The Korean War, 1950 - 1953

Operations from Japan

When the Japanese occupied territory of Korea was divided between the USA and the USSR at the end of World War II, tension began to build up along the 38th parallel. Attempts to unify the countries during the late 1940s failed, primarily due to the reluctance of the Soviets to take any part in the proceedings, resulting in an 'Iron Curtain' effectively being created between the North and South.

During 1948 the Americans sponsored the formation of the Republic of Korea in the region south of the 38th parallel, and the Soviets similarly sponsored the formation of the Korean Peoples Democratic Republic in the North. Each of these new states claimed to be the only legal government on the Korean Peninsular and the regime in the North immediately set about to bring down the South Korean government. Initially this took the form of subversive activities and propaganda, but as time went on their methods became more violent and threatening.

In June 1950 the North Korean government presented two proposals for the amalgamation of the North and South Korean Assemblies. These two proposals were very pro-North and were rejected outright by the Southern government. On 25 June 1950, five days after the rejection of the second proposal, the North Korean Peoples Army (NKPA) launched attacks at several points along the border, effectively beginning the Korean War.

Two days later, 27 June 1950, the United Nations Security Council met and declared that the North Korean action constituted a breach of the peace, and called on member nations for assistance. The Australian Government advised 77 Squadron on the last day in June that it was to assist in 'policing' Korea, under the command of the US 5th Air Force. Thus, 77 Squadron was to have the distinction of being the first Commonwealth Unit to participate in the conflict.

Operations from Japan

77 Squadron flew its first mission of the Korean War on 2 July providing air cover for USAF C-47 transports evacuating wounded back to Japan. The task of escorting transports and bombers was soon discontinued due to an almost total lack of North Korean air activity as the North was only equipped with second hand Soviet Yaks and 9 fighters of World War II vintage.

The Squadron suffered its first casualty of the conflict on 7 July 1950 when Squadron Leader G. Strout (A68-757) failed to return from an attack on targets of opportunity along the north coast. It was assumed that he had been hit by ground fire whilst over the target area.

The distance between the RAAF station at Iwakuni and targets in North Korea required staging the aircraft through the Korean airstrip at Taegu. The Mustangs would depart Iwakuni each morning, attack their allotted targets and land at Taegu for refuelling, rearming, and if possible, staging a further attack on the North Koreans before returning to Iwakuni that night. The Squadron's maintenance personnel would work throughout the night repairing any battle damage and prepare the Mustangs for the next day's operations. The Squadron's Dakota flew maintenance personnel to Taegu every morning for staging duties and returned with them at the end of flying each night. The operation worked well despite its complexity. During the first month of fighting the Squadron had flown a total of 206 combat sorties, resulting in 1,337 flying hours being flown with the loss of one aircraft and pilot.

The war on the ground had not been so successful for the UN forces however, and the communist advance continued unchecked. By July 1950 the UN forces had been pushed back to an area south of the Naktong River near the town of Pusan, and the desperate struggle to hold the town began.

If the first month of the war had been busy for 77 Squadron, the second month proved to be hectic. This was due to the UN ground forces requiring immediate assistance with the Squadron's main objective being the demanding task of providing close support for the ground forces. The Squadron's Mustangs worked in close co-operation with ground controllers who guided the pilots onto enemy positions. The controller was usually situated close to the enemy and thus the accuracy of the attacks was assured. Often the ground forces were out of view of the enemy, so an air controller, usually flying a light aircraft such as an Auster, would be used to direct the Mustangs onto their targets. Either way, the results were impressive.

A good example of this type of operation took place on 1 August 1950 when four Mustangs, led by Flying Officer T. McCrohan, were tasked with providing close air support to the UN forces in the Chingju area. After making contact with the ground controller, the Mustangs were directed to attack three anti-aircraft gun positions. The Mustangs carried out a strafing run and quickly silenced the enemy guns. The controller then directed the four aircraft to a building which housed a number o 0.5 inch calibre machine guns; this was attacked with rockets and then strafed with machine gun fire. The pilots then turned their attention to another enemy gun position 200 yards further west which they again rocketed and strafed. Before departing the Mustangs strafed a number of enemy vehicles, claiming five trucks and one tank destroyed and a further three trucks probably destroyed.

As well as flying close air support missions the Mustangs of 77 Squadron were also directed to attack the enemy lines of supply and communication. It was hoped that by destroying these vital targets, the enemy would be sufficiently weakened, enabling the UN forces under siege at Pusan to break out. To achieve this aim, the Squadron's Mustangs carried out attacks on railways, bridges, roads and supply dumps during August. The enemy often used railway tunnels to hide trains and equipment from air attack, and these tunnels drew repeated attacks from the rocket-armed Mustangs.

Wing Commander L.T. Spence, the CO, was awarded the American Legion of Merit on 22 August 1945, for outstanding leadership, devotion to duty and great personal courage. The decoration was the first to be awarded to a member of the Squadron in the Korean conflict.

September 1950 began tragically when, on the third, Pilot Officer W.P. Harrop (A68-753) crashed five miles from Taegu. Harrop had been part of a four aircraft formation providing cover for B-29 bombers of the USAF, attacking the North Korean coastal town of Pyongyang.

Worse was yet to come when on 9 September , four Mustangs led by Wing Commander Lou Spence attacked the town of Angang-Ni with rockets and machine guns. The weather was poor, with low clouds creating poor visibility and hazardous flying conditions. The CO in A68-809 was seen to commence a steep attacking dive from 700ft on to the target when he was apparently struck by ground fire and crashed into the ground, being killed instantly. Lou Spence was posthumously awarded the American Air Force Medal.

Wing Commander Spence was succeeded initially by Air Commodore A.N. Charlesworth, and from 27 September by Group Captain A.D. Charlton, the future OC of 91 (Composite) Wing, until the appointment of Squadron Leader R.C. Cresswell on 1 November 1950.

On the 15 September 1950, in an attempt to split the enemy forces in two, General MacArthur landed the 10th US Marine Corps at Inchon near Seoul. Caught between this force and the US 8th Army fighting its way up from Pusan, the North Koreans were at last put on the defensive. The UN forces recaptured the South Korean capital of Seoul on 17 September 1950, and a concerted effort to push the enemy back to the Manchurian border began.

During September, 77 Squadron operations gradually moved north with the advancing ground forces. The Squadron's aircraft repeatedly struck at the enemy supply lines and communication; in particular the North Korean rail system commanded special attention. The ground forces moved swiftly and by the end of the month, 77 Squadron Mustangs were roaming deep into North Korea.

On 22 September the Squadron launched an armed reconnaissance mission to the North Korean town of Sinmak. Eight Mustangs departed at 1125 hrs and proceeded to the village of Nakeong Dong where a suspected NKPA camp was located. The Mustangs destroyed the village with napalm and strafed approximately 500 enemy troops with .5" calibre machine gun fire. The pilots then turned their attention on the town of Sinmak, where buildings were attacked and left to burn. A rail tunnel was rocketed and rockets seen to enter the tunnel mouth and explode. The Mustangs then attacked the town's rail yards where a locomotive was rocketed and four box cars left ablaze. The Mustangs returned to Iwakuni some three hours after taking off, making it the longest sortie flown by the Squadron at that time.