Page 36 - Nov_2018

'High Flight'
The RCAF in Korea by Don Nicks
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
Because the RCAF was rebuilding her fighter forces And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
at the time of the Korean conflict (four wings of Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
three squadrons each for NATO), it did not Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
contribute any fighter squadrons. However, the
RCAF did make significant contributions to the war
effort.

Soon after the outbreak of hostilities in Korea,
Canada committed her primary transport squadron
(No. 426 Sqn) to United Nations service. In July
1950 the RCAF ordered No. 426 Sqn stationed at
RCAF Station Lachine (Dorval) up to war time You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and
strength (12 North Star aircraft) and in late July its swung
personnel were detached to McChord AFB
Washington. From 25 July 1950 until 9 June 1954,
No. 426 (T) Sqn provided outstanding service to the

UN in Korea, completing 599 missions for a total of
over 34,000 flying hours. This was a feat, which
amazed the U.S. Military Air Transport Service, "how
so few could do so much with so little".

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
Although Canada did not send any fighter squadrons
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
to Korea, she did send pilots there on "exchange" My eager craft through footless halls of air.
with the United States Air Force. A total of 22 pilots

served on Sabre squadrons and one RCN pilot
served with a U.S. Navy Panther Fighter Squadron in
Korea. These pilots accounted for a total of 9 Mig-
15s confirmed, 2 probables and 10 damaged. RCAF
pilots were awarded seven U.S. Distinguished Flying
Crosses, one Commonwealth Distinguished Flying
Cross, four U.S. Air Medals and flew a total of 1,036

sorties in Korea. Of these pilots, only one was shot
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
down and became a POW (S/L "Andy" MacKenzie I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
was accidentally shot down by a USAF pilot). In Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
addition, because the US could not produce the And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
numbers of Sabres needed to sustain the war effort, The high unsurpassed sanctity of space,
Canada supplied the USAF with 60 F-86 Sabre Mk 2s Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
(USAF F-86E-6).

Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee