Korea War What did the UK fly into Combat ?

[Glen]

Greetings
I was watching a PBS show to night on the M.I.A. in MIG Alley and they were talking about a missing British Fighter Pilot but never did say what he was flying in . What were the UK conbat aircraft used in Korea ? are their any restored and flying today ?

[gregv]

Meteors, Fireflys, and I think later Seafire marks.

I'm sure someone with more knowledge will have a more thorough listing.

cheers

greg v.

edit: here's a quick list on this site:

http://www.korean-war.com/AirWar/GreatBritain.html

[K5DH]

Some quick research reveals that the RAF flew the Gloster Meteor jet, and the Royal Navy flew the Sea Fury, Seafire, and Firefly from both carriers and land bases.

Dean the walking encyclopaedia

[Jack Cook]

RAAF & SAAF flew F-51s with the 18th FIW. Quite a few Commonwealth pilots flew F-86 exchange tours with the 4th & 51st FIWs.

[gregv]

OK, so not really the UK, but a relevant warbird tie-in, is Meteor VZ467 currently flying in Australia painted as the RAAF MiG killing machine "Halestorm":

http://www.aviationmuseum.com.au/aircraft/meteor.cfm

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregis ... vz467.html

cheers

greg v.

P.S. by "UK" did you mean the Commonwealth? That does open it up a bit.

[Mike]

The RAF operated Auster AOP.6s and Short Sunderlands, the Royal Navy, Sea Furies, Fireflies, Seafires and at least one Sea Otter biplane (developed from the Walrus) which carried out a rescue of a downed US Corsair pilot in the early days of the war.

No RAF Meteors were used operationally in Korea, although the RAAF used them as replacements for their Mustangs.

[kalamazookid]

Didn't they fly some later-mark Spitfires from Hong Kong as well?

[Firebird]

Greetings
I was watching a PBS show to night on the M.I.A. in MIG Alley and they were talking about a missing British Fighter Pilot but never did say what he was flying in . What were the UK conbat aircraft used in Korea ? are their any restored and flying today ?

There was a significant number of RAF fighter pilots on exchange tours with USAF F-86 units during the Korean War, several of which were listed MIA, and also a number of which scored air victories flying USAF Sabres.

Some 30 odd RAF exchange Meteor pilots flew with 77 Sqn RAAF in Korea, 4 being killed.

[bentwingbomber]

Didn't they fly some later-mark Spitfires from Hong Kong as well?

28 Squadron RAF flying spitfire Mk18s at Kai Tak,hong kong, had the black and white korean stripes painted on it's aircraft in preparation to go
but it never happended.

Mk 24s of 80 Sqn also did this

Fred

[Nostalgair]

Hi All,

A number of RAF pilots served in Korea as has been previously stated. My father, an Aussie, served there with 77 Squadron RAAF and there were a number of Brits come through the squadron.

The initial conversion of RAAF pilots from Mustangs to Meteors occurred at Iwakuni, Japan and RAF instructors were involved then as well. One name that comes to mind is FLTLT Max Scammell.

AS for restorations, the Gloster Meteor F8 at the Temora Museum is painted to represent a 77 Squadron Meteor of the Korean War (see below). Namely, A77-851, "Halestorm". It was the mount of George Hale, who scored the RAAF's last air to air victory on 27th March 1953. Unfortunately George passed away late last year.

Regards,

Owen

[Bill Greenwood]

How good was the Meteor and how did it compare with Sabre and Migs?

[PeterA]

The last of the line, the mighty Seafire 47.

Seen here at 'Crystal Lakes' in July 2004.

PeterA