The Republic of Korea Sourcebook

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Republic of Korea Air Force

The*Republic of Korea Air Force*(ROKAF;**Daehanminguk Gong-gun), also known as the*ROK Air Force, is under the South Korean Ministry of National Defense. The ROKAF has about 450 combat aircraft.

History
Early years
Shortly after the end of*World War II, the South Korean Air Construction Association was founded on August 10, 1946 to publicize the importance of air power. Despite the then-scanty status of Korean armed forces, the first air unit was formed on May 5, 1948 under the direction of Dong Wi-bu, the forerunner to the modern South Korean*Ministry of National Defense. On September 13, 1949, the*United States*contributed 10*L-4 Grasshopper observation aircraft to the South Korean air unit. An Army Air Academy was founded on January, 1949, and the ROKAF was officially founded on October, 1949.

Korean War
The 1950s were a critical time for the ROKAF as it expanded tremendously during theKorean War. At the outbreak of the war, the ROKAF consisted of 1,800 personnel but was equipped with only 20 trainer and*liaison aircraft, including 10*North American T-6 Texan advanced trainers purchased from*Canada. The North Korean air force*had acquired a considerable number of*Yak-9*and*La-7*fighters from the*Soviet Union, dwarfing the ROKAF in terms of size and strength. However, during the course of the war, the ROKAF acquired 110 aircraft: including 79 fighter-bombers, forming three fighter squadrons, and one fighter wing. The first combat aircraft received were*North American F-51D Mustangs, along with a contingent of*US Air Force*instructor pilots under the command of Major*Dean Hess, as part of*the Bout One*Project. The ROKAF participated in bombing operations and flew independent sorties. After the war, the ROKAF Headquarters was moved to Daebangdong,*Seoul. Air Force University was also founded in 1956.

1960s
To counter the threat of possible North Korean aggression, the ROKAF underwent a substantial capability enhancement. The ROKAF acquired*T-28*trainers,*F-86D*night- and all-weather interceptors,*F-5*fighters and*F-4D*fighter bombers. Air Force Operations Command was established in 1961 to secure efficient command and control facilities. Air Force Logistics Command was established in 1966, and emergency runways were constructed for emergency use during wartime. The Eunma Unit was founded in 1966 to operate*C-46*aircraft used to support*Republic of Korea Army*and*Republic of Korea Marine Corps*units serving in South Vietnam during the*Vietnam War.

1970s
The ROKAF was posed with a security risk, with an increasingly belligerent North Korea throughout the 1970s. The South Korean government increased its expenditure on the ROKAF, resulting in purchase of*F-5E*fighters in August 1974 and F-4E fighter bombers. Support aircraft, such as*C-123s*and*S-2s*were also purchased at the time. Great emphasis was placed in the flight training program; new trainer aircraft (T-41*and*T-37) were purchased, and the Air Force Education & Training Command was also founded in 1973 to consolidate and enhance the quality of personnel training.

1980s
The ROKAF concentrated on qualitative expansion of aircraft to catch up to the strength of North Korean Air Force. In 1982, Korean variants of the F-5E, the were first produced. The ROKAF gathered a good deal of information on the North Korean Air Force when Captain Lee Woong-pyeong, a North Korean pilot, defected to South Korea. The Korean Combat Operations Information center was soon formed and the Air Defense System was automated to attain air superiority against*North Korea. When the1988 Seoul Olympics*was held in*South Korea, the ROKAF contributed to the success of this event by helping to oversee the entire security system. The ROKAF also moved its headquarters and the Air Force Education & Training Command to other locations. Forty*F-16 Fighting Falcon*fighters were purchased in 1989.

1990s
South Korea committed its support for coalition forces during the*Persian Gulf War, forming the "Bima Unit" to fight in the war. The ROKAF also provided*airlift*support for peacekeeping operations in*Somalia*in 1993. The increased participation in international operations depicted the ROKAF's elevated international position. Over 180*KF-16*fighters of*F-16 Block 52*specifications were introduced as part of the Peace Bridge II & III program from 1994.

The South Korean variant the of*F-15E*were named the F-15K*Slam Eagle*due to their capability to launch the*SLAM-ER*missiles and Harpoon missiles.

Order of Battle

Republic of Korea Air Force Headquarters*
Air Force Operations Command*
5th Tactical Airlift Wing ,based at*Gimhae*
251st Tactical Air Support Squadron flying*12 C-130H*and 6 C-130H-30
256th Tactical Air Support Squadron flying 18 CN235-100M
258th Tactical Support Squadron flying 12 CN235-100M and 6 CN235-220M
259th Tactical Air Support Squadron flying*16 UH-60P
15th Composite Wing , based at*Seongnam*
237th Tactical Control Squadron flying*20 KA-1
255th Special Operations Squadron flying 8 C-130H
257th Tactical Air Transport Squadron flying 8 C-130H
35th Combined Group
296th Special Transport Squadron flying the 2 HS-748; 2 CN235-220M; 1 Boeing 737-3Z6 3 Sikorsky VH-60P
6th Combat Control Team/Combat Search And Rescue Group with 12 UH-1H
Air Force Northern Combat Command*
8th Fighter Wing , based at*Wonju*
103rd Fighter Squadron flying 18 F-5E/F-5F/KF-5F
207th Fighter Squadron flying 18 KF-5E and KF-5F
288th Electronic Fighter Squadron flying*8 Harpy
239th Special Squadron, aka.*Black Eagles Aerobatic Team with 12 F-5E
10th Fighter Wing, based at*Suwon*
101st Fighter Squadron flying 18 KF-5E/KF-5F/F-5F
201st Fighter Squadron flying 18 KF-5E/KF-5F/F-5F
39th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
131st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron flying 17 RF-4C Phantom
17th Fighter Wing, based at*Cheongju*
152nd Fighter Squadron flying 18 F-4E
153rd Fighter Squadron flying 18 F-4E
156th Fighter Squadron flying 18 F-4E
29th Tactical Development & Training Group
191st Tactical Development & Training Squadron flying 18 F-16C/D and KF-16C/D
192nd Tactical Development & Training Squadron flying 18 F-5E/F and KF-5E/F
6th Search & Rescue Group
233rd Combat Search & Rescue Squadron flying 8 Bell 412, 6 Eurocopter AS532L/L2 Cougar and*12 Sikorsky*HH-60P helicopters
235th Combat Search & Rescue Squadron flying*10 Boeing Vertol HH-47D Chinook*helicopters
18th Fighter Wing, based at*Gangneung*
19th Fighter Wing, based at*Chungju*
161st Fighter Squadron flying 18 F-16C/D (Block32)
162nd Fighter Squadron flying 18 F-16C/D (Block32)
155th Fighter Squadron flying 18 KF-16C/D (Block52)
159th Fighter Squadron flying 18 KF-16C/D (Block52)
20th Fighter Wing, based at*Seosan*
120th Fighter Squadron flying 18 KF-16C/D (Block52)
121st Fighter Squadron flying 18 KF-16C/D (Block52)
123rd Fighter Squadron flying 18 KF-16C/D (Block52)
157th Fighter Squadron flying 18 KF-16C/D (Block52)
Air Force Southern Combat Command*
1st Fighter Wing, based at*Gwangju
11th Fighter Wing, based at*Daegu*
102nd Fighter Squadron flying 18 F-15K
122nd Fighter Squadron flying 18 F-15K
110th Fighter Squadron flying 18 F-15K
16th Fighter Wing, based at*Yecheon*
202nd Fighter Squadron flying 18 F-5E/F-5F/KF-5F
216th Flying Training Squadron flying 16 T-59 (BAe Hawk Mk.67)
38th Fighter Group, based at*Gunsan
111th Fighter Squadron flying 18 KF-16
Air Defense Artillery Command*
1st Air Defense Artillery Brigade with 24 IHAWK SAMs
2nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade with 24 IHAWK SAMs
3rd Air Defense Artillery Brigade with 24 IHAWK SAMs
30th Air Defense and Control Wing, based at*Osan*
1st Master Control and Report Center Group, based at*Osan*
2nd Master Control and Report Center Group, based at*Daegu*
Air Force Logistics Command*
Maintenance Depots
Supply Depots
Transportation Groups
Air Force Education & Training Command*
Basic Military Training Wing
3rd Flying Training Wing
Air Force Aviation Science High School
Technical Schools
Aerospace Projects Group
Aerial Combat Development Group*
Air Force Academy

Military ranks
Officer ranks can be learned fairly easily if one sees the pattern. "So" equals small; "Jung" equals medium; "Dae" equals large. "Jun" equals the prefix sub-.. Each of these is coupled with "wi" equals company grade, "ryeong" equals field grade, and "jang" equals general. This system is due to the*hanja*or*Sino-Korean*origin of the names.

ROK Air Force Rank US Air Force Equalivant
Commissioned officers
Dae-jang General
Jung-jang Lieutenant General
So-jang Major General
Jun-jang Brigadier General
Dae-ryeong Colonel
Jung-ryeong Lieutenant Colonel
So-ryeong Major
Dae-wi Captain
Jung-wi First Lieutenant
So-wi Second Lieutenant

Warrant Officers
Jun-wi Warrant Officer

Non-Commissioned Officers
Won-sa Chief Master Sergeant
Sang-sa Senior Master Sergeant
Jung-wa Master Sergeant
Ha-sa Technical Sergeant

Enlisted Ranks
Byeong-sang Sergeant
Sang-byeong Senior Airman
Il-byeong Airman First Class
I-byeong Airman
Shinbyeong Airman Basic