8112th AU Overview

MAJ Floyd McKibben Deputy Commander 8007th AU with agents On Sung Pah after he returned from a mission to North Korea. This agent made 2 successful missions into North Korea by infiltrating overland and returned. After he returned from the 2nd mission the 8007th AU had reason to believe that he was a double agent and eventually turned him over to the South Korean Army Intelligence Agency. This was normal procedure for any suspected agent as the 8007th AU did not have suitable facilities

8112th AU Patch - According to 1LT Earl Thieme the patch was designed by the men in 8112th AU and made by local tailors. 1LT Thieme said they were occasionally worn by some personnel. SSG Campbell said no insignia was worn because they were a classified unit and used code names and cover stories. Technically the 8112th AU was supposed to wear the 8th Army patch but no one did except some senior officers who had to visit 8th Army headquarters. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

8112th AU Army Crash and Rescue Group (ACAR) Headquarters located in the old American Mission at 194 Sa Dong in Chun Lo Ku Seoul Korea. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

8112th AU Bachelor Officer Quarters (BOQ) located in Seoul Korea. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

This photo was taken September 1953 at the Officers mess in the 8112th AU compound Seoul, Korea. The British personnel are from the British IS-9 (Intelligence School #9). The occasion was to celebrate the 6 British personnel who had completed their parachute jumps and ground training to make them Airborne qualified. Training was conducted 2nd LT Earl Thieme and SGT Floyd Ronald. Ground training was conducted at the IS-9 compound and parachute jumps on the banks of the Han River.

The original IS-9 Jump Manifest for the last 3 jumps conducted. The 5 US personnel were all members of the 8112th AU and already parachute qualified. LT Thieme and SGT Ronald made a three jumps with the British.

10th Special Forces Group Officers Assigned to the 8007th AU. From Left To Right: 1LT Sarkesian, 1LT Parker, CPT Dawson, 2LT Thieme and 1LT Siefert. These 10th Special Forces Group officers were part of the third shipment sent to Korea arriving on 2 April 1953. Courtesy of Earl Thieme

8112th AU Army Crash And Rescue Group Seoul Korea 1953 -1954. Front Row Left To Right: LTC Ermert, 1LT Sarkesian, MAJ Talley, CPT Dawson, LTC Wilcox Second Row Left To Right: LT Sawyer, CPT Siefert, MAJ Hart, MAJ Knapp, CW3 Harrision, LT Thieme, MAJ Parker Back Row Left To Right: LT Templeton, LT Carney, CPT Parker, CPT Johnson, CPT Maertens Courtesy of Earl Thieme

8112th AU Army Crash And Rescue Group Seoul Korea 1953 -1954. Rear Row Left To Right: CPT Dawson, LTC Wilcox, MAJ Talley, 1LT Sarkesian, LTC Ermett Left Row Front To Back: MAJ Parker, MAJ Hart, 1LT Siefert, LT Sawyer, LT Carney Middle Group: CPT Maertens, MAJ Knapp, LT Templeton, CPT Parker Right Side Front To Rear: LT Noel, 1LT Thieme, CW3 Harrison Courtesy of Earl Thieme

8112th AU Army Crash And Rescue Group Seoul Korea 1953 -1954. Front Row Left To Right: CPT Johnson, LTC Wilcox, CW3 Harrison, MAJ Knapp, MAJ Parker Back Row Left To Right: 1LT Thieme, LT Sawyer, CPT Maertens, CPT Young, MAJ Smith, LT Templeton, CPT Moore, LT Noel Courtesy of Earl Thieme

8112th AU Crash and Rescue Group Christmas party 1953 for dependents of the Korean employee's. Not the the Army Crash & Rescue Group painting on the wall. Courtesy of Earl Thieme

SSG Jim Campbell - Code Name "Junior" SSG Campbell came to the 8112th AU from the Infantry School Airborne Department Advanced Parachute Training Committee at Fort Benning GA.

Im, SSG Jim Campbell's 8112th AU Korean interpreter. Notice the Airborne Infantry Badge on his hat. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

SSG Campbell & CPL Sanford. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

Safe House Charlie located in the mountains near Seoul Korea. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

Resupply run at Safe House Charlie which was located in the mountains near Seoul Korea. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

8112th AU Agents leaving Charlie House. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

1LT Sam Sarkesain commander of Detachment #1 located on the island of Paeng-Yaeng-Do. 1LT Sarkisian was responsible for the establishment of escape and evasion networks and the rescue of downed airmen. Courtesy of Earl Thieme

Detachment One located on the island of Paeng-Yaeng-Do (which was referred to as PY-Do) located off the coast of North Korea. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

Approach to Detachment Three located on So-I-Jak-To. The tides flowing between So-I-Jak-To and Tae-I-Jak-To were extremely strong as the opening between the two islands was only about 100 meters wide. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

Detachment Three located on the island of So-I-Jak-To. Courtesy of Earl Thieme

Detachment Three located on the island of So-I-Jak-To. Courtesy of Earl Thieme

8112th AU Sam Pans, Yak 180 and Patrol Boats. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

8112th AU 50' patrol boats. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

LCU at Detachment One which was located on the island of Paeng-Yaeng-Do (which was referred to as PY-Do) located off the coast of North Korea. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

M Boat at Detachment One which was located on the island of Paeng-Yaeng-Do (which was referred to as PY-Do) located off the coast of North Korea. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

Detachment Two 35' Chinese sail Sam Pan which was made specially for the 8112th AU by Navy See Bees in Sasebo Japan. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

LCM & YAK used to transport troops and supplies from base to islands off of Wonsan. Courtesy of CPT Edward Morris collection, USAHEC.

PFC Comfort on a LB19 of the coast of Pusan. PFC Comfort was the CW radio operator from 8112th AU HQ in Seoul. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

SSG Campbell & CPL Maley. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

2nd LT Earl Thieme and unidentified enlisted man, taking a break making a map check and talking to a local Korean. Located on one of the mountains approximately 50 miles from Seoul conducting a 3 day reconnaissance attempting to locate a suitable cache site for use in the future. Courtesy of Earl Thieme

SSG Mauffray and dog named shit head. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

Jerry Beres 8112th AU S3 Clerk. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

CPL Tom Maley 8112th AU. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

MSG Reddlick & MSG Young 8112th AU. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

MSG Young 8112th AU Courtesy of Jim Campbell

MSG Gracious & Ericsson 8112th AU. Courtesy of Jim Campbell

SFC Frank Forbes wearing a theater made jacket with Airborne Ranger Company scroll. Forbes was an original member of the 4th Airborne Ranger Infantry Company, serving with the Unit during their year in combat until the deactivation of all Airborne Ranger Infantry Companies in August 1951. SFC Forbes was wounded on 11 April 1951 during the Hwachon Reservoir Operation. SFC Forbes would spend 3 years assigned to the 8240th - 8007th - 8112th and 8157th AU.

SSG Mauffray, MSG Forbes and PFC Comfort 8112th AU. Courtesy of Jim Campbell