ICONS OF THE KOREAN AIR WAR
Author Michael Napier picks ten famous aircraft that saw combat in the Korean War
Korean Air War,
“THE CORSAIR UNITS OF THE US NAVY AND US MARINE CORPS FORMED THE BACKBONE OF THE NAVAL AIR CAMPAIGN”
The closing months of the Second World War saw the first combat flight of the jet fighter, with the deployment of Nazi Germany’s Me 262 – a milestone in aviation history that changed air warfare forever. However, jet fighters would not truly come into their own until the following decade. In his new book former RAF pilot Michael
Napier recounts the overlooked story of the first large-scale jet-versus-jet conflict, and how air forces of the nine belligerent nations adapted their flight combat tactics and aircraft design to keep up with the fast pace of jet-age warfare. The book interrogates combat reports from both sides, as renowned fighters such as the MIG-15 and F-86 Sabre were pitted against one another to the north of the Korean battlefields.
Napier also recounts the critical role played by the air forces of Britain, Australia and South Africa, who each proved their merit on the world stage. Here, using some of the stunning photography from his book, Napier selects and discusses ten of the most iconic and prolific aircraft of the Korean War, sharing his insight into the strength of their design and their performance on the frontline.
1 VOUGHT F4U CORSAIR
The Corsair units of the US Navy and US Marine Corps formed the backbone of the naval air campaign, flying off aircraft carriers and from airfields throughout the conflict. The aircraft was operated in the ground attack and night fighter roles. These Corsairs are from VMF-214 of the Marine Corps.
2 NORTH AMERICAN F-51 MUSTANG
The F-51 was operated by US, Australian, South African (as shown in this picture) and South Korean units in the ground attack role. In 1950 a number of USAF jet units were re-equipped with the F-51, which had better weapon-carrying capability and endurance than the early jet fighters. The Mustang remained in service with some air forces until the early 1980s.
3 MIKOYAN GUREVICH MIG-15
The MIG-15 equipped the Soviet, Chinese and North Korean air forces. Originally conceived as a ‘bomber destroyer’ rather than an air superiority fighter, it nevertheless outperformed the Sabre, particularly at high altitudes. However, its slow-firing cannon and the lack of ‘G’ protection for pilots proved to be tactical weaknesses.
“THE METEOR SOON PROVED ITS WORTH IN THE GROUND ATTACK ROLE, IN WHICH IT WAS PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE AS A ROCKET-FIRING PLATFORM”
4 BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS
The heaviest bomber of World War II, the B-29 was obsolete by the start of the Korean War, but it became the main means of conducting strategic airstrikes against North Korea. Eventually forced into night operations by the MIG-15, the B-29 continued bombing missions until the end of the conflict.
5 DOUGLAS AD SKYRAIDER
The impressive weapon load and range of the carrier-borne Skyraider strike aircraft made it a vitally important component of the naval air campaign throughout the conflict. Uniquely, Skyraiders from USS Princeton also carried out a successful torpedo attack against the Hwachon Dam in May 1951.
6 GLOSTER METEOR F8
The RAAF procured the Meteor to re-equip 77 Squadron, which operated the F-51 in Korea until mid-1951. After a disastrous debut as an escort fighter, the Meteor soon proved its worth in the ground attack role, in which it was particularly effective as a rocket-firing platform.
7 REPUBLIC F-84 THUNDERJET
Unfortunately, the straight-wing F-84 was no match for the swept-wing MIG-15 in air-to-air combat and it was soon switched to the ground-attack role. More rugged and with better range than the F-80 Shooting Star, the F-84 became the mainstay of the USAF fighter-bomber units.
8 GRUMMAN F9F PANTHER
In 1950, the Panther was the prime air-defence fighter aboard US Navy aircraft carriers. In Korea the Panther enjoyed some successes against Mig-15s, but it was more often employed for ground attack missions. The US Marine Corps also operated a squadron of land-based Panther fighter-bombers in Korea.
9 NORTH AMERICAN F-86 SABRE
No account of the Korean War would be complete without mention of the F-86, which was arguably the most successful aircraft of the conflict. Initially used exclusively for air combat, a role in which it was extremely effective, the F-86 was also deployed as a fighter-bomber in 1953.
10 ILYUSHIN IL-10 STURMOVIK
Although the Korean People’s Army Air Force only used its Sturmoviks in the early phases of the war, the type was effective in providing close support to North Korean troops and also striking UN rear areas. This aircraft was camouflaged in a damaged hangar at Kimpo airfield.
“NO ACCOUNT OF THE KOREAN WAR WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT MENTION OF THE F-86, WHICH WAS ARGUABLY THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AIRCRAFT OF THE CONFLICT”