoul visit later in June is put off indefinitely; US would review its entire relationship with ROK except for basic security ties; at US request, Asian Development Bank will delay action on two loans for SOuth Korean construction projects; and planned meeting between ROK Foreign Ministry and US State Depart officials will be postponed.

Retired General Chun Doo-hwan is chosen unanimously by the ROK electoral college as the nation's new head of state replacing Park, Choon-hoon who served eleven days as Acting President following the 15 August resignation of Choi Kyu-hah. Chun was the sole candidate for the presidency. He was formally sworn in as the new President of the ROK on 1 Sep 1980. (Source: The US Military Experience in Korea 1871-1982, p216-219, Command Historian's Office, USFK/EUSA) The Kwangu incident would haunt Korea for years. Later former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Rho Tae-woo would be imprisoned for their roles in the "Kwangju Massacre" (as it is popularly called now) when Kim Yong-sam became President.

Student Unrest Continues The demands for the early adoption of a new constitution, the end of martial law, and the resignation of General Chun Doo-Hwan as Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency grew louder. Several thousand university students in Seoul, Chonju, and Taejon held campus rallies and clashed with he police early in May. Kim Yong-Sam and Kim Dae-Jung called for the end of martial law and suspension of plans to revise the constitution and instead call a National Assembly session.

On May 14 and 15, some 100,000 students from 45 universities in the country demonstrated in force and their street actions grew so strident and riotous as to paralyze public security. The disturbances peaked on May 15 when 72,000 students filled the City Hall and Seoul Railway Station Plaza, raided police stations, burned police vehicles, and hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at policemen, injuring some 600 of them and killing one. Communist agitators were suspected to be part of the riots as the slogans bore a clear Communist origin.

On May 18, Kim Yong-Sam was placed under house arrest. Kim Dae-Jung and Kim Chong-Pil were arrested. Then turmoil erupted in the city of Kwangju, capital of South Cholla Province. It was the largest and severest regional disturbance in the history of the country. It started with 300 students of Chonnam and Choson universities but soon snowballed into an uncontrollable disturbance as citizens of Kwangju were incensed by the news of the arrest of Kim Dae-Jung, their favorite son whose political base was in the area.

From May 19-22, some 200,000 citizens and students clashed with police and military forces. (NOTE: The term "rebels", "rebellion", and "revolt" cause harsh responses from Koreans with respect to this incident.) After breaking into armories, the rebels obtained weapons and ammunition. A full-fledged rebellion began. Government actions to quiet the Kwangu case were ineffective. On May 22, paratroopers stormed Kwangju and subjugated the rebellion, but the insurrection resulted in the death of several hundreds and several hundreds wounded. (NOTE: To this date, these numbers are questioned by Kwangju residents who claim "thousands" were killed or wounded.)

In August, President Choe resigned accepting responsibility for the Kwangju Incident. As soon as this happened, Chun Doo-Hwan who had retired from active duty after receiving his fourth star, threw his hat in the ring for the office. Members of the National Conference for Unification nominated General Chun, and on Aug 27, Chun was elected president.

In September, Kim Dae-Jung was sentenced to death for inciting the riots in Kwangju. However, the intervention of President Reagan led to the exile of Kim Dae-Jung to America.

The following article is from Asia CNN.com and is a rehash of the incidents mentioned before:

Kwangju still an issue in U.S.-South Korea relationship

Bloody uprising was a democratic milestone

By Joseph Manguno
Special to CNN Interactive



South Korean soldiers round up protesters
during the Kwangju uprising in May 1980.
Activists demanded democratic elections
and an end to the martial law
declared months earlier.

(CNN) -- Much of the residual goodwill that the United States enjoyed among South Koreans for helping to save them from communism in the early 1950s was squandered in a series of missteps that took place nearly three decades later.

In October 1979, South Korea's long-time president, Park Chung-hee, was assassinated by Kim Jae-kyu, head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA).

Kim testified at his trial that he killed Park to put an end to his increasingly authoritarian and erratic rule. Instead, Park's assassination triggered one of the most turbulent periods in recent Korean history, culminating in a bloody civilian uprising in the southwestern city of Kwangju.

The void created by Park's death was filled by Maj. Gen. Chun Doo-hwan, a Park protege and commander of the powerful Defense Security Command. Chun staged an internal coup to take control of the military, then persuaded the new president, Choi Kyuh-hah, to impose martial law and name Chun chief of the KCIA.

Analysts and critics say the United States sent Chun a series of conflicting signals about his power grab, leading him to believe that Washington agreed with the steps he'd taken and thought he was the one to restore political stability in South Korea. Those signals also encouraged Chun to think he held the critical cards in the Korean-American relationship, critics say.

The United States further miscalculated by accepting the coup as a fait accompli, and built a working relationship with Chun's regime at great cost to its long-term relationship with the Korean people, analysts say.

Protest and crackdown

The situation came to a head in May 1980, four months after Chun's coup and elevation as head of the KCIA, when labor activists, students and opposition politicians, chafing from the harsh military rule, began a series of nationwide demonstrations demanding democratic elections and an end to martial law.

Chun sent the military to crack down on the demonstrators, and the latter responded with rocks and fire bombs.



More than 10,000 protesters
took to the streets during
the Kwangju demonstrations

On May 17, as protests were dying in most parts of the country, activists in Kwangju defied orders to end the demonstrations. The Martial Law Command arrested several opposition politicians, including Kim Dae-jung, now South Korea's president, and charged him with fomenting rebellion. He was eventually sentenced to death.

The following day, elite paratrooper units of Korea's Special Forces Command were ordered into the city. By most accounts, they took to their mission with incredible brutality, mowing down scores of demonstrators.

Horrified civilians, led by militant protestors, broke into police stations and armories and seized weapons to defend themselves.

The Special Forces eventually withdrew to the outskirts of Kwangju, and the government attempted to persuade the activists to return the weapons in exchange for amnesty and democratic reforms. But hard-line attitudes prevailed on both sides, and negotiations failed.

Death toll: 191 or 2,000?

Finally, eight days after the uprising began, Seoul ordered riot-trained army units into Kwangju to mop up. It was carried out with minimal bloodshed -- only about a dozen people died -- but the death toll for the uprising is still disputed to this day.



Relatives go to the Mang Wol-dong cemetery
on the anniversary of the Kwangju massacre
to mourn the loss of loved ones

The government says 191 people were killed in the uprising, but Kwangju officials and survivors insist the figure is closer to 2,000. They say they cannot prove it, however, because -- they allege -- the military carted most of the bodies away and burned some, buried others and dumped the rest in the sea.

In August 1980, Chun had the military junta name him president, replacing Choi. He ruled for nearly eight years before engineering the election of his longtime crony, retired Gen. Roh Tae-woo, as his successor.

(In 1996, Chun and Roh were convicted of mutiny, treason and corruption in connection with the 1979 coup and the Kwangju massacre. Chun was sentenced to death and Roh to a long prison term, but both were pardoned in 1997 by Kim Dae-jung after he was elected president.)

The events of those chaotic months marked one of the most difficult chapters in modern American diplomacy.

Still smarting from the loss of the Vietnam War and the sudden sweep of the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, the United States also was caught off-guard in South Korea.

Conflicting signals by U.S. officials led the Koreans to believe that the United States either conspired in Chun's coup and authoritarian rule or, at the very least, acquiesced to it.



Former South Korean presidents Chun Doo-hwan (right)
and Roh Tae-woo were convicted in 1996 for their roles
in the 1979 coup and in putting down the Kwangju demonstrations.
President Kim Dae-jung, himself a former Kwangju protester,
pardoned them in 1997.

Hard feelings continue

In the years since, the United States has made several attempts to disprove those suspicions and win back the confidence of the Korean people. However, their efforts, including the 1989 publication of a special "Statement on the Events in Kwangju," have failed.

Two books -- one by William H. Gleysteen Jr., the U.S. ambassador to Seoul in 1979-80; the other by retired Gen. John A. Wickham, head of American forces in South Korea during that period -- are the latest to state that the U.S. was not responsible for the events around the Kwangju uprising.

Gleysteen and Wickham say U.S. officials had nothing to do with the assassination of Park, despite a close relationship with his assassin.

They also insist that they could not stop Chun from seizing power, nor prevent him from using the Special Forces. Finally, they say that Chun's visit with President Ronald Reagan in Washington was a payoff for Chun's agreement to commute Kim Dae-jung's death sentence.

"We probably had little if any real influence over internal developments," Wickham says in his book, "Korea on the Brink." "And we were little more than hapless bystanders as Chun shrewdly maneuvered toward total power."

Gleysteen and Wickham argue that American missteps were driven primarily by two factors.

One "humiliating restraint," writes Gleysteen in "Massive Entanglement, Marginal Influence: Carter and Korea in Crisis," "was inadequate intelligence of tactical developments." A second was concern that North Korea might try to take advantage of the political instability and invade South Korea, endangering the tens of thousands of U.S. troops stationed there and jeopardizing U.S. regional security interests.

A democratic milestone



Re-enactments are held each year in Kwangju
on the anniversary of the uprising.
Many South Koreans still believe the United States
was partially responsible for the massacre.

At a conference in Los Angeles in April 2000 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Kwangju uprising, speaker after speaker -- many of them Korean-Americans -- made clear that they still do not accept official U.S. explanations for the events of 1979-80.

But they also agreed that the uprising was a milestone in the struggle for democracy in Asia.

"The Kwangju uprising in 1980 and the Tiananmen crisis in 1989," said Shin Dong-kim, an assistant professor of communications at Hallym University in Chuncheon, South Korea, "were massive and tragic and collective actions against dominant political powers and established regimes."

Both, Shin said, "were failed attempts in terms of achieving immediate goals," but in the long run advanced the cause of democracy in Asia.

Lynn Turk, former political secretary in the American Embassy in Seoul and author of the 1989 U.S. statement on Kwangju, agreed. The rebellion, Turk said, "directly paved the way for Korean democratization."

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Kwangju Uprising and Anti-Americanism One of the major causes of this anti-Americanism stems from the belief among many Koreans that the U.S. government supported the Korean military's crackdown on demonstrators in Kwangju, commonly known as the "Kwangju Massacre," in May 1980. Dissident groups and human rights observers have estimated the civilian death toll at approximately 2,000. Korean activists have charged that the Commander of the US forces, which has operational control over the ROK military, permitted the deployment of Korean troops for the violent crackdown. (See Donald N. Clark, ed., The Kwangju Uprising: Shadows over the Regime in South Korea; and Tim Shorrock, "The Struggle for Democracy in South Korea in the 1980s and the Rise of Anti-Americanism.") (See Howitwas: 1980 for details on Kwangju Uprising.)

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1981

Commander, 51st Composite Wing (Tactical), Osan AB: Col. Eugene Myers, Feb. 20, 1981 -- July 16, 1982

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Hill 180 Chapter, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Awards Ceremony at Songbuk Elementary School (1981) (Songbuk Elementary School)

Education At Osan AB, construction of the new permanent elementary school began 1 September 1981, and was designed for 279 students. The facility has a central library Information Center from which radiates two multi-purpose rooms for storage, a health room, counselor’s office, and administration offices. Two wings, each containing three classrooms, also stem off the library. (Source: Osan American Elementary School)

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Songtan becomes a City July 1, 1981: Songtan-eup (town) was raised to the status of city and separated by Law No. 3425 (Promulgated on April 13, 1981) Songtan-eup (town) was split away from Pyeongtaek-gun (county) to form Songtan-shi (city).

Si ("City") -- A "Si" is one of the divisions of a province, along with "Gun." Cities have a population of at least 50,000; once a county ("Gun") attains that population, it becomes a city. Cities with a population of over 500,000 (namely, Suwon, Cheongju, and Jeonju) are divided into wards ("Gu"); smaller cities are divided into neighbourhoods ("Dong").

Eup ("Town") -- An "Eup" is one of the divisions "along with "Myeon"— of a county ("Gun") and some cities ("Si") of less than 500,000 population. The main town or towns in a county —or the secondary town or towns within a city's territory—are designated as "Eup." Towns are subdivided into villages ("Ri").

(Source: Administrative Divisions of Korea.))

In 1981, there were more than 50,000 people residing in Songtan. By the late 1980s, there was 66,000 people in the area. Seventy percent of the people lived within 1 km of the Osan AB. At the start of the 1980s, the bars, shops and houses were intermixed in a confusing tangle of alleys and small roads. (Source: Songtan.org: Songtan History: Hangul Translation)

When Songtan-eup (town) became Songtan-shi (city), the city leaders moved swiftly to attempt to distance itself from the bar row image that had grown around the town. According to Mr. Kim Jae-won, owner of the Asia Hotel, the city first wanted to build the City Hall on the Jisan Hill (Songtan Park area). The location was close to Osan AB as the 70 percent of the population was clustered within 1km of the base and the wooded area seemed ideal. However, the owner of the land refused to sell the hill. Thus the City had to settle for the location it currently is at.


Songtan City Hall (Pyeongtaek Si Sa) (NOTE: Kaiser Pink is the color that the city chose -- a rather strange choice. Overpasses, street structions, etc from the mid-2000s are painted this color. Though color no longer used, some overpasses still retain this color.)

As Songtan was made by combining Seojong-ni and Songtan and the new administrative center was planned to be in the center of these two districts. In the past, both districts grew up separately and now they were to be forged into one city. The master plan called for the creation of a new administrative center which would be called "Ichung" for "two loyalites" signifying Seojong and Songtan joining. The new city hall was to be erected at the end of the new Seojong Tourism Road at the melding point between the two districts. The significance in the names of the roads set the tone for the new Songtan City. On one hand, "tradition" (Hwamungmyeon) signified the past and was the name for the Ichung-dong Road and new Civic Center. At the same time, "tourism" in Seojong Tourism Road indicated the outlook for the future as Shinjang was being molded into a shopping mall -- to compete with Itaewon in scope and size. In the Jungang area, plans were being made to create a local Songtan industrial area to balance the growth of the city.

(NOTE: There is another reason given stating that two scholars were born in the area, Cho Gwang-jo and Oh Dal-jae. (Source: Songtan.org: Songtan History: Hangul Translation).) However, though it sounds nice we wonder about this as Cho Gwang-jo's grave is in Yong-in along with a lecture hall to honor him built in 1605 by King Seonjo. (Source: Yongin Tourism.))

The city symbol (gi) was an inverted "v" with a circle in white on a dark green background. The inverted "v" is a Hangul "s" that symbolizes "people." The circle represented "together." The Chinese ideograph represented "peace." The dark green symbolized a young and healthy community. The white color represented the united Korea. The symbol all together was to represent a growing community with hopes for peace on the peninsula and a unified Korea.


Songtan City Hall (Songtan History)


City Bird: Dove (bidulgi) (NOTE: This was in keeping with the "peace" theme for the city.) (Songtan History)


(L) City Tree: Ginko (eunhaeng) (R) City Flower: Golden rod (Gaenari) (Source: Songtan History)


Songtan City Song (Songtan History)

Park Chung-hee's directive to improve the roads in the area -- after the Wing Commander requested another route to the MSR-1 -- had transformed the community. The overpass from the base relieved most of the congestion down Shinjang Mall Road -- at least temporarily until the appearance of Korean autos everywhere in the 1990s. After 1980, new streets were laid out on a grid pattern in both Songtan and Seojong. (SEE Roads Surrounding K-55 for details.) The construction of new roads started with the widening of Milwal Road, the expansion of the Shinjang Overpass Road and then the laying out of the grid in the Shinjang 2-dong area. From there it spread to the Seojong-dong area and along the MSR-1.

New apartment construction was undertaken -- including apartments being set aside for foreigners. There are two groups -- one is on Jisan Cheon (Stream) Road in Songbuk-dong in the late 1970s and the other is along Burak Mountain Road in Seojong-dong in the early 1980s.

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Photos by Dennis Williams of 51st SPS Guard Mount at Osan AB. (Address unk: Photos posted on Osan AB Yahoo Group)

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38th ADA Bde Deactivated The 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Headquarters was established at Osan AB on 25 May 1961. The unit was deactivated on 31 July 1981. Controlled the Nike-Hercules and Hawk batteries under the 44th ADA around the peninsula. Deactivated when the last of the Hawks were turned over to the ROK.


38th Brigade Patch: Hand of Power, but according to Kenneth Wisz (E Btry 2/44th ADA 38th AD Bde, Kimje, Korea), "it was better known as 'the fist of shit'." The partition line represents the division of the Korean Peninsula by the Demilitarized Zone. The gauntlet represents the protection offered by the brigade, the lightning bolt the swift retaliation against any hostile air attack.

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36th TFS Squadron Photo (1981) (36th Fiends Site)

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TACC Renovation The renovation and reopening of the Tactical Air Control Center (TACC) took place in 1981. The Tactical Air Control Center had full control over all air operations. Reconnaissance aircraft and air defense radar sites informed the center about potentially hostile aircraft before they entered South Korean airspace. In wartime this capability was expected to allow South Korean air controllers more time to assess threat and the ability quickly to communicate orders to interceptor aircraft and surface-to-air missile sites. It would become fully operational in 1983. (This would evolve into the Air Operations Command (AOC) at Osan. (Source: GlobalSecurity.org: ROKAF Bases)

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25th TFS

25th Tactical Fighter Squadron Assigned to Suwon AB The 25th Tactical Fighter Squadon, "Assam Dragons," flying Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolts assigned to the 51st TFW and stationed at Suwon AB, ROK until 1989 when it was moved back to Osan AB. The first six USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft arrived to form the 25th TFS on 3 Mar 1982. Twelve more planes arrived in April and the last increment of six would be delivered in March 1983. (Source: The US Military Experience in Korea 1871-1982, p236, Command Historian's Office, USFK/EUSA)

The history of the 25th Fighter Squadron dates back to WWII as the 25th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) activated on 15 Jan 1941 where it fought in India and China. After WWII, it converted to F-80s under the 51st Fighter Group. When the Korean War broke out the 25th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was still flying the F-80s at Itazuke AB, Japan and moved to Suwon AB, South Korea in 20 Jul 1951 where it converted to the F-86 under the 51st Fighter Wing. It was redesignated the 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 33d TFW in June 1965 under TAC. Inactivated on 31 Jul 1990. In May 1968 it joined the 8th TFW at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand and then to the 432d TFW at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand until the end of the Vietnam War. It moved to Clark AB, Philippines with the 3rd TFW in 1975 and almost immediately was reassigned to the 18th TFW in Dec 1975.

The unit was not operational between Aug 1980 – Jan 1982.

It was assigned to the 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) -- later the 51st TFW -- between 1 Feb 1981-31 Jul 1990. The unit was stationed at Suwon AB on 1 Feb 1981.

The unit moved to Osan AB, South Korea after the closure of Suwon as an active USAF base. The unit was not operational from Nov 1989–Jul 1990. The 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron was inactivated on 31 Jul 1990.

It was then redesignated the 25th Fighter Squadron, and activated, on 1 Oct 1993 and assigned to the 51st Operations Group at Osan AB. (Source: AFHRA: 25th FS.)

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Troop Withdrawal Plan Officially Shelved: Korea-wide, the major change was the shift to shut down the move to remove the troops from Korea. In January 1981, at the ROK-US military summit, a 14-point communiqué was announced including the cancellation of planned withdrawal of the USFK. This put to rest the fear of American withdrawals started by Jimmy Carter's withdrawal plan in 1978. Carter cancelled the withdrawal plan in 1979.

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ROK Economic Development Industrial policy in the 1980s sought to ensure further growth and stabilization. The priority of S&T policy was placed on building the indigenous R&D capability required for the development of the technology-intensive industries as well as improving the productivity of the manufacturing systems. to this end, efforts continued to acquire high-level scientists and engineers through the reinforcement of graduate education, expansion of overseas training programs and repatriation of scientists and engineers from abroad. In addition, the National R&D Program was initiated in 1982 to build up domestic R&D capabilities in the areas of core and public welfare technologies with generic characteristics. This program has served as the base for indigenous R&D in Korea. It was also during this period that the development of the Taedok Science Town was completed and opened to accommodate research institutes, public as well as private. The Taedok Science Town has facilitated R&D cooperation not just between research institutes of different fields but between public and private institutes as well. Another notable development was the rapid growth of private industrial R&D labs in both number and research activities. (Source: A Handbook of Korea, 1999, p328)

The year 1980 saw the successful implementation of a bold educational reform policy -- the abolition of private tutoring -- which had been one of the most controversial issues in education. Parents' enthusiasm for education, coupled with a feverish rush to matriculate their children in so-called "first-rate" universities, had precipitated the widespread practice of private tutoring. However, that practice had resulted in a financial burden for parents and had undermined regular school education. The government, recognizing these undesirable effects, proclaimed a legal ban on private tutoring and changed the college entrance system.

In accordance with this policy, the government has administered a state examination for all high school graduates wishing to attend college or university since 1981. The scores from this written test, combined with students' high school records now determine the qualification of a student to matriculate in a certain college or university. The system also prohibits individual colleges and universities from conducting their own entrance examinations. (Source: A Handbook of Korea, 1999, p348) (NOTE: This policy changed in 2000 when declining college enrollment and increasing pressure to improve the quality of education forced the government to relent on its policy of prohibiting individual colleges from administering their own entrance exams.)

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U-2 Tidbits from 1981 The following was on Mike Troiano: The Dreaded Bunny : "Osan Korea - 1981 During an Easter week flight, I learned a science lesson that I will never forget. We sent up the U-2 on it's normal flight routine when after a short while we received a frantic call from our pilot. We were all called back into work after a grueling 12 hour shift to recover a misguided flight. It seems like our beloved pilot had taken a marshmallow Easter bunny with him on his normal flight. What he nor anyone else realized was that marshmallow expands when in a pressurized environment! The higher the a/c went the bigger the bunny grew. The bunny grew so large that it overtook the cockpit and forced the pilot to abort the mission. I don't know how they squared that with Washington, but I'm sure it didn't happen that next year! Just one odd fact about how we protect our country!"


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)

Mike Troiano relates a tale of the Black Cat Mascot: "Our units patch consisted of a cartoonish type picture of a black cat. Our hats were hand made at the Apollo Hat Shop right outside of the main gate at Osan. There was a real black cat behind the patch his name was Oscar. Oscar was adopted by our much rotated staff to make us feel at home. Oscar's main squeeze was a guy we called Curely. Curely looked like the guy from the stooges and had a soft spot for Oscar.


Oscar patch (1981) (Mike Troiano)

Oscar had a good life except when those nasty G.I.'s got ideas! Oscar had a flight suit sown up for him and took an actual U-2 flight. He mostly stayed in the commanders office and needed to be kicked out when operations closed. It was a problem when Oscar was left in the commanders office overnight. Oscar would love to rip up the commanders desk and papers and then leave the commander a little reminder of what he had for dinner! ...

Osan Korea was known as DET II and housed the U-2, DET I in Kadena Japan was where the SR-71 was stationed.

....... Even though both places were manned by the same people, the regular PCS longtimers played a trick I'll never forget. It seemed like one of the people (remaining nameless) from DET I flew over to DET II kidnapped Oscar and returned him the next day. While Oscar was being held captive, a person (who was able to perform such an event) 'fixed' Oscar. His jewels are in a small babyfood jar filled with what ever they preserve stuff in, and last time I saw it was sitting high above a bookcase in the main office at DET I.

Oscar is long gone now. Being a stray cat in Korea is a dangerous thing, so besides the flight and the fix I think he had it pretty good. He had lots of people to give him love and he was even in our evacuation plan. (Source: Mike Troiano: Oscar )
U2 Recovery (1981) (Mike Troiano)


U2 Pilot Suiting Up (1981) (Mike Troiano)

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607th Tactical Intelligence Group reactivated at Osan On 1 October 1981, the unit was reactivated as the 6th Tactical Intelligence Group (6 TIG), at Osan Air Base. It was tasked to provide substantive Intelligence support to U.S. and Combined Forces Combat (CFC). The 6 TIG thus brought together Intelligence collection, analysis, targeting, production, and dissemination assets assigned to the 314th Air Division of Fifth Air Force and the KOREAN Tactical Air Control System.

In February 1992, the group became part of the 51st Fighter Wing under the 5th Air Control Group and was redesignated the 6th Air Intelligence Squadron (6 AINS). Later that same year the 6 AINS fell under operational control of Seventh Air Force (7AF) and 5th Air Control Group.

On 1 October 1993, the unit was redesignated the 7th Air Operations Squadron and fell under the 7th Air Operations Group. On 15 December 1994, 7 AF reorganized, creating the 607th Air Intelligence Group (607 AIG). The squadron was then redesignated on that date as the 607th Air Intelligence Squadron (607 AIS) and subordinate to the 607 AIG, along with the 303d Intelligence Squadron, which is under operational control of the 607 AIG.

Today the 607 AIS, working with its republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) counterpart, the 37th Tactical Intelligence Group, represent a key element in the U.S. commitment to the growth of combined USAF/ROKAF Intelligence capabilities. It is our combined responsibility to ensure our Intelligence products are timely, thorough, and accurate, for our enemy is one who takes his war fighting capabilities very seriously and is ever seeking the opportunity to put them to the test. We accept the challenge of the mission, carry it proudly into the future, and always stand ready and willing to continually meet the challenges faced by seventh air force and the air component command.

The 607 AIS provides the Combined Forces Air Component Command (CFACC)/Commander, Seventh Air Force (7AF) with the Intelligence support necessary to plan, conduct, control and coordinate air operations in accordance with the tasks assigned by the commander, Air Component Command (CACC) and the commander, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). These activities are accomplished through the commander, 607th Air Intelligence Group (607 AIG). Specific functions include indications and warning, analysis, targeting, collection management support, exploitation, and dissemination of all-source Intelligence information in support of combat planning, combat operations, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) management, and combat readiness of 7AF and subordinate units to include theater gained assets. The 607 AIS is primarily an Aerospace Operations Center (AOC) and Distributed Ground Station (DGS) tasked unit. The 607 AIS provides substantive Intelligence support to 7AF, Air Component Command (ACC), United States Forces Korea (USFK) and in-country and deployed unit Intelligence staffs. (Source: Wikipedia.)

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1982

Commander, 51st Tactical Fighter Wing, Osan AB: Col. Thomas R. Olsen, July 16, 1982 -- May 26, 1983

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51st TFW On July 1, 1982, the 51st Composite wing was redesignated the 51st Tactical Fighter Wing.

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Osan Elementary Permanent Quarters A permanent school designed for 275 students in grades kindergarten through 6 opened in August 1982. (NOTE: In Oct 1979, the Osan Elementary School opened with an enrollment of 37 with an optimum capacity of 45-60. The school term formally opened in temporary quarters in November 1979. An addition was completed in December 1987, allowing the school to expand its student population. Osan American High School opened in 1995 to accommodate 250 students in grades 7 through 12. A 4-teacher K-2 annex school opened in August 1999 at Camp Humphreys. Plans are for a 3 Kindergarten classroom building to open in SY 02-03. Students come from the communities of Osan AB and Camp Humphreys (U.S. Army).))

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the elementary school on 28 July, 1982 to open the new Osan Elementary School, a Department of Defense School. The school at the time offered nine classes for grades kindergarten through sixth, with a number of other activity rooms made available as well. At the time, the school cost nearly 2 million dollars, and took a year to complete.

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Communication Squadron Telephone Linemen: (Top) Stackhouse, Duncan, Telford and Hall in Korea (Bottom) Chem Warfare (Apr 1982) (Unknown: Wire Dawgs.net

In Feb 2007, Brian K. Totten of Austin Texas wrote: "I was stationed at Osan AB from March 1982 to March 1983 working in the 2146 Comm Group. My unit was "Base Radio" and we worked out of a small shop at the base of the HTAC. We serviced secure and non secure radio comm gear and weather monitoring equipment. We serviced weather stations like Camp Humphries and Camp Casey and a site in Seoul that I cannot think of. Osan was an interesting tour of duty for an 18 year old that had never left his small town of Elyria Ohio!"

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SR-71 Blackbird Recovers at Osan The SR-71 Blackbird recovered three times at Osan AB in 1982. (1) a/c 967; FSR Hinkson,Jim: Det-1-Osan AB, Korea; 21 - 23 May 1982; Recovery; (2) a/c 967; FSR Johnston, Jack; Det-1-Osan AB, Korea 23 May - 06 June 1982 ; Recovery; (3) a/c 967; FSR Edgar, Larry; Det-1-Osan AB Korea 06 - 16 June 1982 Recovery. (Source: Trip Log: SR-71.)

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36th TFS Christmas Card (December 1982) (36th Fiends Site) (Note the card says the fly-by was by the 36th TFS flying F-4Es and the 15th TRS of Kadena, Okinawa flying RF-4Cs.)


36th TFS and 497th TFS with "OS" tail (Circa 1978) (Chris Priestly) (Source: Motty's PACAF Phantoms. Permission pending.) (SITE NOTE: Date around 1978 because both aircraft have the "OS" tail code. Later the 497th would adopt the "GU" tail code as a geographically separated unit.)


36th TFS aircraft (Unknown) (Chris Priestly) (Source: Motty's PACAF Phantoms. Permission pending.)


36th TFS aircraft (Unknown) (Chris Priestly) (Source: Motty's PACAF Phantoms. Permission pending.)


36th TFS aircraft escorting Russian Bear (unknown) (Marvin Metzinger)

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497th TFS at Taegu Joins the 51st Composite Wing The squadron originally started with 6 F-4Ds from the 80th TFS in 1978, but later it would increase to 12 F-4Ds from the 3rd TFW. The ADVON from the 80th TFS set up the operations at Taegu in 1978, but once the maintenance area was setup, the operations was turned over to the 497th TFS "Hooters."

According to the 8th Wing Historian, the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Taegu AB (K-2) joined the 8th TFW as a "geographically separated flying squadron." Wes St. Clair, SMSgt, USAF (Ret), said the 80th TFS was selected as the advance contingent to set up a Forward Operating Location (FOL) at Taegu. He wrote, "I was then assigned special duty to a classified assignment to Taegu AB. We were to take 6 F-4's to Taegu and let the Koreans along with our maintenance people maintain the 6 aircraft. Lt Col Douglas F. Shane was designated the 8TFW FOL (Forward Operating Location) commander. We accomplished some pretty impressive number while there. As of 30 September 1978:

Sched Not Alt EFF NON
Sched: 935
Flown: 883
Flown: 84
Flown: 13
FME: 779
PME: 56
EFF: 61
Time:1114.9

Wes continued, "When reassigned to K-2 we convoyed in maintenance "Bread" trucks, a staff car and a couple of old pickup trucks. The Kun can claim the record for the 1300 sorties, but the 8TFW/FOL flew 883 with just 6 F-D's." He went on, "Our aircrew rotated in & out of K-2 from the Kun and most of the pilots and WSO's were interested in the city of Taegu and all it had to offer. Taegu in comparison to Kunsan was a fairly large city with big department stores, a zoo and a walled oriental garden. Taegu was a beautiful city to visit and explore. One either walked or took a taxi to get around. For excitement I would suggest the taxi ride. Your took your life in you hands when you climbed into a taxi."

"Most roads were paved and to ride the Korean buses was a real experience. People were pack in like sardines and there usually was someone hanging out the door trying to hold the mass of humanity inside the bus. Especially during winter the Kimche odor was very heavy. I remember the "hawk". I can't remember being that cold before and I was raised in New York."

Wayne Hoff, SMSgt, USAF (Ret), of Tacoma, Washington, said, "I was offered the opportunity to go to Taegu when it opened in 78 from Kunsan and turned it down. Looking back, I missed a great opportunity. They wanted to take 2 people from the Phase Docks and I was the first asked to go and I thought it over for a few days and decided to say no (stupid me)." He later would be assigned to Taegu from May 84 to Sep 90 with both the 497th TFS and the "460th TRS" (officially the 15th TRS).

The ADVON from the 80th TFS set up the operations at Taegu in 1978, but once the maintenance area was setup, the operations was turned over to the 497th TFS "Hooters"). According to the 8th Wing Historian, the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Taegu AB (K-2) joined the 8th TFW as a "geographically separated flying squadron." (See 8th TFW FOL (Taegu): 497th TFS "Hooters" (Feb 78-Jan 82).)

497th TFS "Hooters" (Marvin Metzinger) (SITE NOTE: Marvin Metzinger wrote in 2007, "The squadron at Taegu always used the 'Hooter' patch with the dark (Navy) blue background and scarf.")

According to the FAS Intelligence , "The 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron was activated on 01 October 1978 at Taegu Air Base, Korea, with 12 F-4D aircraft. The new squadron was an offset measure, designed to mitigate the effects president Carter's plan to withdraw US ground forces from Korea. That plan was later canceled." (NOTE: In 1978, it started operations with 6 F-4Ds from the 80th TFS, 8th TFW; and when transferred to the 51st COMPW(T), it was equipped with 12 F4-Es from the 36th TFS assets under Commando Split.)

NOTE: 497th Combat Training Squadron of Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore is the lineal descendant of the "Hooters." Accordng to the site, "Due to the restructuring of the command following the closure of Clark Air Base, the 497th's designation changed to the 497th Fighter Training Squadron. The 497th has a rich combat history since its conception in January of 1942 as the 302nd Bombardment Squadron (light). The name changed to the 497th Fighter Bomber Squadron in 1943 and has since gone through many mission changes. The unit first moved to PACAF in December 1965 as part of the 8th TFW based in Ubon, Thailand and for the next 8 years flew combat sorties throughout Southeast Asia. The 497th was the pioneer unit in flying night missions and developed the tactics used during "Night Owl" interdiction missions. The unit deactivated in 1974 when the 8th TFW moved to Kunsan AB, ROK only to be reactivated four years later at Taegu AB, ROK where the unit stayed until its deactivation and mothballing in 1988. The 497th Fighter Training Squadron was once again reactivated on 31 October 1991 and was redesignated as the 497th Combat Training Squadron on 1 August 1994. The unit has two main work areas in Singapore. Aircraft operations and maintenance support functions are conducted at Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB), while typical base support functions are carried out at the squadron headquarters located in Sembawang. The headquarters staff support offices are located in the headquarters building at the Port of Singapore Authority Sembawang Terminal."

The 497th TFS was officially transferred from the 8th TFW to the 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) on 1 January 1982. The 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron remained with the 51st TFW from 1 Jan 1982 to 24 Jan 1989. When the 497th was transferred from the 8th TFW to the 51st Composite Wing in 1982, the unit transitioned to the F-4E because the 36th TFS had changed over from F-4D to F-4E aircraft in Jun 1974. To form the 497th TFS, the 36th TFS was split in half under the USAF directed program "Commando Split." 12 aircraft remained at Osan and 12 aircraft went to Taegu to activate the 497 TFS as an F-4E unit. Under "Commando Split," the 497th TFS, 6497th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (CAMS) and the 6168th Combat Support Squadron (CSS) were created.

Anthony Sagun , MSgt, USAF (Ret), wrote, "I left George AFB for Taegu AB in June 1982. The fighter squadron at "K-2" was the 497th Tactical Figther Squadron, the "Hooters" we called ourselves. The 497 TFS may have been inactivated in Kunsan but it was alive and kicking when I got there in 1982. At that time however, the 497 TFS was under the 51st Composite Wing at Osan AB. The F-4Es at Taegu and the A-10s at Suwon AB both fell under that command."

Supposedly the 18 UE Sqdron (about 25 aircraft) at Osan became a 12 UE squadron (13 acft assigned). Supposedly the 497th was also a 12 UE unit with 12 acft assigned. Most USAF fighter squadrons at the time were 24 UE, the 18 UE configuration at Osan was unusual. Marvin Metzinger stated, "There were a few other overseas Sqdrns that were 18 UE, but not many. At some point, both units were given additional acft to bring them up to 14 acft assigned each. I'm not sure of the logistics of that, but eventually it did happen."

Supposedly because of this split, the aircraft shortage at Osan was so severe that the 36th TFS deployed to Cope Thunder in 1978 for the first time without aircraft. While there, they used the 80th TFS, 8th TFW aircraft. (SITE NOTE: This seems strange as the 8th TFW flew F-4Ds, while the 51st CW flew F-4Es and pilot proficiency might be questioned.)

During the transition period, both the 36th TFS and 497th TFS F-4Es carried the "OS" tail codes -- with the 36th TFS with red tail caps and the 497th TFS having blue tail caps. Later the 497th changed to the "GU" tail code for Taegu AB (K-2) to indicate its status as a "geographically separated unit" (GSU).


497th Aircraft (RAF Williamtownm Australia) (Paul Farrell) (Source: Motty's PACAF Phantoms. Permission pending.)


Aircraft at EOR (Unknown location/date) (Paul Farrell) (Source: Motty's PACAF Phantoms. Permission pending.)

(SITE NOTE: 497th TFS F-4E 68-0453 with blue tail cap and "OS" Tail Code while 36th TFS with red tail caps and also sporting the "OS" Tail Code. This photo assumed to be taken in the early transition phase prior to all 497th TFS aircraft getting the "GU" Tail Code. Marvin Metzinger wrote in Aug 2007, "I'm pretty sure was taken in Australia during the Pitch Black exercise in 1984. ( The base of operations was at Darwin, in the Northern Territory, Australia. It was the first Pitch Black that the 51TFW participated in (although the 8TFW had been there before) and the only one I know of when the 36 and 497 went as a 'combined unit' on the same deployment. The series of pictures Paul Ferrel took give me the clue to say this was Darwin. I remember some of the trees and background seen in these pictures, not so much this one that you posted, but in some of the others he has on the 'PACAF Aircraft' web site..." Notice that in the photo below during Pitch Black 86, the tail code was "GU.")


Aircraft 497 (RAF Williamtown, Australia) (Brian O'Rourke) (Source: Motty's PACAF Phantoms. Permission pending.) (NOTE: The obvious popularity because of aircraft 497 of the 497th TFS. Numerous photos of this aircraft. Tim Hartigan says, 'Pitch Black '86 at RAF Williamtown just outside Newcastle, Australia.' ... Tim was at Taegu in 1986 when these pics were taken. He later returned to Korea at Osan in 1988 to fly F-16s with the 36th.)

According to Marvin Metzinger, "Maintenance was performed by ROKAF personnel, supervised and augmented by USAF Maintenance troops. That is a whole story by itself, but generally they did a great job of keeping the acft flying." However, Mike Greene wrote in Sep 2006, "The 12 F-4Es were jointly maintained by ROK and USAF personnel at the time. That concept was a disaster, because Korean standards prevailed (according to the agreement) and Korean QA was a dangerous joke. Also, Korean air ops had priority, even when we were suddenly tasked to launch jets to intercept a Soviet. Military politics aside, though, my time in Taegu was incredible. Very friendly folks all around." The 700-man maintenance outfit was the 6497th CAMS (Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron). (NOTE: After the F-4Es had departed in 1989 and the recce's had arrived, the integration of ROKAF and USAF maintenance personnel was stopped.)

Byron "Hooter" Huff, 497th TFS commander from 1983 - 1985, wrote in Sep 2007, "...I will try to give you an insight into some of the highlights of the Hooters 1983-1985.

"I inherited command of the 497th from Chuck Heltsley (Gunner) in the early Spring of 1983. Chuck had a well oiled machine going down in Taegu, and my challenge was to keep from screwing it up. Living conditions were not the greatest, but the flying was. The squadron building had sensors in most of the rooms hooked up to a warning system, to warn of fuel fumes in the building. Back in the Korean war, underground fuel tanks kept the fuel for the P-51, P-47, F-80 and all the transport aircraft that brought in supplies. Over the years the tanks rusted and started leaking. Most of the time the fuel was deep underground but when it rained a lot the water table rose floating the fuel with it. At some point it got so bad that upon arrival at work one day, the first person to arrive at the squadron turned on the lights and the spark ignited the fumes and blew up the building. I don’t know what year that happened but quite a while before I got there. At any rate, when they rebuilt the building, they installed a system to pump and reclaim the avgas from the ground and put a warning system in the building to warn of a build up of petroleum fumes. The only problem was that when Mr Kim the janitor waxed the floor, it set off the alarms and we had to evacuate the building interrupting flight briefings, making a scramble in the intell vault to secure all the classified and wait until the fire dept gave us the all clear. "

"The former Officer’s Club on top of the hill had previously burned down along with the attached NCO club. That one started in the common kitchen, probably while cooking up some chicken gizzards which we lived on in those days. (I spent 30 days at a time tdy at Taegu in the 1968-70 time frame while stationed at Misawa, Japan). The “New” club was an All Ranks club which made it difficult to conduct ourselves in a manner to which we had become accustomed without making fools of ourselves in front of our trusty maintenance folks. During Chuck Heltsly’s tour, and with the help of the Commander of Taegu, Bill Taylor, they found a building not being used and with self help built an “Officers Club” affectionately called the Shoebox. Mr Kim the bartender knew what everyone drank and had your drink ready by the time you walked from the front door to the bar. "

"We had six “Sponsored” accompanied billets for married folks who would sign up for a 24 month tour that counted as a “Remote”. Housing for the married folks was at the pleasure of the U.S.Army in less than fantastic quarters. We also had two or three folks who brought their spouses along unsponsored. Some were married to Korean women and lived on the economy. One or two Officers also brought their families unsponsored, the flight surgeon being one. These folks were real heroes as they were not entitled to medical care. Some even had babies in Korean hospitals which was a real experience. Sam and Linda Hartmann were one couple who did this."

"My quarters were across the city at an Army base (whose name escapes me at the moment). It was an exciting drive across the city of three million every morning. I always arrived at the squadron already full of adrenaline and ready to go. I was issued a large about a 1972 or so, Ford LTD to drive across town. It was Air Force blue and had a flagstaff on each side of the front bumper. It had a large 427 V-8 engine and NO shock absorbers. I had an air force flag on one side and the Hooter flag on the other. The size, flags, speed, and noise commanded respect on the Korean highways. Korean civilians would stop and salute the car when I roared by. What fun!"

"We only had seven clubs in Taegu. I don’t know how many clubs there were in Osan (Song Tan City) but it must have been 50 or so. When we had a ‘Ville Run, we would have to go around twice for a full night. Since there were so few clubs, the proprietors knew us when we walked in. They would start playing the Hooter Songs of Meatloaf and others and start setting up the drinks without ordering. By going around twice, there were no favorites and all the clubs loved us. We also kept the local economy in good shape."

"We had 12 airplanes and 18 crews plus a little overhead. The crew chiefs were USAF and all the rest of the ground crews were Korean. Most of the maintenance specialists were Korean with American supervisors. The airplanes were always in good shape and, as my tour progressed, we eventually got to the point where, if anything failed to work on a mission, it was code 3 and didn’t fly again until it was fixed. No code 2s. As this policy progressed, we got to the point that EVERYTHING worked. When you went out for a training mission, you got good training. If a radar wasn’t up to speed, it didn’t fly. Our normal pickup ranges increased out to the 40 mile range as the radars were peaked up. This, along with some really great instructors and weapons officers, allowed us to use advanced targeting and sorting procedures. The young lieutenants (usually about 30 at any time) were challenged until they got it right and then allowed to proceed to flight lead status. I’ve never seen lieutenants with the skill level that the Hooters had. With personal attention during their checkout and beyond, and the lack of competing interests, crews just kept getting better and better. Many of them extended their tours because of the flying quality and the hours that they were getting. This only made them better. "

"Our schedule for flying was six turn five turn four every day. (Except Friday- If we had had no weather aborts during the week, we would cancel flying after the first go on Friday morning to get ready for the weekend). The air to air ranges were ten miles from the end of the runway. Normal takeoffs were burner formation to 350 knots and then a break to tactical formation. Many times the fight started shortly after that. There were usually always squadrons from the CONUS tdy to Korea who wanted to fight. A telephone call to their squadron ops would usually arrange a meeting in a training area and review of ROE. We got to fight Navy, Marine, as well as USAF F-16 and F-15 airplanes. Aggressors came to town regularly and Team Spirit filled the sky with Red and Blue fighters. Four V Four became the normal fight and many v many were common during exercises. During my tour, we flew all 12 airplanes into a fight on three occasions. I led a 12 ship into a developed fight with at least 50 airplanes during a Team Spirit. It soon became apparent that it was not a good idea so we only stayed a short while before I called them all out of the fight to set up to take “spitters” as they separated from the fur ball."

"During one Team Spirit sortie, we flew a DCA to intercept attacking F-16’s flying in at low level. We set up a cap with opposing elements. Since, at that time, we didn’t have smokeless engines, we flew with one throttle at idle and one in burner with hard vertical turns at each end. We were down at 500 feet or so so the radars weren’t at their most advantageous environment. Unfortunately, we never saw them and they never saw us. Not our best mission. "

"One deployment that I was very proud of was a combination of a live missile shoot with the test squadron at Clark AB, Phillippines followed by a Cope Thunder. It was to be a whole month in the PI. It was near Christmas, so we arranged for the wives to come join us between tasks. We started training for the missile shoot a month ahead of the deployment. We had just had all our airplanes modified with a system called TIRS (Tactical Intercept Recording System). All missile firings were recorded within the airplane and could be “dumped” after the mission. The dump showed all switch positions, functioning CW, lock on, min and max range, and missile flight time. Just about everything needed to assess all missile shots. Gun shots were evaluated using the gun camera. We all carried personal tape recorders to replay during debriefing to put together an accurate picture of the fight. We stressed firing in the heart of the envelope and subtracted for bad shots. The guys got really good. "

"In the PI we were briefed on live missile procedures, the aircraft were checked for missile capability (they had never seen 100% aircraft capability before) and we were ready to fight. The first day we shot down three maneuvering drones with missiles with no warhead, only telemetry packages. The squadron commander came to me in the bar that night and kidded that they might run out of drones at the rate we were going. I just laughed and told him that a squadron of lieutenants wouldn’t do that to him. The next day we shot down three or four more and he came back to me and requested that we take some shots toward the edges of the envelope. I told them that we were a combat ready unit and had to fight like that. "

"They started putting EW jammers and chaff dispensers on the drones and started maneuvering harder. We started getting more shots that were considered hits but were not direct hits. The overall results were better than any unit that had live missile training up to that time."

"There was almost a week until the Cope Thunder exercise started so we married folks had time with our wives and the class A & B bachelors got to raise hell. We had a squadron golf tournament where everyone played. We used the best three scores of each hole, throwing out the worst score. We also issued a half case of San Miguel beer and the foursomes could subtract a stroke for each beer consumed during the tournament. I can’t remember who won but they had to drag their fourth guy for the last six holes. It was a night to remember. "

"... I’ll have to go back to my scrapbooks with pictures of the Party Hootch where we entertained all our out of town visitors (and usually ended up after special occasions). " ... "Taegu was the zenith of my career and the best assignment of my life. The people in the squadron became like my kids. I was so proud to see them continue to improve day after day. I wish we could have gone to war with the North while I was there. We would have kicked ass."


6497th CAMS
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Courtesy Wayne Hoff)

According to the Air Force Historical Research Agency , when the 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) absorbed the 497th TFS it reassumed control of Taegu AB. The 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) was renamed the 51st TFW in July 1982. The 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron remained with the 51st TFW from 1 Jan 1982 to 24 Jan 1989.

Aircraft #497 at Cope Thunder in 1988, the last Cope Thunder before closing the F-4Es at Taegu. This shows the acft lined-up with GU tail markings. (1988) (Marvin Metzinger)


497th a/c with "GU" tail (Unknown) (Chris Priestly) (Source: Motty's PACAF Phantoms. Permission pending.)




497th a/c takeoff (Unknown) (Chris Priestly) (Source: Motty's PACAF Phantoms. Permission pending.)


497th a/c landing (Unknown) (Chris Priestly) (Source: Motty's PACAF Phantoms. Permission pending.)

Wayne Hoff, SMSgt, USAF (Ret), of Tacoma, Washington was at Taegu from May 84 to Sep 90. He wrote, "The 6497th CAMS (Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron) was the only maintenance outfit there with spin-off's of OMS (OMB), FMS (FMB). The 497 Tactical Fighter Squadron flew our F-4E's as a Det. from Osan. We were a GSU (geographically separated unit) from Osan and the 51st TFW."

"Yes, it was the 497th TFS (Hooters) when we had F4E's. The maintenance outfit was the 6497th CAMS (Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron). Taegu was truly my best assignment in my 20 years. I think there was a total of 700 USAF at K-2. Very small USAF contingent and we were integrated with the ROKAF up to 1988. We shut down in 88 and began transferring our F4-E's to the ROKAF and 3rd TFW at Clark. Once we got everything transferred we were closing equipment accounts, transferring needed items to Osan."

Wayne went on, "Then HQ PACAF had a great idea to put RF-4C's at Taegu. So they pumped a lot of money into our facilities, we went out on scrounging missions to Osan, Kimhae, Kunsan and Kwangju to get back some F-4 support equipment. Then they came in and put 24 Rekke's at K-2. We were no longer integrated with the ROKAF and became solely an American outfit.

"At that time our squadron changed to the 460th Recon. Sqdn. and our Maintenance sqd changed to the 460th CAMS. (NOTE: This is in error as there never was any 460th TRS officially -- only the 15th TRS -- thought the 460th CAMS is correct.) We spun up the Rekke outfit for just over a year, then in late 1989 HQ PACAF again decided we no longer needed RF-4C's. So we shut down again. This time for good."

(NOTE: The collapse of the Soviet Union and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact led to accelerated retirement plans for active duty USAF RF-4Cs. The deactivation was also partially based on the Nunn-Warner Initiative that took place in 1990 to reduce the forces in Korea by 25%. In addition, the mission of the RF-4Cs was replaced by the use of the U-2s out of Osan AB that were able to overfly North Korea at high-altitude.)

Wayne added, "I was going to stay one more year and run transit alert at Taegu but I let my Maintenance Officer talk me out of it (stupid mistake). So I left in Sep 90. I had it made there. Was Command Sponsored the entire time and lived in base housing across town at Camp George (apartments similar to the ones on Osan, with Taegu American school right across the street from my house, K-12 grades). I really hated to leave Taegu and have often considered going back there some day to finish out my life. Still may someday. If someone came to the 6497th CAMS during my time there, I probably knew them as I ran QC/QA and was on the base CVI Team for 5 years and did countless evaluations. There were only 5 of us in QA so pretty much everybody would meet us eventually. Only folks I didn't run across a lot was our AMMO folks, but there were only 40 of them and I did know quite a few of them."

After the F-4Es had departed, RF-4Cs of the 15th TRS started to arrive. Wayne continued, "When we got the Rekke's I became a APG Flight Chief for a short period of time then I was moved up and was the NCOIC of the AMU because I had a lot of "tribal knowledge" and could make things happen and get things done."


David McLaughlin (pilot) in 497th a/c starting in Revetment (1986) (Mike Robertson) (Source: Motty's PACAF Phantoms. Permission pending.) (NOTE: Marvin Metzinger said in Aug 2007, "The pilot in the acft is David McLaughlin, at Taegu in 1986. He was an ADO (Asst. Operations Officer) in the 497th TFS.")


David McLaughlin in 497th a/c starting in Revetment (1986) (Mike Robertson) (Source: Motty's PACAF Phantoms.