iscover
A GAG Mustang of 77 Squadron in flight returning from a raid over the Korean peninsula. AWM photo.
Target Pyongyang
0 comment
Tall, fair-haired Flight Lieutenant Gordon Harvey was a Korean War veteran. He had taken part in Squadron RAAF’s first day of operations on July 2, 1950.
It was the third mission entered into the Unit History Sheets and his was one of six CAC Mustangs detailed to escort nine American B-29 Super fortresses on a bombing mission to Yonpo. The B-29s had come up from the huge US base at Okinawa to rendezvous with the Australians who had flown from Lwakuni in Japan, over Kang Nung on the east coast of Korea about 12miles (19 km)south of the 38th Parallel. Splitting into pairs, the Mustangs took up positions on either side and above the bombers. It was an easy mission; they met no opposition. Harvey and his wingman, from their top cover position weaving above and behind, had a good view of the B-29s as they droned lazily over their target and unloaded. They could see flashes from exploding bombs bursting around the buildings – a decidedly unhealthy place to be! Antiaircraft fire was inaccurate, exploding harmlessly below and behind the bombers. The whole attack only lasted a few minutes.
Things did not remain easy for long. Whereas in the air the UN enjoyed absolute supremacy – the relatively small North Korean Air Force had been quickly wiped out the situation on the ground was desperate. UN forces were heavily outnumbered by the North Korean Army which was pressing hard on the Pusan Perimeter, south and east of the Naktong River. The air force’s major task now was to cut off the enemy’s supplies and pin down his troops. Along with USAF and US Marine squadrons, n Squadron, RAAF, was given the job of bombing and strafing troop concentrations and supply routes.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
