Korean War Project

1st SHORAN Beacon Unit




Photo by Hal Barker. Copyright 1989.






25 Messages

Page 1

1

Entry: 81840
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
LOOKING FOR FRIENDS OF RALPH LANE JOYNER
DANNI BLAKE wrote on January 24, 2012


City and State: WADSWORTH OH

Unit:

Service or Relationship: FAMILY MEMBER

Comments: Hi! I am looking for friends of Ralph Joyner who served
in the Air Force in Korea in 1954-55(?) I have never
met my Dad, and I would LOVE to find people who knew
him, so I could learn more about him. If you knew this
man please contact me. I also made a Facebook page in
memory of him, and also to connect with people he knew,
you can find it here;
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003382370540

Thank you SOO much!
Danni Blake


Keywords: Friends,

 
Entry: 77921
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
1ST SHORAN BEACON SQUADRON KOREA
LOWELL (PETE) PETERSON wrote on February 19, 2011


City and State: MILWAUKEE WI

Unit: EASY AND CHARLIE SITES 1953-4 ISBS

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN

Comments: THE WAR WAS OVER A FEW DAYS AFTER WE ARR'D IN KOREA
I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST SHORAN BEACON SQUAD.AS A
RADAR REPAIRMEN. AFTER A TRAINING SESSION AT K6 WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO EASY SITE FOLLOWED BY A TRANSFER TO
CHARLEY SITE THEN ANOTHER TRANSFER TO THE SITE ATT
KADENA AFB OKINAWA..ONE YEAR IN ALL.
A LONG TIME AGO AND CAN'T REMEMBER MANY OF THE NAMES
BUT WOULD LIKE TO HERE FROM ANYONE WHO MIGHT REMEMBER ME


Keywords:

 
Entry: 60201
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
1ST SHORAN BEACON SQUADRON - 1952
LEO LAMB wrote on March 3, 2007


City and State: AUBURN CA

Unit: !ST SHORAN BEACON SQUADRON

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN

Comments: To those interested, send me an email.

Keywords: Sites: Easy, Able, Baker and Charlie

 
Entry: 55257
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
1ST SHORAN BEACON SQ
ANDREW CARLIN SR. wrote on January 19, 2006


City and State: SANFORD ME

Unit:

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN

Comments:

Keywords: aprial 1952 to aprial 1953
medals


 
Entry: 54422
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
1ST SHORAN BAKER SITE
JOHN (JACK) ROUSSEAU wrote on December 1, 2005


City and State: MINT HILL NC

Unit: 1ST SHORAN

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN

Comments: Stationed on Baker Site just off Mig Alley Near Jane Russel Hill and Hq @ K-6 7/54 - 7/55

Site mates:

Ernie "Pancho" Lopez,
Ramon Villegas,
Dan English,
Robert Paynter,
Conrad Ristau,
Bob Rosenau,
Doc McGrath,
Bob Sterner,
Prince O'Garro,
Jim Quick,
Bill Powell,
Ralph L.Joyner,
'Hammerin' Herm Murphy,
Adolphus Holmon,
Don Bottoms,
Johnny R.Young,
Jim Lindeman,
"Doc" 'Magoo' Robinson,
John J Haggerty,
??? Nyquist,
Joe Abercrombie,
'Speed' Robertson,
??? Furniss,

Koreans :
Pok Se Ban,
Choi Je 'Moon,
'Kim' Soon Gil,
Al,
Joe,
Club,
Lee,

If you know or rmemeber any of these pls respond.


Keywords: Mig Alley, Jane Russell hill, Bayonet Div (7th), Baker Site

 
Entry: 52399
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
1ST SHORAN BEACON SQ.
CARL G. FOWLER wrote on August 1, 2005


City and State: RENO NV

Unit: 1ST SHORAN BEACON SQ. DET. 9 EASY SITE

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN

Comments: I arrived at K-6 Home of the 1st Marine Air Wing/Mag 12/in October of 1954 where the Air Force 1st Shoran Beacon Sq was headquarted at.After about two weeks there i was transfered to Easy Site,high above the (Yellow Sea)and it was the coldest place in the world in the winter. As an A/3C I was given the status of Mess Seargent and Supply Seargent,i felt sorry for the troops with no experience in either field,good thing we had a Korean Cook. I was at Easy Site until June of 1955 when i recieved notice from the Red Cross that my Father had passed away and i was sent home after 8 months in Korea.Sure hope to hear from anyone who was stationed there at the time.
Carl


Keywords: LT.Young,VA./ Sgt.Spivey NY./LT.Frankel NY/ Haggerty,Air Police NY/ MacWhorter Medic Alabama/Warren Ohio/ Shelly/ Burke/ Red Communications/Korean Labor,JoJo (Cook)Rose (Laundry)Willy (Houseboy)

 
Entry: 49049
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
1957 STATUS
PAUL GRAHAM wrote on February 20, 2005


City and State: KANEOHE HI

Unit: 1ST SHORAN BEACON SQUADRON

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments: I was not a Korean War vet, but you old timers might like to know that the 1st Shoran Beacon Sq. was alive and kicking as of January 1957 when I was sent there (K-53, Paengnyong-Do) as a TAC operator (I was supposed to go to an AC and W Sq but my orders were screwed up).
It was responsible for the 3rd Bomb Wing,Yakota AFB, Japan and we controlled their B-57's,the bomber that required an explosive charge to start the engines. I was only there for two months so can't add much except to say the K-53 unit was still operating.


Keywords:

 
Entry: 46330
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
MOTOR SGT E5 631.10
JOHN SCHIRMER wrote on October 17, 2004


City and State: NORTH PLATTE NE

Unit: 82ND ARTILLARY 'B' BATTERY

Service or Relationship: FRIEND OF VETERAN

Comments: I think we said t all. thank you very much.

Keywords: BIg John was also a carrer of a flame thrower,as well as carried the big machine gun. This is a fine man, and still has that same Attitude should anyone try to do him wrong. GO BIG John. I saw all of you on a documentary thee other evenng. and John was a bit surprized that I reckognized him right off carrying that big flame thrower. I know he was with them when they topped the hill and planted the flag. Another one is here in NOrth PLatte too named JR Keslar.his number is 308 532-6089. I am doing this with their total trust amd permission. Neither have a computer. But would love to hear from any of their old comrades. Obviously both are was Army. And danged proud too. OOH RAAH to all of you. And a huge Thank you. sincerely Connie

 
Entry: 42899
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
SHORAN HISTORY AND OPERATION
MAY BUMAL-O wrote on May 8, 2004


City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: -

Comments: I've been digging through the internet on the topic, shoran-short range navigation. I have barely 3 days to finish my report..I'm an engineering student and in one of my subject i have to report this subject--- its history..operations and components...Unfortunately, gathered information is very minimal...Perhaps someone has the source of information..Please e-mail to me...thanks.

Keywords:

 
Entry: 37693
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
TOUR OF DUTY IN KOREA
FRANK BROADNAX wrote on October 20, 2003


City and State: DANIELSVILLE GA

Unit: !ST SHORAN BEACON SQUADRON

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments: We had it good on che gu do Island ate with a unit of marines from 1st marine air wing.When army built a P O W camp there and moved the prisoners in we moved out.
Was assigned to charlie peter out post which was a beacon site or homeing site no showers out door privy with new moon carved on the door. Ate c rations for nine months no cook eat st outa can.
plenty free cigarettes.
Tried to stay an extra 6 months so to aligible for discharge when rotated back to states but was refused. Discharged at Patrick AFB Fla sept 11 1953


Keywords: tdy to mats
che du do Island from april 52 to july 52
charlie peter outpost july 52 to march 53
air police


 
Entry: 37646
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
KOREA FEB 1952 TO JULY 1953
FRANCIS GILLESPIE wrote on October 18, 2003


City and State:

Unit: 1ST SHORAN BEACON SQUADRON

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments:
I also served in Korea with the 1st Shoran beacon Unit/Squadron from
February 6, 1952 thru July 23, 1953 for about 17 months. My brother (A1C
Joshua J. Gillespie Jr.) was a cook on Able Site from about Mid 1951 thru
Mid 1953 for 11 months. The reason I was there for 17 months is that I
volunteered to joined the same Squadron that my brother was in and extended
for an additional 6 months (which was crazy now that I think about it). I
was the Supply Sergeant for the Squadron during all of my tour and 1st Lt.
Volnec (sp) was the Supply Officer. Lt Volnec and I had gone to Dog Site to
make a Report of Survey of fire damages which had occurred on the site just
before the C-46 plane crash that killed about 18 people (5 from dog site).
We had driven a jeep from Hqs in Seoul which took about 12 hours to get to
dog site and was told that we could leave the jeep and someone else would
return it to enable us to fly back on that flight. For some reason Lt
Volnec and I decided to drive back. The day after we got back we heard that
the C46 was missing, then an oil slick was seen in the Japan Sea near K-18
where the plane had taken off from.
Later an Airmen named Thurman which I will never forget washed up form the
Japan Sea which verified that the plane had crashed into the Japan Sea.
Another 1st Lt (Adjutant of ISBS) and a civilian Technical Representive
missed the plane because they had overslept. I still have a few photos
taken nearby Dog Site during that trip.

I can't remember all of the names of people I knew but some of them are:
-1st Lt Bailey (Adjutant in Feb 1952) whom I had worked with in the
Ordnance Warehouse at Randolph Field, TX in 1948 before he went to OCS.
-1st Lt Riley (sp) The Supply Officer who picked me up at K-16 to take me
to EWAH College.
-lst Lt Volnec (sp) who replaced Lt Riley as Supply Officer.
-A1C Joshua Gillespie, Jr, Cook on Able Site (Also my Brother).
-SSgt Lambert from Texas, NCOIC of ISBS Motor Pool (Also was my room
mate).
-TSgt Battle, one of the 1st Sgts of ISBS, who had previous been a Major
and Provost Marshal at Randolph Field, TX.
-2nd Lt Dinkle, OIC of Easy site
-I also remember Thurman that was on the C46 that crashed but didn't
know the other 4 from our Squadron.
- I wish that I could remember other names of people that I knew.

I recall the incident at Charlie site of which a TSgt was awarded a medal
for his action the night of the attack.

We use to pack perishable rations and other supplies every Friday in the
Supply Room for Air Drop to Able Site which was located in the Yellow Sea.
A person from our section would take the supplies to K16 and accompany the
delivery of supplies. Non-perishable food and supplies was delivered to Able Site via LST Crafts.

The only Site that I have visited was Dog and Easy Sites.

We moved our Headquarters from EWAH College to K6, 12th Marine Air Group,
1st Marine Division around March 1953. I was told that Ted Williams the
Baseball player was a Fighter Pilot at K6 at the time I was there which
means that John Glenn was there also because they were assigned to the same
unit.
I also remember the Dog Fight where about six North Korean or Chinese Planes
was shot down one night between K6 and K55. I returned to the States on
July 23, 1953 from Yokahoma on the USNS Buckner which docked at Pier 22 in
Seattle WA. Since I had volunteered and had a direct assignment to the 1st
Shoran Beacon Unit, after processing thru Camp Stoneman, I flew from Travis
AFB, CA to Japan, took the train to Iwikuna for cold weather gear then flew
to Teague, then to K16 (Seoul) then to ISBS.

Regards,

Francis E. Gillespie
MSGT.,USAF (Ret)
San Jose, CA


Keywords: 1st Shoran Beacon Squadron, ISBU, 440th Signal Batallion, Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog, Easy, 1919 AACS

 
Entry: 35668
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
VERNON STEERMAN wrote on July 21, 2003


City and State: OSBORNE KS

Unit: 1ST SHORAN BEACON SQUADRON BAKER SITE

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments: Interested in hearing from any and all Baker Site and or Easy Site vets. Any aquaintances of re Able, Charlie and Dog Sites.

Keywords: radio operator USS Breckenridge Vern Steerman Baker Site Easy Site

 
Entry: 35667
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
VERNON STEERMAN wrote on July 21, 2003


City and State: OSBORNE KS

Unit: 1ST SHORAN BEACON SQUADRON BAKER SITE

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments: Interested in hearing from any and all Baker Site and or Easy Site vets.

Keywords: radio operator USS Breckenridge Vern Steerman Baker Site Easy Site

 
Entry: 35666
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
PAST MEMBER 1ST SHORAN DEC 1951- DEC 1952
VERNON STEERMAN wrote on July 21, 2003


City and State: OSBORNE KS

Unit:

Service or Relationship: -

Comments:

Keywords:

 
Entry: 35454
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
PAST MEMBER 1ST SHORAN 1953=54
ERNIE LOPEZ wrote on July 12, 2003


City and State: LAS VEGAS NV

Unit: !ST SHORAN BEACON SQ.

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments: I was a security policeman sent to various sites arriving in late 1953 to 1954. Helped deliver supplies to the radar sites. We lost two lives when a truck slid of a mountain site 2 weeks before Chritmas. Went on RR to Tokyo with some friends

Keywords: Panchsan. Easy, Cahrlie sites K-6 Mag 12, K-55 Osani. Airman English. One site officer was a Lt Frome Gary Indiana

 
Entry: 34857
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
8137
HERBERT C. (HERB) COLYER wrote on June 13, 2003


City and State: SCOTCH PLAINS NJ

Unit: 1ST SHORAN BEACON SQUADRON

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments:

Keywords:

 
Entry: 33921
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
FIRST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
NED E. SCHOLZ wrote on April 30, 2003


City and State: CENTENNIAL CO

Unit: FIRST SHORAN BEACON UNITE

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments: I was in Korea July, 1951 to 1952 (11 Months).
USAF 1st Shoran Beacon Unit.

Check out my web site. SuperNeds "My time in the forgotten war".
http://www.angelfire.com/ne2/nedpage/



Keywords: Headquarters,Able site,Baker Site, South Seoul,1st marine Div,Kimpo,Seoul

 
Entry: 33842
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
MANNIX
HOWARD MANNIX wrote on April 26, 2003


City and State: WILLIAMSBURG OH

Unit: 1ST BEACON SQUADRON

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments: The personal information for the "Mannix" listing is incorrect.
The name is "Howard Mannix" not Williamsburg Mannix.
The email is "hmannix@zoomtown.com" not 691 Spring St.

Could you possibly make the necessary changes on the entry.

Thank you very much,
Howard Mannix


Keywords:

 
Entry: 33814
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
MANNIX
HOWARD MANNIX wrote on April 24, 2003


City and State: WILLIAMSBURG OH

Unit: HQ SQDN., 1ST SHORAN BEACON

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments: We were assigned to Headquarters Squadron at Ewah Girls College. I reported there in April, l952 and rotated back in March,1953.My first billet was in the old bombed out building but I graduated to the HQ building which featured heat, water, and flush toilets after a while. It was our job to compute the distances and azimuths from each radar sight to the AP (Aiming Point) of a particular target. Because the electrical current there had unreliable voltage, we could not use the standard Marchant calculators (in the days before computors) but rather paper, pencil, and log books. Two men were given the same target problem and worked on the solution independently, comparing answers when finished. If the answers were the same, the results were considered correct and given to the unit CO for verification. These distances and azimuths were fed into the airborne computor as I understand it. Living conditions were probably the best in Korea: heated quarters, a gym and snack bar, a chapel which dubbed as a theatre, flush toilets, etc. We were bothered regularly by "Bed Check Charlie" at 2 AM dropping grenades, causing everyone to rush to the basement of the building, gasmask and carbine in hand.Our computations were hand-carried to Bomber Command in Japan where we had a small detachment.

Keywords: Sqdn. friends: Sal Volpe, Detroit; Al Budihas, Penna;Herbie Goodwine, S.C.;Bill VanDeGraf, Detroit;John Kratchwell,Penna:Kobe, L.A.;Pat Pilla, NY;Tex Erickson;

 
Entry: 27480
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
CHARLIE AND EASY SITES
ANGELO LENZINI wrote on August 8, 2002


City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments: Arrived Korea Feb 52 on a rainy night at K16 to the sounds and flashes of artillery to the north. We were hustled into 6 Bys with blacked out headlights and driven over the Han river.As our truck passed the center of the bridge we looked up and saw three bodies swinging from the steel girders.( Found out later they were South korean traitors)We were driven to Ewah college and I don't have to describe the bombed out condition it was in to anyone who was there, brought into a basement and told to find any open space among the sleeping bodies and get whatever sleep was left for the night. I remember opening my sleeping bag an getting into it and noticing that the soldier next to me was laying on top of his bag fully clothed with his muddy boots still on(found out next morning he had just gotten in from guard duty)Things looked a lot better in the morning but that was quite a night. Shortly thereafter assigned to Charlie, was there for about 4 or 5 months then requested sick call in Seoul for the worst toothache in my life and was surprised to be detached from Charlie and reassigned to Easy. From Charlie I remember Bill Strickland from Georgia(I think) our medic "Doc" Kessler from around Detroit and Sam Maggart ( although I'm not sure about Sam , it might have been at Easy) At Easy I remember Bill Smedly our cook, Donovan a truckdriver and mostly faces.

Keywords: Charlie (Operation Bad Boy) and Easy

 
Entry: 23324
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
IST SHORAN BEACON SQ
CARL G. FOWLER wrote on February 20, 2002


City and State: RENO NV

Unit:

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments: I was in the Air Force stationed in Korea with the 1st Shoran Beacon Sq. from November 1954 thru
June 1955 when i had to return to the states due to my Father,s death.Our headquarters was at K-6 with the Ist Marine Air Wing; M.A.G 12.
I Was assigned to Easy Site And was in charge of Supply and Food Service. Sure would like to hear from some of my Old Air Force Pal,s


Keywords: Haggerty,AIR Police: Mac,Mcwhorter Medic: Spivey,First Sergeant: Red;Communications: Lt.Frankel C.O. Lt.Young C.O.

 
Entry: 21453
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
KOREAN TOUR WITH THE 5TH AIRFORCE
RAYMOND (RAY) COIA wrote on December 13, 2001


City and State: UNIONTOWN OH

Unit: IST SHORAN BEACON SQUADRON

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments: Korean Tour With the 5th Air Force

After graduating from Keesler AFB, Mississippi as a Ground Communications Radio Operator, I was assigned to FEAF, 5th AF, 1st SHORAN Beacon Squadron, headquartered at the bombed out Ewah College near Seoul, Korea. A Keesler buddy of mine, George Zenuch and I were shipped to Korea together and spent our tour of duty from September 1952 through July 1953. After a few weeks indoctrination at HQ under Lt. Smith and S/Sgt Tommy Thompson, we were sent as Radio Operator replacements to Able Site. "Able" was on a small island of hills called Tok Chok Do sticking up out of the Yellow Sea about 20 miles from Inchon harbor.
   Our SHORAN Radar site was one of five. As I can remember; Able and Charlie sites were out in the Yellow Sea; Baker and Dog sites were on the mainland; and Easy site was at Pusan on the Southern tip of the peninsula. The sites worked in pairs triangulating on specific targets over North Korea as dictated by HQ. Our mission instructions came via encoded CW radio which we received and sent using the antiquated BC 191 transmitter and BC342 receivers. The receiver noise and constant jamming by the enemy made copying near impossible at times. Mission instructions were given to our RADAR man Joe Nehr who hailed from California. Joe and his side kick (whose name I can't remember) would set up the RADAR and antenna to the proper coordinates preparing for the upcoming mission. The SHORAN Beacon Squadron gave our bombers from Japan and Okinawa the freedom to carry out bombing raids accurately and successfully at night.
   Our supplies were airdropped to us by AF personnel flying on Greek Air Force C-47s. One of those "Fly Boys" was a High School buddy of mine, Charlie Maimone from Ravenna Ohio. Fuel for our generators and heaters was delivered about once a month by sea on LCMs or LSTs which then had to be hand carried up to our hilltop.
   There were 21 men on our hilltop when we were at full strength. There always seemed to be someone rotating out returning to HQ either with the LCMs or on the old Korean one cylinder diesel ferry boat we called the "Inchon Express". It took a good half day to make the 20 mile trip back to Inchon on that thing! Our complement of men for most of my tour consisted of one Officer, one NCOIC, two RADAR men, two Radio Operators, one Medic, two Cooks, and the rest were Military Police defenders. I can only remember a few names and nick names at this time; Sgt Bradshaw, our NCOIC; Joe Nehr, Chief RADAR operator; "Doc" the Medic; Southerland and "Stretch" two fearless Mps; Cpl. Wilford (who rotated home and wasn't replaced); Sgt. Ludke, our great cook, and my partner on the radio, Cpl.George Zenuch.
   The MP's had our hilltop secured with barbed wire, trip flares and sand bags. The armament that we had on the hill consisted of one 50 cal. machine gun, two 30 cal. machine guns , one BAR, one 60mm mortar, assorted M1, M1 carbines and hand grenades. Incendiary grenades sat on top of the equipment in case we were to be overrun. The only problems we encountered were occasional visits from "Bed Check Charlie" and a few incursion attempts by the North Korean refugees from the beach below.
   George Zenuch and I rotated back to HQ sometime about July 1, 1953, via the Inchon Express. Our HQ had moved to K6, Kimpo Air Field a Marine air base. I was to take the place of Sgt. Tommy Thompson, NCO Communications until my rotation home the end of July.
   If anyone can remember more details or names, I would be pleased to add them to my memories.


Keywords: Ist SHORAN, Tok Chok-Do, ABLE site

 
Entry: 20145
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
STATIONED AT EWAH COLLEGE IN LATE 51/EARLY52
HOWARD WINSLOW wrote on October 25, 2001


City and State: NEWLAND NC

Unit: 440TH SIGNAL SCARWAF (SPECIAL CATAGORIE ARMY WITH

Service or Relationship: ARMY VETERAN - KOREA

Comments: Looks as though the entries in this are mostly at a later date (months +/-). I was involved first in the motor pool dispatching and subsquently in the PX and snack bar and NCO/Officers clubs. At least this adds a new time and flavor to the existing entries. You Guys/Gals(don't remember many)did your job in spite of ole Bed-Check-Charlies nightly flights. Thanks for you efforts. Sincerely Howard Winslow

Keywords:

 
Entry: 17784
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
LOOKING FOR ANYONE IN 1ST SHORAN BEACON IN KOREA IN 1952 OR OTHER TIMES.
GENE DICOSTANZO wrote on July 6, 2001


City and State: OSTERVILLE MA

Unit: 1ST SHORAN BEACON SQUADRON

Service or Relationship: AIR FORCE VETERAN - KOREA

Comments: I was with the 1st Shoran Beacon Squadron in 1952, stationed at what was left of Ewah College, just outside Seoul, before moving in with the 1st Marine Air Wing, about 60 miles south of Seoul, in the Spring of 1953. I worked in operations, setting up the targets each night. We had orders to be able to get out of Seoul with our maps and code books in two hours or less if there was an all out attack. The urgency was to get away from the 38th parallel because the Chinese had massed a large number of divisions there. I left Korea a day after the cease fire in July, 1953. I recall visiting Easy Site and waking up the next morning to see a guy reach under his bunk and fetch a warm beer and drink it as though it was orange juice. I recall one night getting a call from Charlie Site that the North Koreans were attacking them on their island. I worked with Lt. John Alley, Capt. Robert Sinsabaugh, Sgt. Raymond Heiler and Sgt. Babineau. My replacement was someone from New Jersey named Mosca. When I left in 1953, we had a new major, but I don't recall his name. All I recall is that we both smoked Edgeworth pipe tobacco.

Keywords: 1st Shoran Beacon Squadron, 1952-53

 
Entry: 4401
1ST SHORAN BEACON UNIT
HQ - BAKER SITE
RICHARD ROGERS wrote on November 7, 1999


City and State: SOUTH PADRE ISLAND TX

Unit: 1ST SHORAN BEACON SQ. HQ AT K 6

Service or Relationship: USAF

Comments: I WAS STATIONED AT K 6 , FROM AUG 53 TO JUL 54.OUR HQ WAS K 6, BUT IT WAS A MARINE AIR BASE...MAG 12, VHF 121.

OUR PURPOSE WAS TO DIRECT B 29 RAIDS , NITE AND
DAY, BY RADAR.IT WAS A VERY SECRETIVE QUADRON..NO
PATCHES..NOTHING..JUST VERY CLANDESTINE. WE HAD
RADAR SITES AT SIX LOCATIONS, SPREAD ALL OVER
S.KOREA.

WAS STATIONED ON A MOUNTAIN..NEAR THE 38TH
PARALLEL..AND AN ISLAND OFF OF INCHON. OUR HQ WAS
ON OKINAWA, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE 19TH BOMBER WING.

I WOULD APPRECIATE ANYONE THAT WAS WITH THE UNIT
DURING KOREAN WAR TO CONTACT ME. THE PENTAGON SENT
OVER A PHOTO CREW TO PHOTOGRAPH US ON THE
MOUNTAIN...WE DREW OUR RATIONS FROM 7TH DIV.

I STILL HAVE THE PICTURE THAT THE PENTAGON SENT TO
ALL MEMBERS AFTER IT WAS RECORDED IN WASHINGTON.

LOOKING BACK, IF I KNEW WHERE WE WERE.(WE COULD
SEE THE N. KOREAN ARMY FROM ATOP THE MOUNTAIN)
I WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE NERVOUS.

FROM KOREA I WAS STATIONED AT RANDOLPH AFB IN IN
SAN ANTONIO AND WAS SENT TO SCHOOL AND SERVED AS A
CRYPTO OPERATOR AT RANDOLPH AFB AND WITH THE AIR
DEFENSE COMMAND AT MINNEAPOLIS AIRPORT.

ANYONE OUT THERE FROM 1ST SHORAN BEACON SQUADRON?

BEST TO ALL OF YOU KOREAN VETERANS. WE DID OUR
JOB...CAME HOME, AND WENT BACK TO WORK. REGARDS.


Keywords: SHORAN MEANS. ... SHORT RANGE AIR NAVIGATION. WE HAD SIX RADAR SITES...TWO
ON MISSIONS, AND FOUR BACKUPS


 

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1st SHORAN Beacon Unit




Shoran