[Milsurplus] MRC-20

[Marty Reynolds]

>
> I helped outfit this jeep many years ago.  The group called themselves
> "Mosquitoes" and were tasked with Forward Air Control and Observation
> during the Korean conflict.  They gave me a dandy book detailing their
> exploits, which is around here somewhere.

First I've heard of the ground side of the Mosquito op'n

Wikipedia has a fair write-up on the Acft side
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Aircraft_of_the_Korean_War

But it leaves out operational details.  Enter the following

A pal's friend flew as an observer in a AT-6.  According to him they were
airborn forward observers.  A ground strike came in the form of five
jets.  One to lead & fire for effect which the AT-6 reported to the
remaining to drop main ordnance.  Results poor

Reason for this was generation 1 jets had so little range it was all
they could do to reach target then return

Different story on USMC ADs.  These guys cud loiter 'n loiter 'til
time right.  Believe their forward observers were ground pounders
with that giant 100-156 BC-1000 backpack-style beast called MAR?  (OK,
start a nomenclature firestorm)

So the AT-6 FO finished his termt & re-enlisted in USMC.  He trained a
bit on ADs but they got confiscated by USAF & renamed A-1s.  He
finished @ USMC and continued his career in comm'l aviation