A special preview feature from Aviation Classics - The P-51 Mustang

When the Korean War began in June 1950, many retired F-51 Mustangs were rapidly brought back up to combat readiness to be used for ground attack missions.

In the early years after World War Two, piston-engined fighters that had only recently been considered the world’s best were retired from service as the jet age rapidly took its hold. During the early part of the Cold War there was an urgent requirement for advancing technology to meet the escalating arms race, and the USAF was soon achieving the all-jet frontline fighter fleet that it wanted. The World War Two vintage fighters that had remained in service with the Far East Air Force, including F-51 Mustangs, were replaced by Lockheed F-80 Shooting Stars in 1949. F-51s were, however, soldiering on in their hundreds with numerous Air National Guard units in the US.

On 25 June 1950, the Communist North Korean Army crossed into South Korea. This invasion would lead to the Mustang being returned to frontline active service.

The Republic of Korea’s military force was inadequate to repel the well-equipped invasion force and even the US forces based in Japan were insufficient in number to carry out any effective counter attack. Soon after the invasion the FEAF put out an urgent call for more fighters – including F-51s!

An F-51 from the 67th Fighter Bomber Squadron, indicated by its red trim markings. This unit along with the 12th and 44th FBSs formed the 18th FBW. US Air Force

Every retired Mustang scattered around Japan that could be brought into flying condition was, even if they were in poor general condition. One frontline fighter unit, a composite group known as ‘Bout One’, was hastily formed on 27 June using some F-51s that had been kept airworthy for target-towing duties. These were to be piloted by Republic of Korea Air Force pilots with some US instructors and were given crudely applied RoKAF markings over their US stars. However, early on it was realised that at this stage the Koreans lacked sufficient training and experience on type to take the F-51 into combat, so operational missions were then only flown by the Americans.

To supplement what F-51s could be made available in-theatre, a request was made for more from the US. By mid-July a total of 145 F-51s were made ready, comprising a mix of ANG aircraft and stored examples brought back to life. They were flown to Naval Air Station Alameda in California and, wrapped in a protective coating, were shipped out to South Korea aboard USS Boxer. Accompanying the aircraft were 70 experienced F-51 pilots, many of whom had flown the type with the USAAF during World War Two.

The 18th Fighter Bomber Wing’s base at Chinhae was fortunate in that hangarage was available for major overhauls, though much of the routine servicing work took place outside. Via Martyn Chorlton

While the F-51s did have dogfight encounters claiming numerous enemy aircraft, their primary role was ground attack. For this purpose they were armed with rockets, bombs and napalm. The latter was particularly feared by the enemy troops. It was a jellied mixture which was loaded into external drop tanks mounted under the Mustangs’ wings. On impact with the ground it exploded into a devastating mass ball of flames.

As well as the operational USAF F-51 units, squadrons from the Royal Australian Air Force and the South African Air Force flew Mustangs in Korea, plus later in the war the by then more established RoKAF operated the type in its own right. Though this war essentially occurred during the age of the jet fighter, the piston-engined F-51 acquitted itself extremely well as a fighter-bomber and tactical reconnaissance aircraft. By the end of the war in 1953, more than 190 F-51s had been lost, the vast majority of which were shot down by anti-aircraft fire while flying low in their primary role.

This F-82G Twin Mustang of the 68th All Weather Fighter Squadron based at Itazuke Air Base, Japan, was flown by Lts Hudson and Fraser on 27 June 1950, when they scored the first aerial victory of the Korean War after shooting down a Yakovlev Yak-9. During the later years of World War Two there became a need for a new even longer-range escort fighter to provide extra cover for bombers tasked with targets at the farthest reaches of enemy territory. This led to North American Aviation beginning design work of the P-82 – which comprised two Mustang fuselages joined together with a common wing centre section and tailplane. While the Twin Mustang showed great promise, it never got the chance to prove itself in combat during that conflict as the war ended before they entered service. However, that wasn’t the end of the type and the later F-82G saw combat in the Korean War. US Air Force

National Museum of the United States Air Force – Korean War 60th

In preparation for the 60th anniversary of the Korean War in June 2010, in late 2009 the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Dayton, Ohio, began renovating the Korean War portion of its Modern Flight Gallery. The improved exhibit space will be completed in time for the anniversary.

Events to mark the occasion will begin on 24 June 2010 with an evening dinner in the museum’s Modern Flight Gallery and the unveiling of the new Korean War exhibit area. On Friday, 25 June 2010 the nearby Wright-Patterson AFB is holding its Freedom’s Call Military Tattoo, featuring live music, aircraft fly-overs and a fireworks show. Admission is free and there will be preferred parking and seating available to Korean War veterans and their guests. Pre-show activities begin at 4.30pm and the main show begins at 8pm. On Saturday, 26 June 2010 there will be a ceremony at the Korean War Memorial in downtown Dayton, which will honour and remember the service and sacrifice of those who fought in what has been called the ‘Forgotten War’.

For more details go to: www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/korea.asp