Aircrew Remembered Korean War Database

Korean War Air Losses & Incidents Database for All Nations Opposing North Korea
5890+ Entries in Database

Allied Losses Nordic RAAF Losses RNZAF Losses USAAF Battle of Britain Paradie RCAF Archiwum Polish War Graves Runnymede Kracker Luftwaffe
Check the Databases Menu for the extensive list of our databases which represent decades of original research by our Editors

Search Tips • Databases On Site • Check Spelling Names

Read Search Tips. Blue = Sort Column. Corrections via Helpdesk please
This database was made possible through the technical work of Jacqui Freegard
CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT. ADDITIONS MADE DAILY
Searches can be made on Name, Unit, USAF, USN, RAF, Royal Navy, RAAF, SAAF, Hellenic, plane type etc.
Check the Alpha List to see all options: you can search on any word found in the Alpha List, and you can try any other word as well (for example, Okinawa).
See Search Tips for restrictions.
Perhaps uniquely, we have now included US claims by date. Search for 'Victory' to see these.

We are seeking one or more enthusiastic people interested in helping us add content to this important database.
No technical skill is required, just a careful approach to finding data. We will provide ongoing assistance and share in the task.
The work is enjoyable and will help secure data on this conflict for future historians. Please contact us via Helpdesk.

List of Pages Related to Korea
Korean Air War: An Introduction

Enter Your search conditions and click Search This
Searching for a 3-character name requires special treatment

AND(Optional)

Exact Match Contains Word

These are the results of your search:

You searched for: “RAAF”

#	Name	First Names	Rank	Military Service	Honours	Status	Aircraft Type	Tail Number	DateIncident	Squadron	Group or Wing	Circumstances Of Incident	Notes	Photo
1	Myers	E	SGT	RAAF			Meteor		1952-05-04	77Sqn	RAAF		The communist ground forces soon began to feel the effects of the continuous attacks on their supply lines, and by early May, began to send their Migs south in the hope of intercepting the raiders before they could reach their targets. Once more, the Meteors were to clash with the Migs. On 4 May 1952 a patrol of two Meteors sighted a flight of nine Mig-15s south west of Pyongyang. The Migs immediately launched an attack, but on this occasion the odds lay with the Meteors. The Migs were forced to fight the Meteors at low altitude, thus relinquishing the Mig's high latitude performance advantage. A Mig latched itself onto Sergeant E. Myer's tail but was quickly shaken off, enabling his number two, Pilot Officer J. Surman, to fire two bursts of cannon fire into the Mig. The starboard tail plane and the starboard side of the MiG's exhaust port were seen to disintegrate in a flash of flame, and Surman was credited with probably having destroyed the aircraft as neither Australian saw the Mig impact the ground.
2	Rosser	Arthur J	FLOFF	RAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-858	1953-03-28	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by gnd fire, crashed/burned
3	Robson	R	SGT	RAAF		KIA	F-51D Mustang	A68-125 (A68-128 ?)	1951-04-17	77Sqn	RAAF	Aircraft accident	77Sqn flew its last operational Mustang sortie on 6 April 1951, when four of the Squadron's aircraft had to abort an attack on a North Korean road due to bad weather. The Squadron moved to Japan on the following day and prepared to convert onto the new aircraft. The Squadron suffered its last Mustang casualty when Sergeant R. Robson (A68-128) crashed and lost his life at Matsuyama on the west coast of Shikoku Island on 17 April 1951, during a night navigation exercise.
4	Robinson	Richard G	PO	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-464	1952-02-16	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by AAA at low altitude, aircraft broke up (WA958)	Delivered 12/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Hit by Ground Fire and broke up at low altitude in the Haeju area, Korea 16/02/52. Crew; PLTOFF Richard George Robinson O22422. Struck off 14/02/52.
5	Robertston	Douglas M	PO	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-959	1951-11-11	77Sqn	RAAF	Mid-air collision with A77-587, dove into ground
6	Robertson	Donald N	PO	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-373	1952-05-15	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by gnd fire while on rocket pass and augured into the ground (WA936)	Delivered 08/01/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Hit by ground fire during a rocket strike in Masam Ni Korea 15/02/52 and impacted the ground. Crew; PLTOFF Donald Neil Robertson O32536.
7	Reading	Les		RAAF			P-51 Mustang			77Sqn	RAAF		L-R, ERIC DOUGLAS, BILL MITCHELSON, TOM MURPHY, BILL HORSMAN, KEN MCLEOD, LES READING AND LOU SPENCE (CO) GATHER AROUND THE TAILPLANE OF LOU SPENCE'S MUSTANG AIRCRAFT.
8	Purssey	Ian G S	FLTLT	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-189	1952-04-22	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by gnd fire, wing fell off, unsuccessful bail out at low altitude	Delivered 13/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Shot down by enemy ground fire 22/04/52 and the wing came off during ground attack mission Channampo Korea. FLTLT Pursey attempted to eject but was unsuccessful. Crew; FLTLT Ian Goodwin Swan Purssey, DFC O11561. Struck off 03/06/52.
9	Pinkstone	Donald W	SGT	RAAF		RMC	Meteor	A77-982	1953-06-15	77Sqn	RAAF	Downed by enemy ground fire, successfully bailed out	Delivered 21/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Crashed on Ground Attack Mission, Chodong Ni Korea 15/06/53. Pilot SGT D. Pinkstone Ejected and was captured. RAAF Ejection number 8.
10	Outhwaite	M A	SGT	RAAF		NIJ	Meteor	A77-385	1952-05-12	77Sqn	RAAF	Damaged by MiG, crash landed (WE918)	Delivered 19/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Crashed on Landing Kimpo Korea 11/05/52 after being damaged by a MIG, converted to components 1952. Aircraft marked as A77-385 at Fighter World Museum, is A77-875
11	Olorenshaw	Ian Russell 'Pip'	FLTLT	RAAF	American Air Medal		P-51 Mustang		1950-10-19	77Sqn	RAAF		On 19 October four Mustangs, led by Wing Commander Cresswell, set out from Pohang to attack targets close to the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. The flight was split into two elements by a Forward Air Controller (FAC) with one element targeting enemy positions holding up the UN advance and the second element directed against a train approximately seven miles north of Pyongyang. FLTLT I. Olorenshaw and SGT E. Douglas, attacked the train by directing their firepower against opposite halves, Olorenshaw attacking the northern half and his wingman attacking the southern half. Douglas scored a direct hit on the box cars of the southern half and Olorenshaw hit the northern half with napalm. Both sections of the train caught fire and the box cars exploded violently. The remainder of the train was strafed and the locomotives boiler was seen to explode, sending a cloud of steam some 400 ft into the air. Flight Lieutenant Olorenshaw was awarded the American Air Medal for his skill during the attack.	Olorenshaw in Mustang with napalm drop tanks Olorenshaw by self propelled Soviet gun Olorenshaw and Ray Trebilco by captured gun
12	Nolan	Desmond Thomas	SGT	RAAF		NBD	UNK	A77-134	1953-06-11	77Sqn	RAAF	Circumstances unknown	A37583 Sergeant (Sgt) Desmond Thomas Nolan, No. 77Sqn RAAF, of Geelong, Vic. Age 26. Delivered 17/12/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Broke up on training Flight near Kimpo 11/06/53. On 11 June 1953 Sergeant D. Nolan (A77-134) was killed when his aircraft disintegrated whilst recovering from a barrel roll and dive. Crew; SGT Desmond Thomas Nolan A37583. Struck off 25/06/53.
13	Nicholls	B	W/O	RAAF	AFM		P-51 Mustang			77Sqn	RAAF
14	Royal	Kenneth E	P3	RAAF		Killed	F-51D Mustang	A68-704	1951-02-26 (1951-02-29 ?)	77Sqn	RAAF	Oil leak, attempted belly landing, crashed	Killed
15	Murray	Ken	SGT	RAAF			Meteor		1952-10-02	77Sqn	RAAF		On the 2 October 1952 when Flying Officer O. Cruickshank, a RAF exchange pilot with the Squadron, was shot down in a surprise attack. A flight of four Meteors had carried out a successful rocket strike and were returning to Kimpo when two Migs jumped them from the 8 o'clock position. Sergeant K. Murray received a 37 mm hit in the port tail pipe during the Mig's first pass and observed Cruickshank bailing out of A77-436 over Cho'do. Unfortunately Cruickshank's parachute failed to open and he fell into the sea with no chance of survival. Sergeant Ken Murray was posted back to Australia having set a record by flying a total of 333 sorties during his tour with the Squadron.	Cruickshank on left, others unknown Australian pilots
16	Murray	Ken	F/SGT	RAAF			Meteor	A77-446 'Black Murray'		77Sqn	RAAF		Delivered 08/01/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Bearing nose art, "Black Murray", the aircraft was frequently flown by F.Sgt Ken Murray (333 missions). Sold to RH Grant Trading Co 30/04/59 and scrapped.
17	Murphy	Tom		RAAF			P-51 Mustang			77Sqn	RAAF		L-R, ERIC DOUGLAS, BILL MITCHELSON, TOM MURPHY, BILL HORSMAN, KEN MCLEOD, LES READING AND LOU SPENCE (CO) GATHER AROUND THE TAILPLANE OF LOU SPENCE'S MUSTANG AIRCRAFT.
18	Monaghan	William 'Bill'	SGT	RAAF			Meteor	A77-415	1953-06-13	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by flak	During an attack on a cable repeater station, Sergeant Bill Monaghan (A77-415) was hit by flak and was forced to land on a friendly island. Published 2013: During the Korean War, Monaghan bunked with fellow fighter pilot Bob Macintosh at the Kimpo Airbase, outside of Seoul. "The room mate I'm sharing with, we were in Kimpo together, I had forgotten how much he snores," the 84-year-old Canberra great-grandfather told AAP on the phone from Korea on Saturday. The pair are among 15 Australia war veterans who have travelled to Korea to mark the 60th anniversary of the armistice signing that ended fighting. Mr Monaghan joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1949 and was in active combat during the last three months of the war. His role was to fly over enemy supply lines and try to stop supplies getting through to the frontline. "I was a frightened young boy from the country who did not know what he'd gotten himself into," he said. During his twelfth combat mission, his Gloster Meteor plane was hit by enemy fire which took out his right engine. Unable to return to base on one engine, Mr Monaghan made an emergency beach landing on the island of Paengyong-do held by United Nations forces, where his engine was replaced. Mr Monaghan returned to Australia in December 1953, to marry his wife Dot. "She's only divorced me 14 times," he joked, hastily adding that they've had a wonderful married life and are proud of their son and daughter.
19	Mitchell	Ronald D	SGT	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-128	1951-08-22	77Sqn	RAAF	Mid-air collision on initial approach to K-14, crashed N of the Han River (WE908)	Delivered 13/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. A section of twelve Meteors were returning from a fighter sweep and had just initiated a change from battle formation to line astern when Sergeant R. Lamb (A77-354), a RAF exchange pilot, collided with Sergeant R. Mitchell (A77-128). Both aircraft crashed eight miles north of Kimpo, killing both pilots. Collided with A77-354 near Kimpo and destroyed 22/08/51. Crew; SGT Ronald Daniel Mitchell A22223. Struck off 05/05/52.	courtesy AWM
20	Michelson			W/O			Meteor	AA77-726	1951-09-05	77Sqn	RAAF		Damaged on 05/09/51 near the Manchurin border at Antung by 3 MiG-15's. On its return to Kimpo the aircraft was found to have a 60 centimetre hole in the port tail plane as well as other damage between the engine cowl and the fuselage. The pilot, WO Michelson was uninjured.
21	Meggs	Keith	SGT			NIJ	F-51D Mustang	A68-737	1951-03-15	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by AAA over Munsan, bellied in at K-14	77Sqn continued to give support to the advancing troops and on the day Seoul was retaken, the Squadron attacked an enemy village north of Kimpo, destroying twelve buildings. Sergeant Meggs (A68-737) suffered a loss of oil pressure during the attack and was forced to execute a wheels up landing at Kimpo airfield. Kimpo at this time was very close to the front line and Meggs had to be rescued from the airfield by helicopter. Keith Meggs began work at Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation early in 1943 as a teenager, and began gliding at the end of 1945. In August 1948 he joined the Royal Australian Air Force for flying training, and subsequently flew Mustangs and later Meteor Mk.8 jets in the Korean War, earning the DFM and AAM. Following this he flew Vampires in Australia and Malta. Keith rejoined the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in 1957 working for several years on Sabres and the Ceres cropduster. He then joined the Department of Civil Aviation as an Air Traffic Controller before taking up freelance charter flying, which lasted some 25 years and culminated in a grand total of 19,460 hours attained on 109 types of aircraft.
22	McCleod	Ken D	FLTLR	RAAF	DFC		P-51 Mustang			77Sqn	RAAF		L-R, ERIC DOUGLAS, BILL MITCHELSON, TOM MURPHY, BILL HORSMAN, KEN MCLEOD, LES READING AND LOU SPENCE (CO) GATHER AROUND THE TAILPLANE OF LOU SPENCE'S MUSTANG AIRCRAFT.
23	McCarthy	Jack		RAAF			Meteor			77Sqn	RAAF			Jack McCarthy looks at flak-damaged engine of A77-207
24	Matthews	Keith Clarence	FLTLT	RAAF		KIA	F-51D Mustang	A68-812	1951-02-14	77Sqn	RAAF	Possible mid-air collision in heavy cloudcover with W/O S Squires (A68-796)	Age 27. Service 22068. of Parkes, NSW. He enlisted in the RAAF on 18 July 1942, and trained as a fighter pilot in the Empire Air Training Scheme outside Totonto, before being commissioned on 9 July 1943. He was posted to the United Kingdom and while attached to 183 (Typhoon) Squadron, he was shot down over Normandy, France while strafing a level crossing, on 24 June 1944, and taken prisoner of war (POW). He spent eleven months in Stalag Luft 3 in Germany and returned home on 9 September 1945, electing to remain in the RAAF. In 1950, he was posted to 77Sqn in Korea. On 14 February 1951, while flying a Mustang, he failed to return from a mission over enemy territory during a severe snow storm and was posted missing presumed killed, along with A5166 Warrant Officer Sinclair Sutherland Squiers, also from Parkes. He has no known grave. Remembered United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Busan, Korea, Parkes Cenotaph
25	Lawrenson	Frederick J	SQLDR	RAAF	DFC	KIA	Meteor	A77-852	1952-12-24	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by gnd fire, exploded/crashed, no egress noted	Delivered 20/08/52. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Shot down by Ground Fire Inchon Korea 24/12/52. Crew; SQNLDR Frederick James Lawrenson O22005 DFC, AFC, MID.
26	Thomson (Thompson ?)	Bruce L	SGT	RAAF		RMC	Meteor	A77-29	1951-12-01	77Sqn	RAAF	12 Meteors attacked by 40 MiG-15s, downed by MiG-15	Delivered 08/01/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Crashed 01/12/51 near Sunchon, North Korea after being shot down by enemy fire during dog fight with MIG-15s. The 12 Meteors attacked by 40 MiG-15s. Pilot ejected, SGT B. Thompson and captured. RAAF Ejection number 4. Struck off 09/04/52.
27	Hofstra Jr.	Edward J	ENS	USN		RSC	F4U-4 Corsair	98865	1951-01-15	VF-64	USS Valley Forge (CV)	Hit by AAA, crashed into sea, Wonsan Harbor. RAAF flying boat rescued pilot
28	McGlinchey	Leonard T	SQLDR	RAAF		KIA	UNK	UNK	1953-07-16	No. 91 (Composite)	Wing RAAF	Circumstances unknown
29	Tonkin	Kenneth E	1LT	USAF		WIA	B-26 Invader	UNK	1951-08-15	90th Bmb Sq	(L) 3rd Bmb Gp (L)	Hit by AAA over enemy territory, recovered at 90th Composite Wg RAAF base
30	Johnson	Raymond W	1LT	USAF		WIA	B-26 Invader	UNK	1951-08-15	90th Bmb Sq	(L) 3rd Bmb Gp (L)	Hit by AAA over enemy territory, recovered at 90th Composite Wg RAAF base
31	Pretty	W J	FLTLT	RAAF		RSC	B-26B Invader	44-34279	1950-08-14	8th Bmb Sq	(L) 3rd Bmb Wg (L)	Ran out of fuel enroute from Korea to Iwakuni AB, crash landed on beach, destroyed
32	Zupp	Phillip	SGT	RAF			Meteor		1952-02-06	77Sqn	RAAF	Missing after attack run on two tunnels 3 mi E of Sinmak (WE911)	On 06/02/52 searching low level for F/Lt Hannan who was in A77-616, Sgt Phillip Zupp was hit by ground fire blowing off his canopy and inflicting injuries to his face. Returned to Kimpo and landed.
33	Wittman	R	FLYOFF	RAAF			Meteor	A77-774	1952-02-06	77Sqn	RAAF	Searching for Flt Lt Hannan A77-616.	One of the pilots searching for Hannan in the Hannan Sibyong-Ni area 06/02/52, North Korea, Flying Officer R. Wittman (A77-774) had a lucky escape, when an enemy .25 calibre slug passed through the aircraft's seat without touching him. The RAAF pilots found the accuracy of the conventional bombing in the mountainous Korean terrain left something to be desired and had a definite preference for the air-to-ground rocket. Shot down by enemy ground fire. Dick Wilson, Bruce Gogerly, Dick Wittman: Kimpo 1952 Officer's Mess with USAF Officers
34	Wilson	Dick	SQDLDR	RAAF	DFC (Awarded 1951-11-08)		Meteor	A77-616	1951-08-29	77Sqn	RAAF		The odds were stacked heavily against the Australians. Eight Meteors, led by Squadron Leader Dick Wilson were carrying out a routine fighter sweep near Chongju when they were attacked by over 30 Migs. Squadron Leader Wilson put his aircraft into a dive and was able to position himself behind one of the enemy jets. He had just opened fire on the enemy aircraft, when his Meteor (A77-616) was hit by cannon fire from both above and below. Wilson broke off the engagement and nursed his damaged Meteor home, where it was found that his port aileron had been almost shot away and another round had entered the rear fuselage, ricocheted across the top of the radio compass and entered the rear main fuel tank approximately twenty inches from the top of the tank. Dick Wilson, Bruce Gogerly, Dick Wittman: Kimpo 1952 Officer's Mess with USAF Officers
35	Williamson	Stan	P2	RAAF		NIJ	F-51D Mustang	A68-775	1950-08-05	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by AAA, flap damage, crash landed at Pohang
36	Turner	Valton L	F/LT	RAAF		INJ	Meteor	A77-741	1952-01-24	77Sqn	RAAF	Crashed 3.5 mi S of base while landing at K-14, engine failure	Flight Lieutenant V. Turner had a lucky escape from serious injury on 24 January 1952 when his aircraft, A77-741, suffered an engine failure and crashed whilst turning to make its landing approach. Although the Meteor was totally written off, Turner managed to escape the wreckage with only minor injuries.
37	Thornton	Geoff	RAAF	F/O	AFC AFM		P-51 Mustang			77Sqn	RAAF		Service Number 033201 An informal group portrait of four pilots of 77Sqn RAAF in Korea. Left to right: Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) M S (Max) Scannell RAF, 05895 Pilot Officer (PO) M E (Blue) Colebrooke, 033201 Flying Officer (FO) G (Geoff) Thornton and 0383 Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) R C (Dick) Cresswell (Commanding Officer). All are standing in front of a Gloster Meteor Mk 8 aircraft serial number A77-949. This aircraft was later lost by enemy action on 1 December 1951. Flt Lt Scannell was one of 32 RAF pilots who served with the Squadron. Of that total, five lost their lives and one RAF officer (FO M O Bergh) became a Prisoner of War (POW). PO Colebrooke was also killed in action.
38	Lamb	Reg L R	FLSGT	RAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-354	1951-08-22	77Sqn	RAAF	Collided on initial approach to K-14, crashed N of the Han River (WA934)	Delivered 13/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. A section of twelve Meteors were returning from a fighter sweep and had just initiated a change from battle formation to line astern when Sergeant R. Lamb (A77-354), a RAF exchange pilot, collided with Sergeant R. Mitchell (A77-128). Both aircraft crashed eight miles north of Kimpo, killing both pilots. Collided with A77-128 and crashed near Kimpo Korea 22/08/51. Crew; FSGT Reginald L.R. Lamb 1304890 (RAF exchange pilot). Struck off 05/02/52.
39	Surman	John L	PO	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-911	1952-06-09	77Sqn	RAAF	Mushed into ground while on strafing run	Delivered 21/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Lost on Ground Attack Mission during strafing run, Hwanju Korea 09/06/52. Crew; FLTLT John Leonard Surman O32537. Struck off 08/07/52.
40	Surman	John L	PO	RAAF			Meteor		1952-05-04	77Sqn	RAAF	Probably MiG destroyed	The communist ground forces soon began to feel the effects of the continuous attacks on their supply lines, and by early May, began to send their Migs south in the hope of intercepting the raiders before they could reach their targets. Once more, the Meteors were to clash with the Migs. On 4 May 1952 a patrol of two Meteors sighted a flight of nine Mig-15s south west of Pyongyang. The Migs immediately launched an attack, but on this occasion the odds lay with the Meteors. The Migs were forced to fight the Meteors at low altitude, thus relinquishing the Mig's high latitude performance advantage. A Mig latched itself onto Sergeant E. Myer's tail but was quickly shaken off, enabling his number two, Pilot Officer J. Surman, to fire two bursts of cannon fire into the Mig. The starboard tail plane and the starboard side of the MiG's exhaust port were seen to disintegrate in a flash of flame, and Surman was credited with probably having destroyed the aircraft as neither Australian saw the Mig impact the ground.
41	Strout	Graham	SQDLDR	RAAF		RCV	P-51 Mustang	A68-757	1950-07-07	77Sqn	RAAF	Downed by Yak, 400 meters N of Pukpyong RR Station, Songchong-ni, Pukpyong-up, Samchok-gun	First RAAF victim of Korean War. Adelaide, South Australia, 4 February 1921. Killed in Action (flying battle), Samcheok, Korea, 7 July 1950, aged 29 years. The first loss of the squadron occurred on July 7th, 1950 when Squadron Leader Graham Strout was killed during a ground attack mission by 4 Mustangs on the railway at Samchok in Eastern South Korea (most likely shot down by ground fire). July and August of 1950 was a period of heavy combat for the squadron as the North Koreans pressed their attack on the Pusan perimeter in the far south of Korea. On September 3rd, 1950 Pilot Officer Bill Harrop was shot down and captured by North Korean troops who immediately executed him! This was a sad time for members of the squadron, but it would get much worse. Commemorated UN Memorial Busan, Australian War Memorial Burial Service for Strout and Harrop
42	Strange	Harold T	SGT	RAAF		KIA	F-51D Mustang	A68-782	1951-03-19	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by gnd fire,unsuccessful bail out over Wonsan Harbor	Whilst carrying out an attack on a village near Wonsan, Sergeant H. Strange (A68-782) reported that he had been hit by flak and he was losing oil pressure fast. His flight leader, Pilot Officer L. Klaffer, ordered him to head east and bail out over Wonsan Bay. Strange headed out to sea and after jettisoning his canopy bailed out of his crippled Mustang. Klaffer observed Strange vacating his aircraft and was horrified to see him plummet into the water, his parachute having failed to open. A helicopter from a nearby USN aircraft carrier was quickly on the scene and advised that there was no sign of Strange.
43	Stoney	A T	SGT	RAAF			Meteor	A77-231	1951-02-19	77Sqn	RAAF	Ejected without command input	Delivered to 77 Sqn in Japan 19/02/51. Crashed 14/06/51 4 nm west of Iwakuni, Japan Whilst in a steep climbing turn to port at 15,000 ft and 280 kts during an acceptance test flight, the pilot was inadvertently ejected without command input. The Aircraft was still marked WA944, but A77-231 was allocated, therfore A77 serial not taken up. The aircraft circled the pilot a few times on the way down. Pilot: Sgt A.T. Stoney. This is the first ejection from an ADF aircraft. Struck off 18/09/51.
44	Stephens	Geoffrey I	P3	RAAF	DFC (USA), American Air Medal	KIA	F-51D Mustang	A68-765	1951-01-06	77Sqn	RAAF	Crashed into village near Munsan on road from Seoul to Sariwon, disintegrated on impact	Sergeant G. Stephens (A68-765) crashed on flat ground near Munsan during an armed reconnaissance sortie. There was no sign of enemy activity in the area and cause of the crash remains a mystery. Today we pause to remember the life and service of O647 Pilot Officer Geoffrey Ingham Stephens, who was killed in action whilst flying a reconnaissance mission over Seoul on the 6th of January 1951. Originally from Launceston, Tasmania, Geoff joined the RAAF at age 18 in 1945 and served for three months before the end of WWII. He discharged and re-enlisted in 1949 and served with 77 SQN in the Korean war as a pilot. On the 6th of January, Geoff was killed when his Mustang was shot down during a reconnaissance mission south west of Seoul. His body was never found so he is listed as MIA, presumed dead. He was posthumously awarded the US Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. The Citation for his US DFC reads: "He performed an act of exceptional achievement while flying over enemy territory in Korea on 20th November, 1950. Through adverse weather and over extremely rugged terrain, he made repeated devastating passes and personally destroyed three anti-aircraft positions and two supply trucks. He had flown seventy-four combat missions."
45	Squiers	Sinclair Sutherland	P3	RAAF		KIA	F-51D Mustang	A68-796	1951-02-14	77Sqn	RAAF	Possible mid-air collision in heavy cloudcover. He failed to return from a mission over enemy territory during a severe snow storm and was posted missing presumed killed, along with Keith Matthews (A68-812). He has no known grave.	Age 27 A5166 Warrant Officer from Parkes NSW. Remembered Parkes Cenotaph
46	Spence	Louis T	WGC	RAAF	DFC & Bar Legion of Merit (USA) American Air Medal	KIA	F-51D Mustang	A68-809	1950-09-09	77Sqn	RAAF	Crashed while dropping napalm at Angang-ni	77Sqn was led by Wing Commander Lou Spence (1917-1950) a World War Two veteran who had served in the RAAF since 1940 and earned a Distinguished Flying Cross in 1942 for his bravery and acts of valour in combat over North Africa. Spence led from the front and flew many combat missions in Korea (more than a commander would normally fly). He was sadly killed in action on September 9th, 1950 during a low-level raid by 4 RAAF Mustangs against a storage facility recently captured by the enemy in Angangi-ni north of Busan in South Korea. The weather and visibility was poor that day and following a steep dive he was unable to pull out before crashing. CO The death of 77Sqn's commanding officer, Wing Commander Lou Spence, just over two months into the war on 9 September 1950, sent a shock through the squadron. His aircraft crashed during a ground attack over Angang-ni. Spence was replaced by Wing Commander Dick Cresswell. L-R, ERIC DOUGLAS, BILL MITCHELSON, TOM MURPHY, BILL HORSMAN, KEN MCLEOD, LES READING AND LOU SPENCE (CO) GATHER AROUND THE TAILPLANE OF LOU SPENCE'S MUSTANG AIRCRAFT.	Lieutenant General George E. Stratemeyer, Commanding General of the US Far East Air Force, congratulates Wing Commander Louis Spence DFC, No. 77Sqn RAAF, after decorating him with the Legion of Merit in Japan 1950 Spence's Mustang
47	Smith	Kenneth Dudley	PO	RAAF	Air Medal (USA)	KIA	Meteor	A77-393	1952-07-08	77Sqn	RAAF	Struck small hill after making strafing run	Delivered 12/12/51. Born 4 Nov 1926 Auckland, Auckland Council, Auckland, New Zealand. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Struck a small hill after making a strafing run on a ground attack mission near Imjiin River Valley Korea 08/07/52. Crew; PLTOFF Kenneth Dudley Smith O33843. Struck off 03/09/52. Photo shows O33843 Sergeant (Sgt) Kenneth Dudley Smith, 77Sqn RAAF (left) and 033831 Sgt Lionel Henry Cadogan Cowper, 77Sqn RAAF (right), outside their tent at Kimpo, South Korea. Smith was killed on operations flying near Koksan, North Korea, on 8 July 1952 and Cowper was killed on operations flying near Haeju, North Korea on 30 March 1952. Both had recently been promoted to Pilot Officer (PO).	Smith (L) Lionel Cowper (R)
48	Sly	Cec	SGT	RAAF		NIJ	F-51D Mustang	A68-715	1951-03-20	77Sqn	RAAF	Cockpit filled with smoke, successful bail out
49	Simonds	Bill	PO	RAAF			Meteor		1952-05-08	77Sqn	RAAF	Shot down MiG	South west of Pyongyang a flight of four Meteors were intercepted by two Migs. Once again, the Meteors had a height advantage and Pilot Officer Bill Simonds (A77-385) was able to make a firing pass on one of the enemy jets. The Mig entered an uncontrollable spin, and the pilot was seen to bail out over friendly territory, resulting in the Squadron's ninth Mig claim since the beginning of the war.
50	Brackenberg	R O L	P3	RAAF		RSC	F-51D Mustang	A68-754	1951-01-11	77Sqn	RAAF	Ditched
51	Cruickshank	Oliver M 'Jimmy'	FLOFF	RAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-436	1952-10-02	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by MiGs, unsuccessful bail out over water near Cho-do (WE-971)	Delivered 19/12/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Crashed into Sea returning from an Operation in Korea or after Dog Fight 02/10/52 near Chodo Island Korea, crew unsuccessfully tried to bail out of aircraft. Crew; FLGOFF O. Cruikshank (RAF Exchange). Struck off 27/10/52. On the 2 October 1952 when Flying Officer O. Cruickshank, a RAF exchange pilot with the Squadron, was shot down in a surprise attack. A flight of four Meteors had carried out a successful rocket strike and were returning to Kimpo when two Migs jumped them from the 8 o'clock position. Sergeant K. Murray received a 37 mm hit in the port tail pipe during the Mig's first pass and observed Cruickshank bailing out of A77-436 over Cho'do. Unfortunately Cruickshank's parachute failed to open and he fell into the sea with no chance of survival.Pilot - 1st Lt.M.S.Diddenko, technician is Lt.Kazachkov. On 2nd October 1952 1st.Lt.F.P.Fedorov flying this aircraft 271 shot down the RAAF Meteor F.Mk.8 piloted by RAF Fg.Off. Oliver Cruickshank. Note: huge airbrakes; North Korean markings are painted on the fuselage sides and bottom of the wings (not on the top. This was usual 64th IAK practice). 518th IAP, 216th IAD, 64th IAK Serial: 271 (s/n.2015371)	Cruickshank on left, others unknown Australian pilots
52	Cresswell	Dick	SQDLDR	RAAF	DFC DFC (USA)		Meteor			77Sqn	RAAF		CO. Following the tragic death of Lou Spence, Squadron Leader Dick Cresswell (1920-2006) took over command of No. 77Sqn on September 17th, 1950. This was the third time he had led the squadron in wartime with his previous commands being in World War Two (he was known as “Mr. Double Seven” in RAAF circles). Cresswell commanded the squadron in the defence of Australia for 15 months from April 1942 (becoming the first Australian to shoot down a Japanese aircraft at night over the Australian mainland on November 23rd, 1942 when he intercepted 3 Mitsubishi G4M ‘Betty’ bombers over Darwin – on his first pass he shot and hit all 3 from his Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk, breaking up the formation he was able to bring one of the bombers down on consecutive passes), then again from September 1944 to March 1945 in the Netherlands East Indies. Cresswell was regarded as an exceptional leader and lifted the morale of No. 77Sqn following their tragic losses. Just six days after arriving to take command of the squadron, Cresswell flew the first of his 144 combat missions in Korea.The skilled leadership and bravery of Squadron Leader Dick Cresswell was recognized and he was awarded both an Australian and US Distinguished Flying Cross. The USAF held him in such high regard that he also flew 10 mission in their North American F-86 Sabre fighter which was the equivalent match of the MiG-15. He even flew into China on a reconnaissance mission in the F-86 even though officially such flights were not allowed and the area north of “MiG Alley” (a jet air to air combat hot zone), across the border in China became a safe haven for Communist pilots who could escape there (occasionally UN pilots did fly over the border unofficially to engage in combat too). During this time with the USAF, Creswell reportedly also became the first Australian to break the sound barrier! Cresswell remained as a commander within the RAAF until his retirement from service in 1957. We owe a great debt to his duty to Australia.
53	Cranston	Ian Rew	PO	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-920	1952-03-09	77Sqn	RAAF	Killed in Action (flying battle), Hwanghae-bukto, North Korea, 9 March 1952, aged 24 years. Streaming fuel after target run, in flames, crashed at 1200L	Willoughby, New South Wales, 3 October 1927 Delivered 15/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Streaming fuel after target run and crashed after being shot down by ground fire, 09/03/52. Crew; PLTOFF Ian Rew Cranston O33821. Commemorated UN Memorial Busan, Australian War Memorial Canberra
54	Cowper	Lionel Henry Cadogan	PO	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-120	1952-03-30	77Sqn	RAAF	Flew into target during attack, no egress noted, 2 mi W of Haeju	Delivered 12/12/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Missing 30/03/52 during ground attack mission Korea. Flew into target during attack, no egress noted, 2 mile west of Haeju. Crew; PO Lionel H.C. Cowper KIA. Struck off 09/04/52. O33831 Sergeant Lionel Henry Cadogan Cowper RAAF who was killed in action flying near Haeju, North Korea on 30 March 1952 as a Pilot Officer (PO) flying with 77Sqn RAAF. Body never recovered. Commemorated UN Memorial Busan
55	Collins	Gavin Michael	SGT	RAAF		INJ	Meteor	A77-11	1953-05-26	77Sqn	RAAF	Crash landed at home base	Service Number O34193. Born 14 January 1926 Birth Place : Melbourne, VIC. Born in 1926, Geoff Collins first played first grade Australian football with the Melbourne football club (The Demons) in 1948, and was given heritage number 680 with the club. In his first year in senior football, he played half back flank, and that year the Demons made the finals with Essendon (the Bombers).During the Korean conflict, Geoff Collins, was a Sergeant Meteor pilot with 77 Sqn, based at Kimpo and his aircraft had a life-sized demon emblazoned on its fuselage. It is uncertain as to what happened to this aircraft, some records say it was originally accepted by the RAAF in 1951, went to Korea and after there it went to 38Sqn Comms Flight and was destroyed by a missile at Woomera in 1971. Another source says it was de-commissioned in 1967 and is currently preserved at RAAF Edinburgh however this could be another aircraft painted with 207’s identity.Took off from Kimpo, South Korea, to perform a rocket interdiction strike against troop concentrations and a supply area. According to the Squadron Operations Record Book: 'Meteor aircraft, A77-11, Pilot being, A34193 SGT COLLINS, G.M., was caught in the jet wash of the leading aircraft and crashed on the overrun of the Southern end of the strip. The pilot received minor injuries and the aircraft was badly damaged a wipe off'.
56	Coleman	J P	FLOFF	RAAF		NIJ	Meteor	A77-415	1953-06-22	77Sqn	RAAF	Damaged by enemy ground fire, successful bail out over friendly territory	Delivered 17/12/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Aircraft hit by enemy ground fire at Paeguri, North Korea 22/06/53. Pilot nursed crippled machine back to friendly lines and ejected at 15,000 ft with only minor injuries. Crew; FLGOFF J. Coleman, RAF. RAAF Ejection number 9. Struck off 22/07/53.
57	Colebrook	Maxwell E	PO	RAAF	DFM US Air Medal	KIA	Meteor	A77-627	1952-04-13	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by gnd fire, headed home, did not return to base	Body never recovered. Born 8 May 1926 Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Commemorated UN Memorial Busan Korea
58	Coburn	F "Ross" R	FLTLT	RAAF	DFC	RSC	F-51D Mustang	A68-705	1950-09-04	77Sqn	RAAF	Engine out, crashed in Shimone Pref., Ashkuramura, 25 mi NW of Iwakuni	Service Number 02179. An informal portrait of 02179 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) F R (Ross) Coburn, a member of 77Sqn RAAF serving in Korea. He is wearing a fleecy lined pile cap with a visor and ear flaps. Adding a scarf, he is also wearing a US issue olive drab military jacket. His eventful service included parachuting from his aircraft over Japan on his return from a mission to Korea. On 18 February 1951, Flt Lt Coburn and 033196 Flt Lt F W (Fred) Barnes both tied to be the first Squadron pilots to complete 100 missions in the war. Both pilots were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in the previous year.
59	Chalmers	Peter Botley	PO	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-163	1953-03-26	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by gnd fire, crashed/burned (WA941)	Delivered 03/01/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Hit by ground fire and crashed during Recon Mission, Wonson Korea 26/03/53. Crew; PLTOFF Peter Botley Chalmers O35079. Struck off 24/04/53. Commemorated Coffs Harbour Memorial Wall
60	Browne-Gaylord	Mark Astil Baren Henry Aytack	FLTLT	RAAF	DFC			A77-559	1952-01-27	77Sqn	RAAF	Shot down during strafing run in Haaju Korea	Delivered 20/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Service Numbers: 421579, O23665. Born Quirindi, New South Wales, 24 October 1921. Shot down during strafing run in Haaju Korea 27/01/52. Crew; FLTLT Mark Astil Baren Henry Aytack Browne-Gaylord, DFC O23665. Joined the RAAF. in 1942. The 27 January 1952 was a sad day for the Squadron. Two sections of six Meteors attacked enemy positions in the Haeju area in what must be described as atrocious weather, overcast cloud at 2500 feet and light snow falling. During a strafing pass Flight Lieutenant M. Browne-Gaylord (A77-559) was hit by light flak knocking out his air speed indicator and altimeter. His flight leader, Flight Lieutenant W. Bennet attempted to inform Browne-Gaylord of his correct height but received no reply. It is assumed that A77-559 crashed into rugged terrain inland from Haeju whilst being flown 'blind' in bad weather. Body not recovered. Cemetery: UN Memorial Busan. Commemorated Australian War Memorial
61	Bradford	Stuart	FLTLT	RAAF	DFC		F-51D Mustang			77Sqn	RAAF		Service Number 022040. 3 August 1950 - IWAKUNI, JAPAN Five strikes flown by two sections, section led by F/Lt. S. BRADFORD, flying nine hours. F/Lt. R. GLASSOP posted to Squadron. Group portrait of No 77 Fighter Squadron, RAAF Japan 1948. Identified, left to right, back row: Warrant Officer (WO) Jim Flemming; WO W Michelson; Flying Officer (FO) W Horsman; WO M Garroway; WO W Rivers; Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) C R Noble; WO Fairweather; Flt Lt J Grey; FO K McLeod; WO B Nichols; Flt Lt T Murphy. Front row: FO W O K Hewett; Flt Lt R Hill; Flt Lt W Ives; Flt Lt C Butcher; Flt Lt S Bradford; Squadron Leader F Lawrenson; Flt J I Adams; Flt Lt G Strout; Flt Lt K Godfrey.
62	Dawson	Ralph Leslie 'Smokey'	Flight Lieutenant (409386)	RAAF	DFC		Meteor	A77-811	1951-09-26	77Sqn	RAAF	Survived and retired from the RAAF after completion of service.	Delivered 21/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. The Squadron under the command of Wing Commander G. Steede, had another inconclusive battle with enemy Migs on 26 September 1951. A formation of twelve Meteors engaged a large number of Migs over Anju with the Migs diving through the Australian formation scoring hits on Meteor A77-949 before the pilot, Flight Sergeant E. Armitt, had a chance to break formation. The dog fight continued and the Migs once again dove through the Meteor formation, the Mig leader broke for the safety of the Yalu River but his wingman broke the opposite direction exposing himself to the RAAF fighters. Flight Lieutenant C. Thomas attempted to cut off the Mig as it tried to turn north forcing it away from the safety of the Yalu. The Mig pilot turned into the sun and was lost by the Australian pilots. He had made his escape but it was doubtful that he had sufficient fuel to make it back to his base. Meanwhile Flight Lieutenant Dawson had managed to fire two long bursts of cannon fire into another Mig's wings. Several pilots claimed that they saw wreckage and what was thought to be fuel streaming back from the enemy aircraft. Subsequently Dawson was credited with probably damaging the Mig, this being the Squadron's first successful jet combat claim.Damaged a Mig-15 while being flown by Flt Lt R.L. (Smokey) Dawson 26/09/51, this was the first 77 Sqn claim on a Mig-15. Hit by Ground Fire and Crashed Kimpo Korea 03/11/51. Converted to Components.
63	Booth	Francis H G	FLOFF	RAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-15	1953-01-27	77Sqn	RAAF	Missing after attack run on two tunnels 3 mi E of Sinmak (WE911)	Delivered 19/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Sqn Ldr Wilson was wounded in this aircraft 09/51 when cannon fragments entered the cockpit, he managed to get the aircraft back to Kimpo. On 06/02/52 searching low level for F/Lt Hannan who was in A77-616, Sgt Phillip Zupp was hit by ground fire blowing off his canopy and inflicting injuries to his face. Returned to Kimpo and landed. Failed to return after a ground attack mission after attack run on two tunnels 3 mi E of Sinmak and was last seen climbing away from target area 27/01/53. Crew; FLGOFF Francis H G Booth (RAF Exchange). Struck off 18/03/53.
64	Blight	Ken J	FLOFF	RAAF		RSC	Meteor	A77-740	1951-08-12	77Sqn	RAAF		Delivered 21/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Skidded off the runway after returning from a fighter sweep at Kimpo into a dump of oil drums 12/08/51. FO Ken Blight uninjured. Aircraft converted to components.
65	Blight	Ken J	FLOFF	RAAF		RSC	Meteor	A77-587	1951-11-11	77Sqn	RAAF	Mid-air collision with AA77-959, crashed (WA939)	Delivered 19/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Collided with A77-959 Sgt Robertson and abandoned near Kimpo Korea 11/11/51. Crew; PLTOFF Douglas Merson Robertson O5672. Sergeant D. Robertson (A77-959) and Flying Officer K. Blight suffered a mid-air collision while returning from 'Mig Alley' on 11 November 1951. Sergeant Robertson was killed. Blight's Meteor was missing four feet of port wing and could only be controlled by applying full power on the port engine with the starboard engine at idle. However, below 180 knots the aircraft was uncontrollable and Blight was forced to eject. Pilot nursed aircraft to within 10 nm of base and ejected at 4,000 ft and 210 kts suffering only minor injuries. (Aircraft crashed in paddy field, killing civilian boy.) The pilot in A77-959 was killed. This was RAAF Ejection number 3.
66	Bessel	W H	P3	RAAF			Meteor	A68-735	1951-05-07	77Sqn	RAAF		Delivered 21/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Ditched in the Sea near the beach due to thick Fog, a failed engine and eventually fuel exhaustion, near the village of Yu south of Iwakuni, Japan 07/05/51. Sgt H.W. Bessell was uninjured and padled ashore. Airframe salvaged and possibly used for ground instruction. Struck off 27/11/51 and converted to componants.
67	Bessel	Henry William 'Dick'	P3	RAAF		NIJ	F-51D Mustang	A68-791	1951-01-04	77Sqn	RAAF	Engine trouble, crash-landed near runway at Pusan	Service Number 032245	Dick Bessell and Ray Trebilco 'on alert' Kimpo 1951
68	Bergh	Martinis O	FLOFF	RAF		RMC	Meteor	A77-316	1952-08-27	77Sqn	RAAF	Crashed, cause unknown (WA945)	Delivered 01/03/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Lost during Rocket Strike 27/08/52 Near Yongmadong, North Korea. Shot down by enemy ground fire. Pilot ejected, FLGOFF M. Bergh (RAF) was captured. RAAF Ejection number 7. Struck off 08/09/52.
69	Armit	Ernest Donald	SGT	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-949	1951-12-01	77Sqn	RAAF	12 Meteors attacked by 40 MiG-15s, downed by MiG-15	Delivered 10/05/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Damaged by a Mig-15 26/09/51, pilot Sgt Armit was uninjured. Shot down by Mig-15 after 12 Meteors were attacked by 40 Mig-15's in Korea 01/12/51. Crew; FSGT Ernest Donald Armit A22221 killed. Body not recovered. Commemorated The Hills Shire Council - Centenary of ANZAC Reserve
70	Adams	John 'Bay'	FLTLT	RAAF	DFC American Air Medal AFC		P-51 Mustang			77Sqn	RAAF		AVM John Adams RAAF CBE, DFC, AFC who flew in three wars. WW2 [RAF 3 and 180 Sqns]/Korea/Vietnam.. "Bay" Adams of 3 SQN RAF (mentioned in "The Big Show") once related the tale when they were flying Tempests in a large Wing gaggle over Kiel to mark the end of the War. His engine seized and had to put it down in a field. Good landing, unstrapped and climbed out. He saw a Brit army officer at the side of the field beside his jeep. He motioned to the army chap to come over, but the pongo didn't budge. "Bugger me" said Bay, carried over his parachute pack to where the soldier was with his jeep. "You could have come over to pick me up, mate" said Bay. "My dear chap, well I couldn't really" replied the brown job. "You've just walked through a minefield!" From July 1950 No.77Sqn was engaged in escort, ground-attack, close-support and armed-reconnaissance missions over Korea; by September Adams, flying Mustangs, had completed fifty sorties. He was awarded the American Air Medal (1950) and, for his courage, leadership and devotion to duty, the Distinguished Flying Cross (1951). In October 1950 he returned to Australia.
71				RAAF			Meteor	A77-866	1954-05-31	77Sqn	RAAF		Delivered 22/08/52 to 91 Wing in the UK. Held in Storage 18/09/52 Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Collided with A77-866 at 15,000 ft and crashed at Kum-Gang river, Korea 31/05/54. Pilot ejected at 12,000 ft at slow speed, and landed in paddy field with only minor injuries. Pilot in A77-866 was killed. RAAF Ejection number 10. The aircraft was destroyed.
72				RAAF			Meteor	A77-862	1954-05-31	77Sqn	RAAF		Delivered 22/08/52 to 91 Wing in the UK. Held in Storage 18/09/52 Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Collided with A77-866 at 15,000 ft and crashed at Kum-Gang river, Korea 31/05/54. Pilot ejected at 12,000 ft at slow speed, and landed in paddy field with only minor injuries. Pilot in A77-866 was killed. RAAF Ejection number 10. The aircraft was destroyed.
73							Meteor	A77-570	1954-03-18	77Sqn	RAAF		Delivered 28/12/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Accident on takeoff Kunsan Korea 18/03/54 and written off. Broken up 10/12/54.
74	Halley	John B	PO	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-46	1953-02-11	77Sqn	RAAF	Poss crashed during bomb run, no egress noted	Delivered 18/12/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Crashed during a bombing run 11/02/53 near Sinmak Korea, no egress noted. Crew; PLTOFF John Beverley Halley O5309.
75	James	Roger L	FLOFF	RAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-643	1953-04-07	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by gnd fire, crashed/burned	Delivered 19/12/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Previously A77-645. Hit by Ground Fire and crashed Chinnampo Korea 07/04/53. Crew; FLGOFF Roger James (RAF Exchange). Struck off 24/04/53
76	Irlam	Dave	SGT	RAAF			Meteor	A77-476	1953-03-27	77Sqn	RAAF		The Squadron carried out what was arguably its most successful mission of the Korean War when on 16 March 1953 an enemy convoy of approximately 150 trucks was devastated. Also during March the Meteors had their last contact with Mig-15s. On the 27th a flight of four Meteors on an armed reconnaissance mission spotted a Mig chasing two USAF F-80 Shooting Stars, with two more Migs appearing as the Meteors approached. Sergeant Dave Irlam (A77-446) received a major hit from one of the Mig-15's 37 mm cannons and had to break contact to nurse his jet back to Kimpo. Meanwhile, Sergeant George Hale (A77-851), using the weapons he had at hand, fired an air-to-ground rocket between the two Migs before engaging them with his cannons. Hale was credited with having probably shot down one of the Migs, damaging another and definitely scaring the daylights out of the two pilots he fired the rocket at.
77	Howe	Ron	WTOFF	RAAF		RSC	F-51D Mustang	A68-708	1951-03-15	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by ground fire, bailed out, landed on bank of Han River
78	Howe	C	SGT	RAAF			F-51D Mustang		1951-01-19	77Sqn	RAAF	Elevator damage from ground fire	Chinese Communist Force Headquarters, Pyongyang was the target for the Squadron's first autonomous mission on 19 January 1951. The plan called for two sections of 6 aircraft each. The first section armed with two 500 lb general purpose (GP) bombs and four rockets. The second section armed with two napalm bombs and four rockets. The first section opened the attack by dive bombing the headquarters buildings, scoring four direct hits. The second section then attacked with both its napalm and rockets. The anti-aircraft fire was intense but was quickly silenced when the first section returned to strafe the gun positions. Sergeant C. Howe reported elevator damage from ground fire
79	Horsman	Bill	FLTLT	RAAF	DFC		P-51 Mustang			77Sqn	RAAF		L-R, ERIC DOUGLAS, BILL MITCHELSON, TOM MURPHY, BILL HORSMAN, KEN MCLEOD, LES READING AND LOU SPENCE (CO) GATHER AROUND THE TAILPLANE OF LOU SPENCE'S MUSTANG AIRCRAFT.
80	Hillier	Donald	SQLDR	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-343	1953-03-08	77Sqn	RAAF	Poss hit by ground fire, crash not observed	Delivered 17/12/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Missing on Operations in Hannori Korea 08/03/53. Crew; SQNLDR Donald Hillier O4425. Struck off 17/04/53.
81	Haslope	Lancelot C	FLTLT	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-953	1952-08-05	77Sqn	RAAF	Crashed on take-off from Kimpo Airfield, cause unknown	Delivered 15/02/52. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Crashed on takeoff Kimpo 05/08/52. Crew; FLTLT Lancelot Cedric Haslope O35396. Written off 05/08/52 and converted to components.
82	Harvey	Gordon R	FLTLT	RAAF	DFC DFC (USA) American Air Medal	RMC	F-51D Mustang	A68-772	1951-01-19	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by ground fire, caught fire, crash-landed on island in Taedong River SW of Pyongyang. Elevator damage from ground fire	Chinese Communist Force Headquarters, Pyongyang was the target for the Squadron's first autonomous mission on 19 January 1951. The plan called for two sections of 6 aircraft each. The first section armed with two 500 lb general purpose (GP) bombs and four rockets. The second section armed with two napalm bombs and four rockets. The first section opened the attack by dive bombing the headquarters buildings, scoring four direct hits. The second section then attacked with both its napalm and rockets. The anti-aircraft fire was intense but was quickly silenced when the first section returned to strafe the gun positions. One wintry afternoon in 1951 he took off to attack Pyongyang on his 84th combat mission. In the skies above Pyongyang Flight-Lieutenant Gordon Harvey fired his brace of rockets at the North Korean capital designated target and headed for home, keeping low to avoid flak. Then ground fire hit his Mustang fighter-bomber. Oil poured out of the engine coating the windscreen black and forcing the then 27-year-old RAAF pilot to fly blind as he desperately scanned the snow. Eventually he spied an open spot and brought his aircraft down for a belly landing on a snowbank outside the town. Lieutenant G. Harvey had radioed that his aircraft (A68-772) was losing power and that he was going to attempt a forced landing. Harvey successfully landed wheels up on an island in the frozen Taedong River, just north west of the North Korean capital. The following day four of the Squadron's Mustangs searched in hope that Harvey may have evaded capture. The search failed to find any trace of the missing airman who had been taken prisoner soon after landing. On April 28, 1951, Harvey and two Americans escaped and remained on the run for six days until recaptured by Korean civilians. They were punished so severely that one of the Americans died and Harvey was put into a two-metre-deep hole for a month and a half. Harvey was shifted to a Chinese camp where the physical treatment was a little less harsh but he was forced to attend political lectures for eight hours a day and was forced to appear attentive to avoid punishment. He and the other POWs were allowed to read translations of Russian novels and provided with copies of Australian communist newspapers, Sydney's Tribune and Melbourne's Guardian. FLTLT Harvey (the first pilot in the Squadron to fly 100 missions) He was released on 28 August 1953. He later commanded 77Sqn in Malaya, flying Sabre jet fighters. Over the next three decades he had command of both 76 and 77Sqns and taught fighter tactics at the US "top gun" school in Nevada. He also helped establish the fledgling Malaysian Air Force and served as air attache in Paris. Former RAAF Chief of Air Staff Air Marshall "Jake" Newham described Harvey as "one of the finest; upright in every sense and a great pilot". He died in 2018 aged 94	Harvey pictured on his release, 20KG lighter. Harvey with wife Mikie in 2018
83	Harrop	William P 'Bill'	P3	RAAF		RCV	F-51D Mustang	A68-753	1950-09-03	77Sqn	RAAF	On September 3rd, 1950 Pilot Officer Bill Harrop was shot down and captured by North Korean troops who immediately executed him!	Burial Service for Strout and Harrop
84	Harrop	Bill					P-51 Mustang			77Sqn	RAAF		One of first RAAF victims of Korean War
85	Hannan	John T	FLTLT	RAAF		RMC	Meteor	A77-616	1952-02-06	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by gnd fire on strafing run, ejected, not observed on the ground (WA956)	Delivered 03/01/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Accurate enemy anti-aircraft fire was becoming a major problem for the Australian pilots, and on 6 February 1952, it claimed yet another Meteor; A77-616 flown by Flight Lieutenant J. Hannan. A large search was launched for Hannan who had been seen to parachute safely, but on landing in white snow, became invisible to the pilots overhead. Hannan was captured by the North Koreans and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp. Damaged 08/51 by ground fire, to the fuel system, port aileron and a hole in one wing big enough for a person to climb through. Pilot Sqn Ldr D.L Wilson. Crashed Hannan Sibyong-Ni area 06/02/52, North Korea Shot down by enemy ground fire. Pilot ejected, FLTLT J. Hannan and captured. RAAF Ejection number 6. Struck off 14/03/52.
86	Mechaney	James L	A2C	RAAF		RMC	B-26C Invader	44-35925	1952-07-25	13th Bmb Sq	(L) 3rd Bmb Wg (L)	Night intruder mission against target between Pyongyang and Haeju, last contact at 0032L, another B-26 crew observed a large explosion in the area
87	Hale	George	SGT	RAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-851	1953-03-27	77Sqn	RAAF	Shot down MiG	The Squadron carried out what was arguably its most successful mission of the Korean War when on 16 March 1953 an enemy convoy of approximately 150 trucks was devastated. Also during March the Meteors had their last contact with Mig-15s. On the 27th a flight of four Meteors on an armed reconnaissance mission spotted a Mig chasing two USAF F-80 Shooting Stars, with two more Migs appearing as the Meteors approached. Sergeant Dave Irlam (A77-446) received a major hit from one of the Mig-15's 37 mm cannons and had to break contact to nurse his jet back to Kimpo. Meanwhile, Sergeant George Hale (A77-851), using the weapons he had at hand, fired an air-to-ground rocket between the two Migs before engaging them with his cannons. Hale was credited with having probably shot down one of the Migs, damaging another and definitely scaring the daylights out of the two pilots he fired the rocket at.
88	Hale	George	SGT	RAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-851	1953-03-27	77Sqn	RAAF	Shot down MiG	Delivered 20/08/52. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Named 'Halestorm'. Halestorm was flown by Sgt George Hale who shot down a MIG during the Korean War on 27/03/1953. Converted to U.21A Struck off 08/01/64. Cockpit on display SA Aviation Museum. Temora Meteor VH-MBX is painted as A77-851.
89	Guthrie	Ronald D	FLOFF	RAAF		RMC	Meteor	A77-721	1951-08-29 (1951-08-25 ?)	77Sqn	RAAF	Downed by MiG-15 approx 20 mi NW of Anju, Kusong area (WA954)	Delivered 17/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Shot down by gunfire of a Mig-15 in approx 20 miles Northwest of Anju, Kunson area Korea 25/08/51. The pilot WO R. Guthrie ejected at a height of 8707 metres, an unofficial record at the time and he was the first RAAF pilot to eject from an aircraft under active service and the second from an RAAF Aircraft. The parachute descent took 28 minutes. WO Guthrie was taken as a POW. Although no one had sighted him going down, an American flying in a Sabre at low level reported seeing an aircraft spiralling down on fire and a parachute descending. Guthrie was captured and interned as a POW for the next two years.The aircraft on display in the Queensland Air Museum painted as A77-721 is really RAF WA880. Struck off 19/09/51.
90	Green	Randall 'Randy'						A77-316		77Sqn	RAAF		Pilot Officer Randall (Randy) Green, a former member of No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron RAAF prepares for a mission against targets in North Korea with No 77Sqn RAAF. The nose art on his aircraft reads the Korean Kid. This Meteor, A77-316, was normally flown by Sergeant (Sgt) James C Kichenside, who served in Kimpo, Korea, from March until September 1952, completing 148 operational missions. Sgt Kichenside was the youngest pilot in the squadron and was known as 'the Korean Kid'. [AWM JK0351]
91	Gogerly	Bruce	F/O	RAAF			Meteor	A77-17	1951-12-01	77Sqn	RAAF	First jet victory (MiG 15) by an Australian pilot	77Sqn finally achieved its first confirmed Mig-15 kill on 1 December 1951 when twelve Meteors were engaged by over fifty Migs in an epic dogfight over Pyongyang. In the opening attack, two Meteors were damaged with one, A77-559 flown by Flight Sergeant Bill Middlemiss, being forced to return to Kimpo. Flying Officer B. Gogerly (A77-17) latched onto the tail of one of the enemy jets, and watched as his cannon rounds sent pieces flying from the Mig's fuselage. The aircraft crashed in a ball of flames. Several other pilots had fired at Migs and a second aircraft was seen to hit the ground. All pilots checked in at the end of the battle, however, ten minutes later when the order was given to head for home, three Meteors were found to be missing. It is assumed that they were taken by surprise as they turned for home. Two of the missing pilots Sergeant B. Thompson (A77-29) and Sergeant V. Drummond (A77-251) were captured after having ejected safely. The third pilot Flight Sergeant E. Armitt (A77-949) was killed when his aircraft was shot down. The Squadron had its first Mig kills, but had paid a high price. Dick Wilson, Bruce Gogerly, Dick Wittman: Kimpo 1952 Officer's Mess with USAF Officers
92	Gogerly	Bruce	F/O	RAAF			Meteor	A77-368	1951-12-01	77Sqn	RAAF		Delivered 08/01/51. Flew 485 missions in Korea with 77 Sqn RAAF. Damaged a Mig 15 in combat. Withdrawn from use 11/04/60. Struck off 22/09/60. Was on Static Display at Treloar Technology Centre, Canberra ACT for Australian War Memorial. Now on display in the AWM's Anzac Hall.
93	Gillan	Bruce T	FLOFF	RAAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-726	1952-01-27	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by gnd fire on strafing run, ejected, not observed on ground (WA957)	Delivered 20/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Damaged on 05/09/51 near the Manchurin border at Antung by 3 MiG-15's. On its return to Kimpo the aircraft was found to have a 60 centimetre hole in the port tail plane as well as other damage between the engine cowl and the fuselage. The pilot, WO Michelson was uninjured. Sergeant B. Gillan (A77-726) was hit by flak in the starboard wing while strafing an enemy water tower. Gillan probably ejected from his crippled jet, although no parachute was seen by his wing man, and it remains a mystery as to how he met his end. Shot down during strafing mission near Chaiya-Ri, North Korea 27/01/52. It is thought that FLGOFF Gillan may have ejected before the aircraft crashed, but could not be confirmed. Crashed 27/01/52. Crew; FLGOFF Bruce Thomson Gillan O33625. Struck off 17/03/52.
94	Ellis	Donald C	P2	RAAF		KIA	F-51D Mustang	A68-726	1950-12-22	77Sqn	RAAF	Hit by AAA, crashed near Taedong River East of Pyongyang	The Squadron lost its sixth pilot on 22 December 1950 when Sergeant D. Ellis (A68-726) was shot down by ground fire whilst carrying out a reconnaissance mission near Pyongyang.
95	Drummond	Vance RAAF	SGT	RAAF		RMC	Meteor	A77-251	1951-12-01	77Sqn	RAAF	12 Meteors attacked by 40 MiG-15s, downed by MiG-15	Delivered 09/02/51. Served in Korea with 77 Sqn. Lost in Action 01/12/51 Near Sunchon, North Korea Shot down by enemy fire during dog fight with MIG-15. The 12 Meteors attacked by 40 MiG-15s. Pilot ejected, SGT V. Drummond and captured. RAAF Ejection number 5. Struck off 09/04/52.
96	Douglas	Eric	SGT				P-51 Mustang		1950-10-19	77Sqn	RAAF		On 19 October four Mustangs, led by Wing Commander Cresswell, set out from Pohang to attack targets close to the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. The flight was split into two elements by a Forward Air Controller (FAC) with one element targeting enemy positions holding up the UN advance and the second element directed against a train approximately seven miles north of Pyongyang. FLTLT I. Olorenshaw and SGT E. Douglas, attacked the train by directing their firepower against opposite halves, Olorenshaw attacking the northern half and his wingman attacking the southern half. Douglas scored a direct hit on the box cars of the southern half and Olorenshaw hit the northern half with napalm. Both sections of the train caught fire and the box cars exploded violently. The remainder of the train was strafed and the locomotives boiler was seen to explode, sending a cloud of steam some 400 ft into the air. Flight Lieutenant Olorenshaw was awarded the American Air Medal for his skill during the attack. L-R, ERIC DOUGLAS, BILL MITCHELSON, TOM MURPHY, BILL HORSMAN, KEN MCLEOD, LES READING AND LOU SPENCE (CO) GATHER AROUND THE TAILPLANE OF LOU SPENCE'S MUSTANG AIRCRAFT.
97	Doolittle	George P	FLOFF	RAF		KIA	Meteor	A77-856	1953-05-17	77Sqn	RAAF	Lost approx 10 mi N of Haeju