6167th Air Base Group

The 6167th Air Base Group was a United States Air Force unit associated with covert and special-operations activities during the Korean War. Formed from the 6167th Air Base Unit in October 1950, it was based at K-16, Seoul Airport, South Korea, and operated under a designation that concealed the nature of its missions. Rather than functioning as a conventional air-base support organization, the group supported a range of sensitive activities, including flare operations, psychological warfare, leaflet and loudspeaker missions, behind-the-lines agent insertions, and resupply drops. Its operational element, the 6167th Operations Squadron, used aircraft including the Douglas B-26 Invader, Curtiss C-46 Commando, and Douglas C-47. The squadron’s aircraft could deliver leaflets and conduct psychological-warfare voice broadcasts, while other aircraft and detachments supported reconnaissance and clandestine personnel operations. The group was augmented by aircrews from the Philippines-based 581st Air Resupply and Communications Wing, itself a cover organization for special operations. Two SA-16 Albatross amphibious aircraft and four Sikorsky H-19A helicopters were deployed to K-16 in support of the group’s B Flight. Although the helicopters were colocated with the 2157th Air Rescue Squadron, they supported B Flight’s activities, as did the SA-16s. Operational control was exercised by Combined Command Reconnaissance Activities, Korea, which employed the group and associated special-mission aircraft for operations into North Korea. During 1952 and 1953, most of the unit’s flying took place at night. The missions included intelligence-gathering activities directed at North Korean production facilities, transportation networks, military dispositions, and other strategic information. The reference account also describes the use of very young Korean agents who were parachuted into North Korea and expected to return toward the battle lines with collected information; this aspect reflects the hazardous and controversial nature of wartime clandestine operations. The organization was later redesignated as the 6167th Air Base Squadron and activated at Kimpo Air Base, also known as K-14, near Seoul. Its institutional history ended after Kimpo Air Base closed in the 1970s, and the former airfield area is now associated with Gimpo International Airport in South Korea. The 6167th Air Base Group is therefore best understood as a historical United States military unit rather than a commercial brand, with its significance lying in the covert air-support and reconnaissance infrastructure it provided during the Korean War.

The 6167th Air Base Group emerged from the United States Air Force’s wartime special-operations structure in Korea. It was formed from the 6167th Air Base Unit in October 1950, during the Korean War, and was assigned to K-16, Seoul Airport. Its numerical designation functioned as a cover, obscuring the group’s actual role in sensitive operations conducted behind enemy lines and in support of intelligence collection. The group’s operational core was the 6167th Operations Squadron. Its aircraft included B-26 Invaders, C-46 Commandos, and C-47s. These aircraft performed several related missions. They could release flares, drop leaflets, and broadcast psychological-warfare messages by voice. They also supported the insertion and resupply of agents operating in North Korea. The group was not entirely self-contained: aircrews from the 581st Air Resupply and Communications Wing at Clark Air Base in the Philippines augmented its operations. The 581st’s cover identity similarly concealed its special-operations responsibilities. Additional aircraft were forward deployed to K-16. Two SA-16 Albatross aircraft were sent to the airfield to augment B Flight of the 6167th Air Base Group. Four Sikorsky H-19A helicopters were also deployed. Although the helicopters were physically associated with the 2157th Air Rescue Squadron, they supported B Flight’s missions, as did the amphibious aircraft. This arrangement illustrates the flexible and distributed nature of the unit’s wartime aviation resources. Combined Command Reconnaissance Activities, Korea maintained operational control over the group’s forces and used them for missions into North Korea. In 1952 and 1953, the majority of the group’s flying occurred at night. Its missions included the delivery of psychological-warfare material and support for clandestine reconnaissance. The reported intelligence objectives included identifying industrial production, transportation routes, troop locations, and other military information. The account of the unit also records the parachute insertion of very young Korean nationals for visual intelligence missions, with the individuals expected to move back toward friendly lines and use passwords to identify themselves to United States military personnel. These activities demonstrate the risks and ethical complexity of clandestine warfare during the conflict. After the Korean War period, the 6167th Air Base Group was redesignated as the 6167th Air Base Squadron and activated at Kimpo Air Base, or K-14, near Seoul. The unit was eventually discontinued when Kimpo Air Base closed in the 1970s. The former military airfield is now incorporated into the area of Gimpo International Airport. The group’s legacy is tied to the early Cold War development of Air Force special operations, psychological warfare, clandestine aviation, and reconnaissance support in Korea.

• 1953

  Continuation of Korean War reconnaissance missions

  [1]6167th Air Base Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group continued operations directed at collecting information on North Korean facilities, transportation, troop placement, and other strategic subjects.

• 1952

  Night clandestine operations

  [1]6167th Air Base Groupen.wikipedia.org

  During 1952–1953, the group conducted predominantly nighttime missions involving psychological warfare, reconnaissance support, and the insertion or resupply of agents in North Korea.

• 1950

  Formation from the 6167th Air Base Unit

  [1]6167th Air Base Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 6167th Air Base Group was formed in October 1950 from the 6167th Air Base Unit and assigned to K-16, Seoul Airport, during the Korean War.

• 1950

  Expansion of special-operations aviation support

  [1]6167th Air Base Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group’s operations were augmented by personnel and aircraft associated with the 581st Air Resupply and Communications Wing, including B-26, C-46, and C-47 aircraft.

• Redesignation as the 6167th Air Base Squadron

  [1]6167th Air Base Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was later redesignated the 6167th Air Base Squadron and activated at Kimpo Air Base, also known as K-14.

• Discontinuation after Kimpo closure

  [1]6167th Air Base Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was discontinued after Kimpo Air Base closed in the 1970s.

A covertly designated United States Air Force support and special-operations unit focused on reconnaissance support, psychological warfare, clandestine agent missions, and wartime resupply.

• Special-operations aircraft

  B-26 Invader operations

  B-26 Invader aircraft operated by the group’s operations squadron supported nighttime missions, including flare delivery, leaflet drops, psychological-warfare activities, and other special-mission tasks.

• Transport and resupply aircraft

  C-46 Commando operations

  Curtiss C-46 Commandos formed part of the group’s air transport capability, supporting the movement of personnel and supplies associated with operations behind North Korean lines.

• Transport and psychological-warfare aircraft

  C-47 operations

  Douglas C-47 aircraft were used for transport-related special missions and were equipped for leaflet delivery and psychological-warfare voice operations.

• Amphibious aircraft

  SA-16 Albatross support

  Two SA-16 Albatross aircraft were forward deployed to K-16 to augment B Flight and support the group’s special-operations and reconnaissance activities.

• Helicopter support

  Sikorsky H-19A support

  Four Sikorsky H-19A helicopters were deployed to K-16. Although colocated with the 2157th Air Rescue Squadron, they supported B Flight missions conducted by or for the 6167th Air Base Group.

• 1952North Korean psychological-warfare and reconnaissance missions

  North Korea

  During 1952–1953, the operations squadron conducted mostly nighttime missions involving leaflet drops, voice broadcasts, and support for intelligence-gathering activities behind North Korean lines.

  Outcome. The missions supported the collection of information about production facilities, transportation, troop positions, and other strategic subjects.

  Source
• 1950Korean War covert air-support operations

  Korean Peninsula

  The group was established in Korea to provide aviation support for covert reconnaissance, agent insertion, resupply, flare missions, and psychological warfare.

  Outcome. The unit became part of the United States Air Force’s wartime special-operations infrastructure in Korea.

  Source

1. 16167th Air Base Groupen.wikipedia.org