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The RCAF In Korea (1950–1953) The RCAF accounted for nine MiG “kills”, two
“probables” and 10 “damaged”.
The communist North Koreans streamed across the
South Korean border in 1950 and the first hot season High scoring pilots
of the Cold War was on. included Flight
Lieutenant (F/L) Ernie
The Canadian Glover with three kills
contribution to the air
and three damaged,
effort began early in
and Squadron Leader
the war when 426 (S/L) Doug Lindsay
Transport Squadron
with two kills and
was attached to the
United States Air three damaged.
The crew of a 426 F/L Ernie Glover shot
Force’s Military Air
Squadron North Star Transport Service. It down three MiG-15s.
unload baggage at Most RCAF personnel who served in the Korea theatre
moved to McChord
Haneda Air Base near — approximately 800 — belonged to 426 Squadron
Air Force Base in
Tokyo after a flight from Washington to carry while the remainder were fighter pilots, flight nurses,
McChord Field. and supply, technical and photo intelligence
out its duties.
personnel. As well, a number of Canadian Army
The squadron flew Canadair 12 “war strength” C-
personnel flew with the USAF as forward air
54GM North Stars on 599 round trips over the north
controllers in the 6147 Tactical Air Control Group,
Pacific, transporting 13,000 personnel and three informally known as the “Mosquitos”.
million kilograms of freight and mail to Japan. There,
cargo was offloaded for onward transit to Korea. The The government of Canada declared 2013 to be the
intense, challenging route, which involved long legs “Year of the Korean War Veteran” to mark the 60th
over open water, terrible weather and a treacherous anniversary of the signing of the Armistice on July 17,
landing strip at the midway point in Alaska, took 1953.
them perilously close to the Soviet Union. Although Canada's contribution, exceeded only by that of the
there were some close calls and incidents, there United States and Great Britain, demonstrated her
were no fatalities and no cargo was lost during the willingness to uphold the United Nations ideals and to
airlift. take up arms in support of peace and freedom. All
Twenty-one Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fighter told, 26,791 Canadians served in the Korean War and
pilots (in addition to Flight Lieutenant Omer approximately 7,000 continued to serve in the theatre
Lévesque, who was already serving on exchange with between the cease-fire and the end of 1955. The
the Americans when the war broke out) volunteered names of 516 Canadian dead are inscribed in the
to fly F-86 Sabres with the United States Air Force Korea Book of Remembrance.
(USAF) — although not all of them saw combat. Information from RCAF
They flew with the USAF’s 4th Fighter Interceptor
Wing (FIW) at Kimpo or 51st 51st Fighter Interceptor
Wing (FIW) at Suwon and served for six months or 50
combat missions, whichever came first. A combat
mission usually consisted of flying 200 miles (320
kilometres) over enemy territory to the infamous
“MiG Alley” (near the Chinese border) area,
patrolling, contacting and fighting with the
communists’ MiG-15s.
