The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operated an air combat squadron during the Korean War. No 77 Squadron RAAF converted from the propeller-driven P-51 Mustang to Gloster Meteor jets between April and July 1951. But the Meteor was outclassed in aerial combat by the Soviet MiG-15 transonic jet fighter. Following dogfight losses in late 1951, the squadron was reassigned from air-to-air fighting to airfield defence and then a ground-attack role for the rest of the conflict. By the end of the war, 77 Squadron flew nearly 19,000 sorties, with 37 pilots killed and 7 taken prisoner.
I opened fire and saw my shell bursts dancing all over the enemy aircraft. Its right engine flamed. I noticed the Meteor wingman's tail flying off as result of the burst from my wingman … I saw another Meteor leaving the battle. We overtook him and attacked … I managed to frame him in my sights and opened fire. My shells burst on the Meteor's wings and the pilot baled out.
Written by a Russian MiG ace, Lieutenant Colonel Sergey Vishnyakov, this account describes an intense aerial dogfight on 1 December 1951 during the Korean War. In this clash, Soviet-flown MiG-15 fighters intercepted Gloster Meteors from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) No 77 Squadron.
This decisive action signalled the end of the Meteor's air-to-air combat role. The straight-wing British Gloster Meteors were outclassed by the swept-wing, higher-performance Soviet MiG-15s.
Ivor Hele, Return of the Meteor jets, Kimpo, Korea (1953, oil on hardboard, 78.5 x 122 cm, AWM ART40304).
Flying jets from 1951
This was not the first time that 77 Squadron had been forced to adapt to new ways of fighting the war.
After beginning as a ground-attack squadron flying Mustangs, the squadron converted to jets shortly after China entered the war and MiG fighters began appearing in the skies over Korea. Unfortunately, the Gloster Meteor Mk8 was no match for the MiG in combat.
The United Nations (UN) forces were forbidden to cross the Yalu River, which formed North Korea's border with China. This compounded the Australians’ disadvantage. The Chinese side of the frontier became a sanctuary for their aircraft. The number of MiGs increased, and an area of north-western North Korea became known as ‘MiG Alley’.
Operational Meteor flights began on 29 July 1951, but they did not encounter any MiGs until 29 August. Then the Australians found themselves outnumbered by 4 to 1.
One Meteor was shot down. The pilot, Warrant Officer Ron Guthrie, ejected at 11,000 m over North Korea and was captured. Another Meteor was badly damaged, but the pilot nursed it back to the airfield at Kimpo.
Similar encounters followed, with the MiGs almost always coming out on top. By early December 1951, after 4 months in Meteors, the situation had become untenable. The squadron had to find a new role.
After a morale-sapping period of airfield defence with no fighting, 77 Squadron was used in a ground-attack role. This remained the mainstay of its operations until the war ended. The squadron still occasionally encountered MiGs in this role.
The final score was 5 Meteors shot down against 3 MiGs.
By the end of the war, 77 Squadron had flown 18,872 sorties, mostly in Meteors. Losses had been heavy, with 37 pilots killed and 7 taken prisoner.
Group Captain Douglas Hurst
Douglas Charles Hurst was born in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1923.
In 1942, during World War II, he enlisted in the RAAF. He flew Kittyhawks on fighter-bomber operations with No 80 Squadron. After the war, Hurst served with No 82 Squadron (BCOF) in Japan. In 1948, he returned to Australia.
After converting to Meteors, he flew as a flight commander with No 77 Squadron in Korea in 1952. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and US Air Medal for gallantry in ground-attack operations.
Hurst later served in Malaya, and was Australian Air Attache in Washington DC from 1964 to 1966. He retired from the RAAF in 1970 with the rank of group captain. The citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross reads as follows:
Since September, 1952, Flight Lieutenant D.C. HURST has held the appointment of Flight Commander in No.77 (Interceptor/Fighter) Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, operating from a forward air base in KOREA. During his current tour of operations, Flight Lieutenant HURST has already flown one hundred and twenty one Meteor jet fighter sorties against the enemy, eighty-six of these sorties being ground attack strikes. These ground attack strikes, consisting of rocketing and strafing, have been directed against heavily defended enemy troop concentrations, supply centres, lines of communication and ammunition dumps.
On 22nd September 1952, Flight Lieutenant HURST directed and led a Squadron rocket attack against a dangerous build-up of enemy troops in North West KOREA. Although met by intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, this officer brilliantly led the Squadron in a low, daring attack, which successfully destroyed the target. [Hurst was flying out of Kimpo for an operation over Map reference YC5143. His log book indicates that the village at this reference was burnt out with napalm].
Throughout his many operations, Flight Lieutenant HURST has displayed complete disregard for personal safety, and his courage, and great leadership ability have brought great credit upon himself and the Royal Australian Air Force.
