“The story of this awesome and unique a Wing is long overdue. It is a saga that clearly illustrates the gathering and performance of the best, brightest and bravest group of combat fighter pilots and their exceptional support personnel that I have ever known. I honestly believe that no other Fighter Wing during the Korean War came even close to performing such diverse, challenging and tough missions, as did the Truckbusters.”
Lt. Gen. Devol “Rock” Brett, USAF (Ret.)
Truckbuster Centurian (an F-51 Mustang pilot who completed at least 100 combat missions during the Korean War).
Truckbusters from Dogpatch is the remarkable, true-life account of the USAF 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing from 1950 to 1953, the time during which its heroic air-combat exploits helped save South Korea from defeat by the North Korean communists.
Told as much as possible in the words of the heroic men themselves, this uniquely “up close” chronicle is illuminated by more than 1,000 photographs, memoirs, scrapbooks, and previously-classified military documents. By telling the 18th Wing’s story in such a vivid, tangible way, Truckbusters from Dogpatch brings readers directly into the harrowing world of the unit’s fighter pilots, mechanics, medics, supply sergeants, and other unforgettable “characters.”
A very limited number of copies of the soft bound edition are still available. However, when these few are gone, the publisher does not plan on printing any other hard copies of this unique chronicle.
Production of a digital, ePublication edition is underway, however. Conversion of the hard copy book is challenging. For example:
• Over 700 pages, 8 ½ x 11 inch format, largest unit history of the Korean War
• Over 1,000 previously unpublished photographs and images.
• Riveting personal accounts from F-51 Mustang pilots and ground crewmen
• Extensive glossary of Korean War-era military slang and technical terms
• List of more than 3,500 Korean War Veterans of the 19th Fighter-Bomber Wing
While the digital version is being prepared, the publisher has asked the author, Captain Tracy Connors, USN (Ret) to share summaries of 18th Wing combat operations. Captain Connors periodically shares series of Log Entries accompanied by never before published photographs letting you share the excitement and dangers experienced by Mustang pilots engaged in combat 65 years ago.