"Out On A Limb"
T6 "Mosquitos" in Korea
The 6147th Tactical Control Group, nicknamed the "Mosquitos", received a
Presidential citation in 1951 for their performance in the Korean War. This
citation was for the entire unit and without parallel in aerial warfare history
at that time. The gallant Mosquito pilots flew unarmed and unescorted T-6
aircraft that were vulnerable to opposition from the air and ground. Yet
these brave pilots flew at dangerously low altitudes over Communist
positions searching for telltale signs of the enemies presence: freshly
turned earth, footprints in the snow or a discarded tin can. Once a sign
was spotted, the Mosquitos flew down into the flak and marked their
targets with smoke rockets.
The North Koreans called them "Mosquitos" because the sight of a North
American T-6 buzzing down on them meant they were soon to be "stung".
Shortly after the annoying buzz of the venerable Texan ceased, the
screams of rocket-laden P-51s or the new jet fighter, F-84 Thunderstreak,
were on their way downhill to deliver death and destruction to the
Communist supply lines. The T-6 tactical coordinators of the 6147th
Tactical Control Group may have been old and outdated, but as deadly
hunting dogs that pinpointed game for heavily armed aerial hunters, they
were universally feared by the enemy.
The speed of the fast fighter/bombers, particularly the jets, did not allow
the pilots to adequately see and target the highly camouflaged positions
and vehicles of the North Koreans. They needed small, slow yet
maneuverable aircraft with an observer who could mark the enemy
positions with smoke bombs or rockets. The T-6 was fast enough to evade
enemy attacks, had adequate visibility to truly observe targets, could be
equipped with the necessary communications gear (eight-channel
AN/ARC3 radio sets) to talk the fighter/bombers into targets and could
carry target rockets to mark sites.
The men called to fly these missions lived a kind of gypsy life, they were
moved from air base to airbase as the U.N. forces retreated southward
from the North Korean flood. They were quite literally "Out On A Limb", not
only needing to complete their operational objectives in the air, but also
having to leave the ground staff of the group to move all their equipment to
the next airfield down the line.
We have largely forgotten the role of these daredevils in the T-6, but
without the "Mosquitos" - a raging outfit of professionals of one stripe or
another - the Korean air war might have been a different story. By the end
of the Korean War, the 6147th Tactical Control Group lost 42 aircraft and 33
men. The Mosquitos flew over 40,000 sorties aiding in the destruction of 5
tank divisions, 563 artillery pieces, 5,079 vehicles, 12 locomotives, and 84
bridges.
Illustration by James Dietz - Copyright © 2005.
All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this website may be reproduced
or utilized in any form without the written consent of American Art & Antiques, Inc.
Presidential citation in 1951 for their performance in the Korean War. This
citation was for the entire unit and without parallel in aerial warfare history
at that time. The gallant Mosquito pilots flew unarmed and unescorted T-6
aircraft that were vulnerable to opposition from the air and ground. Yet
these brave pilots flew at dangerously low altitudes over Communist
positions searching for telltale signs of the enemies presence: freshly
turned earth, footprints in the snow or a discarded tin can. Once a sign
was spotted, the Mosquitos flew down into the flak and marked their
targets with smoke rockets.
The North Koreans called them "Mosquitos" because the sight of a North
American T-6 buzzing down on them meant they were soon to be "stung".
Shortly after the annoying buzz of the venerable Texan ceased, the
screams of rocket-laden P-51s or the new jet fighter, F-84 Thunderstreak,
were on their way downhill to deliver death and destruction to the
Communist supply lines. The T-6 tactical coordinators of the 6147th
Tactical Control Group may have been old and outdated, but as deadly
hunting dogs that pinpointed game for heavily armed aerial hunters, they
were universally feared by the enemy.
The speed of the fast fighter/bombers, particularly the jets, did not allow
the pilots to adequately see and target the highly camouflaged positions
and vehicles of the North Koreans. They needed small, slow yet
maneuverable aircraft with an observer who could mark the enemy
positions with smoke bombs or rockets. The T-6 was fast enough to evade
enemy attacks, had adequate visibility to truly observe targets, could be
equipped with the necessary communications gear (eight-channel
AN/ARC3 radio sets) to talk the fighter/bombers into targets and could
carry target rockets to mark sites.
The men called to fly these missions lived a kind of gypsy life, they were
moved from air base to airbase as the U.N. forces retreated southward
from the North Korean flood. They were quite literally "Out On A Limb", not
only needing to complete their operational objectives in the air, but also
having to leave the ground staff of the group to move all their equipment to
the next airfield down the line.
We have largely forgotten the role of these daredevils in the T-6, but
without the "Mosquitos" - a raging outfit of professionals of one stripe or
another - the Korean air war might have been a different story. By the end
of the Korean War, the 6147th Tactical Control Group lost 42 aircraft and 33
men. The Mosquitos flew over 40,000 sorties aiding in the destruction of 5
tank divisions, 563 artillery pieces, 5,079 vehicles, 12 locomotives, and 84
bridges.
Illustration by James Dietz - Copyright © 2005.
All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this website may be reproduced
or utilized in any form without the written consent of American Art & Antiques, Inc.
Here at Ozark Airfield Artworks we offer a large selection art prints. These prints
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
Copyright © Ozark Airfield Artworks 2005 All Rights Reserved
All sales are subject to availability.
All sales are subject to availability.
All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be
reproduced without their consent.
reproduced without their consent.
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