In the years between the end of World War Two and the Korean War, Australia’s Government attempted to forge an ongoing alliance with the US which struggled to gain traction in Washington.
When North Korea launched its attack in 1950, the lack of airstrips able to support the USAF F-80 Shooting Star and the need for an attack aircraft capable of reaching the conflict zone from Japan saw a sudden call for use of the P-51 Mustangs that the F-80 had replaced.
Australian Mustangs were the nearest available and the ANZUS Treaty was forged in 1951 following the deployment of Australian CA-18 Mustangs (Australian built P-51Ds based then in Japan) as it was these 77Sqn Mustangs that held the ‘Pusan Line’ keeping the Communists back.
Iwakuni, Japan. 1950. Lined up on the tarmac are Mustang aircraft of NO.77 Squadron, RAAF
Pusan, South Korea. 1950-08. Wing Commander L. Spence, Commanding Officer NO. 77 Squadron RAAF in the cockpit of his Mustang prior to takeoff on an operational mission over South Korea.
CA-18 Mustang of Mustang Flights Australia in Aerial Pro air to air photoshoot over Queensland, honoring the service of the RAAF in the Korean War.