United States Air Force aircraft of the Korean War
 | This article or section is in a state of significant expansion or restructuring. You are welcome to assist in its construction by editing it as well. If this article or section has not been edited in several days, please remove this template. If you are the editor who added this template and you are actively editing, please be sure to replace this template with {{in use}} during the active editing session. Click on the link for template parameters to use.
This redirect was last edited by Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs) 17 years ago. (Update timer) |
The Korean War (1950-1953) was the first shooting war for the newly independent United States Air Force. The war saw the first large-scale combat use of jet aircraft. Within months of the war's outbreak on June 25, 1950, Korea produced the first-ever jet-to-jet combat. The US military got its first taste of combat against Soviet aircraft, Soviet tactics, and, on some occasions, Soviet pilots.
On the other side of the coin, Korea marked the end of the line for major use of prop-driven combat aircraft of the active-duty USAF, the exception being specialized use of various counterinsurgency aircraft (A-1, A-26) in Laos during the Vietnam War. (The F-51 was used by some ANG units until the late 1950s). The Korean War was the last (and only) time large numbers of piston-engine and jet-engine aircraft shared the wartime skies. Also, it was the last US major war without at least some space support.
What follows is an accounting of some of the war's most important aircraft, the units which flew them, and known bases they operated from.
Fighter Aircraft
- North American F-51 Mustang
The F-51 was especially valuable in Korea because it could operate from rough South Korean airfields. The Mustang was used primarily for close support of ground forces, until the aircraft type was withdrawn from combat in 1953. RF-51s were used for reconnaissance
Units deployed:- 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing
- 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing
- Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star
The Shooting Star was USAF's first operational jet fighter. It operated extensively in Korea in the ground attack role--primarily for low-level rocket, bomb, and napalm attacks on fixed targets. RF-80s were used for reconnaissance.
Units deployed:- 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing
- 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing
- 35th Fighter-Interceptor Wing
- 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing
- 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing
- 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (RF-80)
- North American F-82 Twin Mustang
Based in Japan, the F-82s were among the first USAF aircraft to operate over Korea. The first three North Korean airplanes destroyed by US forces were shot down by F-82s on June 27, 1950. Used initially for counterair and ground attack work, their importance as night fighters caused them to be withdrawn for defense purposes until a shortage of spare parts made it necessary to retire them from combat.
Units deployed:- 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing
- 35th Fighter-Interceptor Wing
- 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing
- Republic F-84 Thunderjet
The F-84 arrived in Korea in December 1950. Initially assigned to B-29 escort duties, the F-84s soon gained fame in ground attack operations. F-84s were used to attack enemy airfields and even large targets like irrigation dams. The F-84 gained renown for daily attacks with bombs, rockets, and napalm on enemy railroads, bridges, supply depots, and troop concentrations. While unable to cope with the MiG-15 at high altitude, they were more effective at medium or low altitudes and scored several kills. RF-84s were used for reconnaissance.
Units deployed:- 27th Fighter-Escort Wing
- 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing
- 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing
- 116th Fighter Bomber Wing (Federalized Air National Guard)
- 136th Fighter Bomber Wing (Federalized Air National Guard)
- 474th Fighter Bomber Wing (Absorbed Air National Guard 116th FBW)
- North American F-86 Sabre
The F-86 Sabre survived many initial teething problems to become the premier USAF fighter of the Korean War. By the end of hostilities, it had shot down 792 MiGs, with a loss of only 76 Sabres-a victory ratio of 10-to-1. Later models of the F-86 were more powerful and used both for air-to-air and ground support. The RF-86 was used for reconnaissance.
Units deployed:- 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing
- 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing
- 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing
- Lockheed F-94 Starfire
Because it carried a highly secret airborne radar system, the F-94s were at first not permitted to fly deep into enemy territory. Ironically, the F-94 radar was not very effective on night missions against MiGs. The major task of the F-94 was to protect Korean air bases against enemy intruders.
Units deployed:- 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing
- 35th Fighter-Interceptor Wing
- 319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Bomber Aircraft
- Douglas B-26 Invader
The B-26 Invaders in Japan proved to be invaluable in the night interdiction role, and it fell to the B-26 to fly the first and the last bombing missions of the Korean War. The Invaders flew some 60,000 sorties and were credited with the destruction of 38,500 vehicles, 3,700 railway cars, and 406 locomotives. The bombers were also used for reconnaissance, as RB-26s.
Units deployed:- 3rd Bombardment Wing
- 17th Bombardment Wing
- 452d Bombardment Wing (USAF Reserves)
- Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Classified as a Medium bomber for service for the Korean War, many aircraft were retrieved from postwar storage and refurbished. The B-29s were effective as day bombers until the MiG-15 appeared. Thereafter, it was confined to night bombing against strategic and tactical targets. B-29s flew on all but 21 days of the 37-month war. In some 21,000 sorties they dropped 167,000 tons of bombs and claimed 16 MiGs and 17 other fighters shot down. At least 16 B-29s were shot down over North Korea, and as many as 48 were lost in crash landings or written off because of heavy damage after returning to base. The bombers were also used as reconnaissance (RB-29), weather (WB-29), and rescue aircraft (SB-29).
Units deployed:- 19th Bombardment Group
- 22d Bombardment Group
- 92d Bombardment Group
- 98th Bombardment Group
- 307th Bombardment Group
Cargo/Transport Aircraft
- Curtiss C-46 Commando
The C-46 was operated both by USAF and by civil operators in the Korean War for cargo and transport missions.
Units deployed:
- Douglas C-47/C-53 Skytrain
Officially known as Skytrain but affectionately referred to as "Gooney Bird," the C-47 served in Korea as it had during World War II. During the Korean War, the C-47s hauled supplies, dropped paratroopers, evacuated the wounded, and pumped out flares to light the way for night bombing attacks.
Units deployed:
- Douglas C-54 Skymaster
A C-54 was the first USAF aircraft destroyed in the Korean War; one of the transports on the ground at Kimpo Airfield was strafed by North Korean aircraft on June 25, 1950. It was a Military Air Transport Service workhorse throughout the war.
Units deployed:
- Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
The C-119 Flying Boxcar (officially called C-119 Packet) was used extensively in the Korean War. Despite logistics problems that kept monthly flying time averages low, the C-119 worked well in Korea, dropping supplies, paratroopers, and outsize equipment. The latter included artillery, vehicles, and two-ton bridge spans.
Units deployed:
- Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Performed heavy lift cargo operations to and from Korea. On 27 September 1951, a C-124A began FEAF-hosted service tests labeled Operation PELICAN. In a little over one month, the aircraft flew 26 missions between Japan and Korea, carrying an average load of 34,000 pounds, double the amount carried on the C-54. In one mission in 1951, a C-124 airlifted a record 167 patients from Pusan in South Korea. Unfortunately, because of the weight of the aircraft, it was limited to only four airstrips in Korea. A heavy-duty runway was constructed at Seoul Municipal Airport in October 1952, but logistical difficulties kept the C-124 from fulfilling its airlift potential.
Units deployed:
Support Aircraft (Non-Combat roles)
- North American AT-6 Texan
The Texan trainer found a new life in Korea as a forward air control aircraft. To meet an urgent operational need for close air support of ground forces, the Texans flew "mosquito" missions, spotting enemy troops and guns and marking them with smoke rockets for USAF fighter attack. The T-6s performed invaluable work.
Units deployed:
- Boeing RB/SB-17 Flying Fortress
The Boeing B-17 was adapted for photographic mapping, reconnaissance, and, as the SB-17, rescue work. The RB-17 operated in the Korean theater for three months in 1950 before being replaced.
Units deployed:
- Convair RB-36 Peacemaker
The Peacemaker was used for strategic reconnaissance. The RB-36 operated out of Yokota AB Japan with the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron.
- North American RB-45 Tornado
The Tornado was the first USAF four-jet bomber, and although the B-45 was available for combat in Korea, it was the RB-45 reconnaissance version that was used. First flown in April 1950, the Tornados carried out risky night reconnaissance missions over North Korea. Only a small number were available, and while they were not adequately supported, they did yeoman work. The RB-45 operated out of Yokota AB Japan with the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron along with the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in Korea.
- Boeing RB-50A Superfortress
An uprated version of the B-29, the RB-50A was used for strategic reconnaissance during the Korean conflict. It operated out of Yokota AB, Japan, and was assigned to USAF's 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron.
Far East Air Force Korean Airfields (K-Sites)
Known bases that the Far East Air Force operated during the Korean War. The place name spellings used are those found in Fifth Air Force general orders designating the K-Sites and other official Fifth Air Force documents.
|
|
|