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Forgotten War by Walter J. Boyne |
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Many of the stories included in this web site presentation relate to the Korean War, in recent years, frequently referred to as the “Forgotten War.” One of the finest, illustrated, abbreviated presentations of this subject is found in the Air Force Association publication of June 2000. The title of the story is “The Forgotten War, by Walter J. Boyne. |
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| Introductory paragraphs of his story include these words:
“Fifty years ago this month, the United States Air Force, weakened by demobilization and preoccupied with the threat of the Soviet Union, was thrust into its first war as a separate service when North Korea invaded South Korea. The date was June 25, 1950. USAF opened the war with F-82 Twin Mustang machine guns hammering enemy aircraft into the ground. The war ended on July 27, 1953, on a similar note, this time with a famed F-86 Sabre scoring the final air-to-air victory. “In the intervening 37 months of bitter combat, the newly established Air Force proved to one and all that it was ready to fight and to win, regardless of politics, rules of engagement, gaps in procurement budgets, or the prowess of the enemy. The Korean War marked the creation of a professional Air Force that would grow in size and strength for decades to come. When the North Korean People's Army swept across the 38th parallel into South Korea that day in 1950, its troops were well-trained and well-equipped by the Soviet Union. Using Soviet doctrine and equipped with T-34 tanks, heavy artillery pieces, and a small but effective air force, North Korea anticipated an easy victory that would unify the divided nation under the rule of "The Great Leader," Communist dictator Kim Il Sung. |
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Star was USAF's first jet to be used in combat. These F-80s, from the 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, are on the flight line, awaiting their next sortie. |
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when five F-82s engaged five North Korean Yak-11 fighters. Lt. William G. Hudson and radar operator Lt. Carl Fraser shot down a Yak-11, the first of 976 UN victories over the Communist air force. B-26s, B-29s, F-80s, and F-82s, like this one, were mustered for action in the opening days of the Korean War. Lt. William Hudson was flying an F-82 Twin Mustang when he scored the first aerial victory of the war on June 27. (Photo by John Redrup via Warren Thompson)
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| At the time of the North Korean invasion, South Korea had only a constabulary force to defend itself, as the United States had provided it with a minimum of military equipment and training.”
The information and illustrations contained in Walter Boyne’s story provide an excellent introduction to the Korean War and Cold War stories found on our web site. Click here to access this story on the Internet. Then come back to our web site to fill in many of the details, spoken by men who were there on the ground and in the air.
End of this presentation — You may Go To — Additional WW II, Korean War and early Cold War |
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