6405th Korea Air Materiel Wing

Shortly after the conflict in Korea began, Far East Air Materiel Command (FEAMCOM) realized that tactical units of Fifth Air Force would need assistance with maintenance and supply until they could get their own base maintenance and supply personnel and equipment to the combat zone. Out of its own materiel resources, FEAF organized the 6405th Korea Air Materiel Unit (KAMU) in July 1950 to exercise operational control of FEAMCOM units in Korea. Organized on paper in Japan, the KAMU quickly moved to Korea and its field maintenance, depot support, and ammunition handling units fanned out in support of Fifth Air Force tactical units. Initially KAMU was charged with coordinating Air Force logistics requirements and Army emergency requirements between Fifth Air Force activities in Korea and FEAMCOM, expediting requisitions of emergency aircraft parts and critical items, performing aircraft and ammunition modification projects, and returning Air Force reparable items to FEAMCOM. It also had responsibility for damaged aircraft in Korea, including salvage, reclamation, and field or depot repair, and. It soon began operating bomb dumps, aviation ammunition storage and napalm mixing facilities. In evacuations at Taegu and Pohang in August and September 1950, KAMU personnel continued working on the bases after most of the Fifth Air Force units had left. In the November evacuation from Pyongyang, maintenance personnel kept repairing combat-damaged aircraft, occasionally dodging sniper bullets. Supply personnel worked to evacuate 260- and 500-pound bombs and gasoline, as well as their own gear. In April 1951, KAMU's 543rd Ammunition Supply Squadron began operating a pierced steel planking plant at Pusan-East. KAMU also manufactured and issued breathing oxygen to Fifth Air Force tactical units and maintained liaison with the U.S. Army ports in transporting USAF supplies and personnel through these ports. In a paper reorganization, the first 6405th KAMU discontinued in January 1951, replaced by a provisional KAMU, itself replaced in May 1951 by a second 6405th KAMU. In an overall FEAMCOM reorganization in early 1952, the KAMU was elevated to wing-status. After the 75th Air Depot Wing arrived in Korea and settled at Chinhae in January 1953, the KAMU discontinued.

Stations

6405th KAMU: Taegu AB, South Korea, July 1950; Pusan AB, South Korea; c. August 1950; Seoul AB, South Korea, October 16, 1950; Taegu AB, South Korea, December 15, 1950-January 28, 1951.
KAMU(P): Taegu AB, South Korea, January 28-May 25, 1951.
6405th KAMU (later, 6405th Support Wing; 6405th Air Support Wing): Taegu AB, South Korea, May 25, 1951-February 1, 1953.

Harry Flagle wrote on July 2, 2018

City and State: STUDIO CITY CA

Unit: 3380 MAINT SQUAD, KEEISLER AFB, BILOXI, MISS

Service or Relationship: USAF 1950-1954

Comments: Would like to receive a print of picture taken at Scott AFB between 1950-1954.

Number on back of picture: 1445 taken by Portraits by CARL

Inscription says:For your conveniences photo will be kept on file.

I would like to purchase a replacement.

Keywords: PORTRAITS BY CARL, Picture number 1445 on back of picture
2nd area building #43