History as available of the
4th Direct Air Support Flight
Osan Air Base, Korea

 

Reprinted from the Air Force Times
May 1965 - Osan AB, South Korea

 

CHECKING OUT the MRC-108 radio equipment that will be used by the 2nd. and 4th. Direct Air Support Flight are (from left) Capt. Norman F. Conant Jr., Acting Commander; Col. Leon H. Berger, Tactical Operations Director; and A2c Stuart A. Vosk, radio operator (ROMAD). The units are the only ones of their kind in Korea - May 1965

2 Flights Forming
at Osan AB Korea

Osan AB -  Two new U.S. Air Force units which will improve close air support to the Army in Korea are being formed here.

The units, the 2nd and 4th Direct Air Support Flights (DASF), are two of several units being organized in the Pacific Air Forces area.

Acting commander is Capt. Norman F. Conant Jr.

Once the flights go into full operation they will be able to direct United Nations Aircraft to their strike points within minutes by way of MRC-108 Radio equipment.

The units' radios are completely mobile, allowing them to travel with the Army to the front lines.

Once the need for air support is established, DASF personnel on the front lines send a request direct to an Air Force operating unit. This transmission in monitored by intermediate headquarters along the line who either approve or revise the request immediately.

If the request is approved the alerted aircraft are scrambled and directed to their strike targets by the forward air controllers. The aircraft will be able to be over the targets within minutes after the request for support is received.

The flights are tenant units under the operational control of the 314th. Air Division.

 

This brass plate was designed by Capt. Burt Blatter
for each of the original 29 members of the 4th flight.

Each of the 29 original members received a plate
upon departure from our unit.

If you are one of the original 29 members of the 4th DASF flight
please make sure to let me know so that I can indicate so.
You should have received a brass plate like this one above.

 

Rank and Names of members of the 4th are added as received

Men of the 4th DASF

Part of the original 29 members
Later arrivals to the flight


4th DASF Officers (FAC)

Capt. Norman F. Conant - Acting Commander at startup - FAC
Capt. Burt Blatter - FAC
  -  Personal Page
Capt. Jack Graves - FAC
Capt. John R. Nicholson - FAC -
TDY to Vietnam, 1 Oct 1965 - 30 Jan 1966.
Capt. Bill Swensen - FAC
Capt. Robie Robinson - FAC
Capt. Sellick - FAC


Capt. Bartell - FAC
Capt. Bernstein - FAC
Capt. Britton - FAC -
TDY to Vietnam 1 Oct 1965 - 30 Feb 1966.
LCol. Joe Cyr - FAC
Capt. Kennedy - FAC
Capt. Nashland - FAC
LCol. McCarthy - FAC
Capt. L. D. Robinson - FAC


4th DASF Airmen (ROMAD)

Senior Master Sgt. De Vore  -  First Sergeant.
SSgt Adams - Communications
A1/c James - ROMAD
A3/c Graf - ROMAD 
A2/c Malaney - ROMAD - TDY to Vietnam 1 Oct 1965 - 3 Jan 1966
A2/c Robert Michael - ROMAD - 1 May 1965 to 5 June 1966 -
         TDY to Vietnam 1 Oct 1965 - 15 Mar 1966.  - 
Personal Page

         Tour in Korea from 1 May 1965 - 30 Sept 1965
         and 18 Mar 1966 - 5 June 1966.   - 
Personal Page
A2/c Othello - ROMAD

A2/c Stuart Vosk - ROMAD  -  Personal Picture

A2/c Harry Hyter - ROMAD - June 1967 to July 1968.
A1/c Cristal (Kristal?) - ROMAD
A1/c McDonald - Supply
          Leonard Sterns - ROMAD (TX)
          Bert Strickland - ROMAD
          Ken Dover- ROMAD
          Larry Kelly - ROMAD
          Jerry Newsome - ROMAD
          Roger Aune - ROMAD (MN)

We are still missing some men.

Known FAC / ROMAD Teams

Captain Nicholson  /  A2/c Michael
Captain Britton???  /  A2/c Malaney
Captain Blatter  /  A1/c ???

Reference  Ssgt Bumphus Comments:

A comment: Just read the new post by Ssgt Bumphus and he either has a great memory or has some paperwork in from of him because all the names he mentioned I do remember.

Funny story concerning him, when he first showed up in Korea, I remember addressing him as Sgt Bumpus. He said "the name is Bumphus...Bumphus". Well, you know what happened after that night. Every time I addressed him I said "Sgt Bumphus...Bumphus". He acted like he was mad when I said it but there was always a little smirk on his face! Though he tried to act like a hardass, he was truly a very nice guy and a pleasure to serve with.