Page 6 - November 2017

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 Force’s Military Air F/L Ernie Glover shot
Squadron North Star down three MiG-15s.
Transport Service. It
unload baggage at Most RCAF personnel who served in the Korea theatre
moved to McChord
Haneda Air Base near Air Force Base in — approximately 800 — belonged to 426 Squadron
Tokyo after a flight from while the remainder were fighter pilots, flight nurses,
Washington to carry
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
“Year of the Korean War Veteran” to mark the 60th
intense, challenging route, which involved long legs
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 Information from RCAF
there were some close calls and incidents, there
were no fatalities and no cargo was lost during the
airlift.
Twenty-one Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fighter
pilots (in addition to Flight Lieutenant Omer
Lévesque, who was already serving on exchange with
the Americans when the war broke out) volunteered
to fly F-86 Sabres with the United States Air Force
(USAF) — although not all of them saw combat.

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.