Oral+History+Research

Topic-Role of the Mechanic in the Korean War Interview Subject- Ray Boldt (Grandpa)

Nearly all the accounts from the Korean War are centered on the soldiers on the front lines and those who were actually fighting the enemy in hand to hand combat. If there was no support from the work force of mechanics, the military would have a hard time with their pursuits and objectives. Mechanics repaired equipment that had been damaged during the war or fixed up equipment so it could be used in the war. They put new engines in planes or attach aerial cameras to planes to get images of the combat.

Each person was issued a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), a number used to label a group of “military job activities” which depend on skill levels that are similar for the important tasks that are done individually or as a group. A MSO has a “classification title, a numerical identification, and a job specification”. The numerical identification is also known as the MSO code.

Part of the maintenance operations included finding enough people to fill the necessary positions to carry out the repair work. Finding qualified technicians because of the rise of demand was difficult. Some people came with skills from work on farms or repair experience, but for the most part, a lot of the men had to be trained to do the work which led to a shortage of educators. This led to the graduates becoming technicians to teach the new mechanics who were drafted.

Chanute Air Museum. “Korea: The Forgotten War.” //Chanute Air Museum//. Chanute Air Museum, 2006. Web. 30 May 2011. [|.]

Korean War Educator. “Military Occupational Specialty (MOS).” //Korean War Educator//. Korean War Educator, 2002-2011. Web. 30 May 2011. [|.]

“Supporting the Front Lines.” //50th Anniversary of the Korean War//. 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee, 25 Apr. 2000. Web. 30 May 2011.[| .]

Media These mechanics are working on a B-29 plane for the Korean War. [|Korean War Mechanics]

These mechanics are installing a camera into the nose of the plane to take aerial pictures. [|Aerial Camera in Korean War Plane]

This B-26 plane is having a new engine put in place so it can be used in the Korean War. [|New Engine for War plane]