“Range Officer” - those two words would strike terror in the minds of the many eager eagles and the world’s best fighter-bomber pilots. This was a negative assignment that was passed around within the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing, and its three squadrons (35th, 36th, 80th) who picked up the duty. The range officer task usually lasted no more than two weeks, but those two weeks would become an eternity for some of us. The bombing range was isolated on the Korean west coast away from the excitement of combat flying. Since every pilot’s goal was to reach 100 missions as soon as possible, the range duty appointment delayed your FIGMO status. After being notified that you would replace the incumbent Range Officer, one would tighten up the belt and prepare for the rough ride in a six-wheeled truck that could do everything an Army mule could. The rides out and back were bone jarring, noisy, and damn cold in the wintertime.

First and foremost, one sought out those who had been there before to learn what to take with you. Having gleaned all the necessary intelligence and listened to the Group OP’s briefing, you were on your way. You carried all the necessary supplies in the truck, including morale-boosting mail for the enlisted troops who were close to a permanent assignment there. All at once you were commander of a 4-unit personnel outpost on the Yellow Sea shoreline. The four-man group was composed of a Range Officer (you), a munitions man, a radioman, and a medic. Upon arrival, I was greeted with, “Why didn’t you get here sooner?” and “What took you so long?” Within a matter of minutes the truck was unloaded and on its way back with a happy ex-Range Officer. That two-week stay in March 1953 was the coldest two-week period I have ever experienced.

The range target was a small island of rock that flared up from the bay, even during high tide. It was approximately one mile out from shore. Actually, it was a very good target to work on and easy to acquire. Tons and tons of bombs and millions of .50-caliber bullets were aimed at the rock. The ordnance was bombs of all sizes, rockets, napalm and anything else used in combat fighter-bomber work.

The activity around the rock caused the natives some problems since this was their food supply ground for their shrimp, clams, and mussels. Their hostility related to coming back on shore was somewhat tempered by the .50-caliber shell casing recovery. They were paid one cent for each casing they found.

Anyhow, it was a continuing and never-ending battle to warn the local people in the mud flats to leave the area at low tide when aircraft came on range. Unexploded ordnance was another problem and the cause for many serious injuries. The Koreans from nearby villages were extremely industrious and collected every bit of scrap metal they could find. They simply ignored the munitions hazard.

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