Coalition Air Warfare in the Korean War 1950-1953: Proceedings of Air Force Historical Foundation Symposium - Air Superiority, Bombardment, Interdiction, Support of Ground Forces, Logistics, Recon

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this unique USAF publication presents a thorough history of the coalition air operations during the Korean War, the first war fought under United Nations auspices. The symposium examines the assumptions and effects of American and allied air power in all environments — ground, sea, and air combat, and considers the roles played by intelligence and air mobility operations.

In commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Korean War, the official history offices of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force and their respective historical associations collaborated to sponsor as comprehensive a symposium as possible, including as participants some of the coalition partners who contributed forces and weapons to the war. The intent of this symposium, titled Coalition Air Warfare during the Korean War, 1950-1953, was to focus not only on the contributions made by the armed forces of the United States, but also on those of America's allies. The diverse group of panelists and speakers included not only scholars with subject matter expertise, but also veteran soldiers, sailors, and airmen who had served in that conflict. It was hoped that the melding of these diverse perspectives would provide interesting, if sometimes conflicting, views about the Korean War. The symposium organizers designated an agenda of six specific panels for investigation, including Planning and Operations; Air Superiority, Air Support of Ground Forces; Air Interdiction and Bombardment, Air Reconnaissance and Intelligence, and Logistical Support of Air Operations. Each session began with commentary by the panel chairman, which was followed by formal papers, and in some instances included a lively question and answer session.

Session I - Planning and Operations * Wayne Thompson, Panel Chair/Moderator * Command and Control of Air Forces during the Korean and Persian Gulf Wars * Mark D. Mandeles * Weapons, Tactics, and Training * Col. Richard J. Blanchfield . * A Gulf War Perspective on the Effectiveness of Air Power * Thomas A. Keaney * Session II - Air Superiority * The Contribution of the U.S. Marine Corps Night Fighter Squadrons * Ronald W. Harbison * A Wingman in Korea * Brig. Gen. Michael E. De Armond, USAF (Ret.) * The Korean Air War * AVM W. "Paddy" Harbison, RAF (Ret.) * Aces and -86s: The Fight for Air Superiority during the Korean War * Kenneth P. Werrell * Luncheon Address * A Half Century's Retrospective of the Korean War * Adm. James L. Holloway III, U.S. Navy (Ret.) * Session III - Air Support of Ground Forces * Charles D. Melson, Panel Chair/Moderator * Black Sheep in Korea: A Reflection of Mission Transformation * Fred H. Allison * The Generals and Close Air Support * William T. Y'Blood * The Army View of Close Air Support in the Korean War * Col. Donald W. Boose, Jr. USA (Ret.) * The Close Air Support Controversy in Korea * Capt. Keith F. Kopets, USMC * Session IV - Air Interdiction and Bombardment * Edward J. Marolda, Panel Chair/Moderator * The U.S. Navy's Air Interdiction Effort during the Korean War * Jeffrey G Barlow * British Commonwealth Carrier Operations in the Korean War * Comdr. David Hobbs, RN(Ret.) * Searching for Lucrative Targets in North Korea: The Shift from Interdiction to Air Pressure * Conrad Crane * Air Power Coordination during the Korean War * Vice Adm. Jerry Miller, USN (Ret.) * Dinner Remarks * Lt. Gen. Robert Keller, USMC (Ret.) * Keynote Address * An Infantry Platoon Leader in the Korean War * Brig. Gen. Philip L. Bolte, USA (Ret.) * Session V - Air Reconnaissance and Intelligence * R. Cargill Hall, Panel Chair/Moderator * The Intelligence War in Korea: An Army Perspective * John Patrick Finnegan * The Ghost Armies of Manchuria * Maj. Patrick C. Roe, USMC (Ret.) * USAF Reconnaissance during the Korean War * Col. Samuel T. Dickens, USAF (Ret.) * Session VI - Logistical Support of Air Operations