Korean War & Malayan Emergency Supplement to "As You Were 1950"

KOREA 1950

0N 29 June '50, four days after the emergency in Korea began, the Prime Minister of Australia, the Right Honourable R. G. Menzies, announced that ships of the Royal Australian Navy, on occupation duties in Japanese waters, would immediately be placed at the disposal of the United Nations.
Next day a further announcement stated that No. 77 Squadron, R.A.A.F., would also be made available and the return of B.C.O.F. to Australia, which had been decided upon in May, had been postponed. Thus Australia, for the second time in eleven years, found herself committed to war against an aggressor.

Following Japan's signing of the surrender documents on 2 September '45, Korea, which had been annexed by Japan in 191o, was occupied by forces of the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. The 38th degree of north latitude, which passes through Korea about half-,vay tip the peninsula, was fixed as the administrative boundary between the two forces. The northern zone was occupied by the Soviet, while on 8 September American troops occupied the territory south of the 3 8th parallel.

The conference at which Korea's immediate future was decided took place at the Spiridonovka Palace, Moscow, from 16 to 27 December '45. Attended by the Foreign Ministers of Great Britain, the U.S.A., and the Soviet Union -Mr. Bevin, Mr. Byrnes and Mr. Molotov- the conference formulated plans for peace treaties with several European countries and policies to be followed regarding the occupation of Japan.

Dealing specifically with Korea, the conference decided that, in order to re-establish Korea as an independent state, a Provisional Democratic Government would be established by an election. This government, when elected, was to "take all the necessary steps for developing the industry, transport and agriculture of Korea, and the national culture of the Korean people".

It soon became clear that, despite Russia's agreements at the Moscow Conference, the authorities in the northern area had decided not to collaborate in these matters. The Russian area became more and more a self contained state, and the 38th parallel, instead of being merely a line drawn on the map for administrative convenience, became another iron curtain.

By September '47, having been unable to hold an election, the United States placed the whole question of Korea before the General Assembly of the United Nations, which decided that an election would be held in Korea under the supervision of a Temporary Commission formed for the purpose.

The attitude of the Soviet authorities did not change, however, and the Commission, having actually been refused entry into the northern zone, was forced to report to Lake Success that it was unable to carry out its tasks in that area. With a resolution passed by 31 for, 2 against, and 11 abstentions, the United Nations met this situation by authorizing the Commission to conduct an election in that part of Korea still accessible to it.

It was therefore in the southern area only that an election was held on 10 May '48, resulting in the election of a National Assembly of 200 with Dr. Syngman Rhee as the first President. The Republic of Korea was formally inaugurated on 15 August, and all United States troops were withdrawn by the end of July '49.

Meanwhile, north of the parallel, the Korean People's Democratic Republic had come into being by a separate Russian sponsored election. Russia and other European countries then under Russian influence officially recognized the State thus created, and argued that it was the only legal government in Korea. When the Soviet Union withdrew its forces by the end of 1948, it left behind a tightly-knit satellite State and a large and enthusiastic army - the North Korean People's Army (N.K.P.A.) -supported both morally and materially by the Soviet Union.

In December '48 the United Nations appointed a second Commission for Korea in another effort to bring about unification. The situation grew steadily worse, however, as the northern regime endeavoured by means of violently abusive propaganda, by subversive activities and threatening border incidents, to destroy the southern administration.

Following another successful election in Southern Korea on 30 May '50, the Praesidium of the People's Supreme Assembly in the north put forward two separate proposals for the amalgamation of the North and South Assemblies into a single Legislative Assembly. An examination of the proposals disclosed objectionable conditions and the schemes were rejected outright by the southern press, political parties and leaders.

Five days after the second proposal was rejected, at about 4 a.m. on 25 June, the N.K.P.A. launched energetic attacks at several points along the 38th parallel. This was soon recognized for what it was: full scale war.

A few hours after receipt of this ominous news, the first dramatic meeting of the Security Council adopted a resolution calling for the cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of North Koreans to the 38th parallel. After two days, during which no such action was taken, the Council met again, declared that what had happened constituted a breach of the peace and called on Member Nations for assistance. The Council had its third meeting on 30 June, when it was reported that President Truman had ordered the United States Air Force and certain ground forces into action.

Australia's first response as a Member Nation to the Security Council's call for support had meanwhile been announced by the Prime Minister and, during a significant one day sitting of both Houses of Parliament on 6 July, this action was unanimously endorsed. On 10 July Mr. Menzies left Australia to visit the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States where, during a speech in the House of Representatives on 1 August, he announced that, in addition to the naval and air support already provided, Australia would raise a special force for service in Korea. This followed the announcement in Australia on 27 July that Australian troops would serve in Korea.

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

THE two ships of the Royal Australian Navy on occupation duties in Japanese waters when the Korean war began were the Tribal class destroyer Bataan (Commander W. B. M. Marks, R.A.N.) and the River class frigate Shoalhaven (Commander I. H. McDonald, R.A.N.). A third ship, the Tribal class destroyer Warramunga (Commander H. 0. Becher, D.S.C., R.A.N.), left Sydney for Korea on 6 August.

At first Bataan, was attached to a service group after which she performed escort duties, anti-submarine sweeps and exercises with another destroyer.

This entailed the picking up of convoys as soon as they could be assembled in Japan and escorting them into the American supply port of Pusan, on the south-east coast of Korea. During the first escort Bataan encountered heavy fog in the Korean Strait and in the approaches to Pusan and, because of communication difficulties, Commander Marks detached all ships that carried charts, leading the remainder into harbour by means of radar fixing.

On 13 July, just after she had returned to harbour following the escort of another convoy, Bataan was ordered to join a task force. Five days later, with other ships, she supported an amphibious landing by the American ist Cavalry Division at Pohang Dong, on the east coast. Following this Bataan returned to escort duties for a short period until detached as an anti-submarine picket at the entrance to a harbour in which a large number of ships were berthed.

One of the measures ordered by President Truman on 30 June was a naval blockade of the entire Korean coastline. When relieved of her anti-submarine duties by Shoalhaven on 24 July, Bataan proceeded to the west coast So participate in this blockade. While engaged in these duties she was fired on by a North Korean shore battery of four 120Dun. guns, just south of the 38th parallel. The destroyer replied with 15o rounds, and a British cruiser, Belfast, poured in a further 57 rounds of 6-inch for good measure. The enemy guns remained silent after this vigorous engagement.

Late on 15 August news was received of the birth of a daughter to Princess Elizabeth.

On the following day, the ship was dressed with mast-head flags in honour of the event.

In response to the order "Splice the main-brace" each man was issued with a bottle of beer.
Several days later Bataan, was on patrol on the western coast of Korea about 30 miles from an area in which, earlier in the day, a British destroyer had been attacked by two Stormovik bombers, and had suffered casualties and damage.

This was the first enemy aircraft attack made in Korean waters and it resulted in modifications of the methods of patrol along the coast.

The patrol in which Bataan was engaged took the form of a daily sweep with the ships concentrated for anti-aircraft support.

Each night ships were allocated patrol areas off the approaches to Inchon and off Kunsan.

On 27 August Bataan was ordered to make a rendezvous to the south with three other ships, one of which was the newly-arrived Warramunga. The four vessels entered Pusan two days later. At that time the front line, which the Koreans were holding rather precariously, was only 35 miles away. In the afternoon Warramunga left for Kure and the following day Bataan and the other two ships sailed for Sasebo.

With the arrival in Korean waters of H.M.A.S. Warramunga, the frigate Shoalhaven, which had also been engaged in escort and blockade duties during her period of duty with the United Nations forces, sailed for Australia for refit and leave. The vessel berthed at Garden Island, Sydney, on 22 September, when she received an enthusiastic welcome.

Early in October Warramunga carried out an agreeable mission without firing a shot. She delivered rice to large numbers of South Koreans and to several lighthouse-keepers who had been marooned by the war on their islands off the Korean coast.

On the 13th she took part in a bombardment of the North Korean east coast ports including- Chongjin, Songjin and Ssangpo. In this operation, which extended nearly to the enemy's northern (Manchurian) border, 117 United Nations ships were employed, including U.S.S. Missouri whose 16-inch guns were used with telling effect against land targets.

AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES

EVEN before the announcement by the Prime Minister that an Australian ground force would be sent to Korea, there had been an enthusiastic response from ex-servicemen and other young men eager to offer their services to the Army.

As time was the most pressing consideration it was agreed by the governments concerned that a comparatively small force, speedily prepared and despatched, would be a more effective contribution than a larger force postponed for many months because of the inevitable delays entailed in enlisting, training and equipping. With this in mind the general plan of the Government was that the initial battalion would consist of an expected 6oo volunteers from B.C.O.F. and another 400 from the Regular Army in Australia. Another thousand would be enlisted as reinforcements and possibly as the nucleus of another battalion.

Details covering these enlistments were announced by the Minister for the Army (Hon. Jos. Francis) on 3 August. Each State or Military District was allotted a quota ranging from 400 for N.S.W. to 30 for Tasmania. In all cases enlistment would be in the rank of private. Applicants must have reached the age Of 2o and be under 40, and the term of enlistment was fixed at three years for service in any part of the world.

An important qualification was that the applicants must have had previous full-time service in infantry, armour, artillery, engineers or signals, which would mean that the men selected would require only short "refresher" courses to bring them up to date. The two training centres selected for this purpose were Ingleburn, N.S.W., and Puckapunyal, Victoria - both centres being well-known to the men concerned.

When recruiting opened for this portion of the force on 7 August the men who reported and satisfied the special requirements went through a procedure that was quite familiar to them. There were, however, some unexpected refinements, especially in the mess. The next step in this change back into uniform was the attestation, that sobering little ceremony during which a civilian becomes a soldier.

In the meanwhile the B.C.O.F. volunteers were undergoing a training which was tough and thorough. Route marches of up to 28 miles in one day were included, and weapon training included instruction in the use of the newly developed 3.5-inch rocket launcher with which heartening successes were being gained against enemy tanks.

Back in Australia, the newly recruited men were settling down to similar training.

At the end of August it was announced that Lieutenant-Colonel C. H. Green, D.S.O., had been selected to command the battalion.

On 31 August the first troops arrived in Japan from Australia and went into barracks at Iwakuni, 400 miles west of Tokyo. These troops, the first of the volunteers from the Regular Army, were drawn from the ist Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, at Ingleburn, N.S.W., and all were in top condition after months of training. Aside from the speed with which they were organized and despatched, it was the manner of their coming that aroused interest. For these troops had left Sydney only a couple of days previously, and had been transported to Japan in the luxury of Qantas civil air-liners.

The eager Australian troops, a thousand strong, landed at Pusan in Korea on 28 September, and entrained for the hundred mile journey to Taegu, where they spent the night bivouacked in a dry river bed near the town.

Next day the Australians moved into the Songju area, 20 miles west of Taegu, adjoined the British brigade, which was clearing out scattered pockets of the enemy in the area, left behind when the Americans stormed northwards towards Taejon. The brigade was responsible for the clearing out of a tract of hills and valleys about 600 square miles in area, extending from the outskirts of Taegu to the north-west of Kunchow.

During the first week in October, while the United Nations was debating the question of a crossing of the 38th parallel by U.N. forces, the British brigade was suddenly relieved of its tasks in the Taegu area and transferred to new positions near the parallel, where most of the U.N. forces were poised awaiting a decision to continue the offensive.

Following the passing of a resolution by the United Nations that all appropriate steps were to be taken to ensure conditions of stability throughout Korea, a full-scale drive into North Korea was launched on 9 October.

This new offensive by the ist Corps consisting of the 1st Cavalry and 24th Divisions and the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade - followed General MacArthur's second broadcast surrender ultimatum addressed to the North Koreans. The Allied attack began from Kaesong, about 8 miles south of the parallel, and was directed primarily at the North Korean port of Haeju.

The British brigade, on the left flank of the main drive along the highway to Pyong-yang, had penetrated nine miles north of the parallel by 12 October and next day were within five miles of Kumchon. The general picture at this stage was one of continued Allied advances against weakening opposition. The British force had covered 18 miles in a curving line north and west from their crossing point.

On the 14th Kumchon fell to U.S. troops who pushed straight on to the road and rail junction of Namchoniom. The Australians, having been misled by inaccurate maps a day earlier, were still a few miles down the road when the Americans entered Kumchon, but some Australian jeep drivers were reported to have been with the American column. By the 17th the advance had proceeded to within 35 miles of the northern capital Pyong-yang and, after clearing out enemy pockets in Kumchon, the British brigade became the vanguard of this column.

As they drew near Pyong-yang, however, the brigade was diverted from the main axis of advance for other tasks and U.S. troops again took the lead and entered the capital on 20 October. Following this, the North Korean escape route from the city was blocked by a regiment of paratroops who dropped 25 miles north of Pyong-yang at Sunchon. Next day South Korean troops cut across the peninsula from Wonsan and linked up with these troops. These moves sealed off the northern capital.

British and Australian troops had by now completed their tasks south of Pyong-yang, during which the Australian battalion took 2,5oo prisoners in 24 hours. The brigade then moved on through the city, driving up the west coast, smashing through Yongyu after a brief but stiff battle. Air support was necessary to keep moving up the coast and here the brigade inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy.

By 25 October South Koreans were reported 35 miles south of the Manchurian border, and the Australians had advanced 50 miles north of Pyong-yang driving towards the next major objective Chongju, 50 miles south of the Manchurian border.

About this time, however, enemy resistance began to stiffen considerably and surprisingly strong and effective counter-attacks were launched against the United Nations main drives. In a sharp clash at Pakchon the Australian battalion suffered casualties. Here the first winter snows were encountered. In an effort to combat the cold arrangements were made for the R.A.A.F. to fly in 30,000 pounds Of winter clothing for the troops.

Taking the lead in the British advance on the last day of October near Chongju, the Australians were almost immediately involved in a fierce battle for the town. The defenders fought back savagely with adequate fire power from dug-in tanks, self-propelled guns and other weapons. The battle raged all day and night and dragged through the following dav. By then the enemy had had enough and fell back leaving over one hundred dead. The Australians provided cover while the town was occupied by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and Middlesex Regiment. In this, the Australians' first all-out action of the campaign, the battalion lost 8 killed and 30 wounded. A further grievous blow was suffered at dusk on the second day when an enemy shell landed in the battalion headquarters area, mortally wounding Colonel Green.

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE IN KOREA

A DISTINCTION earned by the R.A.A.F. fighter squadron in Japan was that it became the first complete unit of Australia's fighting services to enter into full-scale hostilities within twenty-four hours of receiving permission of the Australian Government.

Short of Mustang squadrons for operations in Korea, the United States Air Force pressed its government to approach the Security Council to obtain the assistance of No. 77 Squadron. Quickly the Australian Government agreed and on 2 July the squadron began operations against the common foe.

77 Squadron R.A.A.F., together with Nos. 76 and 82 Squadrons, comprised Australia's air component of B.C.O.F. when that force was formed. By December '49, however, all squadrons-British, New Zealand and Australian-had been withdrawn with the exception of No. 77, which moved from Bofu to a new base at Iwakuni.

In February '5o their new Commanding Officer, Wing Commander L. T. Spence, D.F.C., 'Joined the unit. Although the squadron was preparing to return home, Spence insisted that it should remain at full efficiency. So the pilots went to it, dropping practice bombs on a nearby island until every member could be sure of a direct hit nine times in ten on a target only twelve feet square. Further out in the Inland Sea another small island was utilized as a live ammunition target. By driving himself and his men hard Spence had the unit at the peak of efficiency when the call came for active service.

During July the Australian squadron flew long distance escort missions with the 5th Air Force Super Fortresses and B26's but once complete air mastery had been obtained this role was abandoned. Since then the task of the squadron has been one of close support to the ground forces, attacks on lines of communications, tanks, troop concentrations, bridges, artillery positions and suspected areas of enemy movement. When the Naktong River line was established in August railway tunnels north-west of Taegu entered the list of targets. Here, to escape air attacks, the enemy sheltered tanks, troops and supplies.

A typical mission was carried out by four aircraft which, on arrival at the front, contacted the operations controller, either in a small reconnaissance aircraft or attached to the ground units. A target was allotted and, when located, the section leader checked. Then the Mustangs, one by one, swept in low to bomb, rocket and strafe. With the strike completed the machines landed at forward strips where they were rearmed and, within the hour, a second mission was under way. Before returning to Japan the section often landed in Korea a second time and completed three strikes.

During July and August, when Korea receives more than half its annual rainfall of fifty to sixty inches, the rain clouds cloaking the razor-backed mountain ridges added another hazard to low flying.

With operations in progress the R.A.A.F. Station at Iwakuni has presented a scene of great activity. At daylight the air is filled with the muttered thunder of engines warming up as the first flight prepares for the morning's strikes. Not only Mustangs but also B26 bombers of the U.S.A.F., lodging at the field, swing out on to the runway, take off and circle before disappearing to the north. The Australians also act as hosts to No. 88 Sunderland Squadron, R.A.F., and a Mariner flying boat squadron of the United States Navy.

About the station ground staff toil to maintain aircraft at the peak of efficiency; armourers hoist bombs on to carriers; rocket racks and ammunition bins are filled.

In the air the busy days were high-lighted by many incidents which brought credit to the Squadron. On 14 July, for instance, after managing to break through low rain clouds near Taejon, a section led by Flight Lieutenant C. R. Noble came upon an attempted crossing of the Kum River by North Koreans. Two barges and at least forty troops fell quickly to the Mustangs. Four days later, in almost impossible flying conditions, a vital Kum River bridge was destroyed with only two 500 lb. bombs.

During August the ground forces became locked in a series of vicious battles along the

Naktong River, with the initiative passing swiftly from one side to the other. The Australian aircraft were switched to attack the enemy, first at one point of crisis, and then at another, as the outnumbered defenders strove desperately to hold the perimeter. Oil the afternoon Of 2 3 August, as soon as they were airborne after rearming at Taegu, Flight Lieutenants S. Bradford and 1. R. Olorenshaw, with Pilot R. W. Wittman, were ordered to fly to the Tabu-Dona area where a divisional headquarters was in danger from an enemy outflanking attack. As the North Koreans were only 100 yards away from friendly troops, extreme accuracy was required. Forming into line the Mustangs swept in again and again with rockets and machine guns. The attack wavered, went to ground, and then the North Koreans could be observed falling back. Out of ammunition, the Mustangs left the area with the shouts of a delighted ground controller ringing in their ears. This was the closest support action ever attempted by the Mustang pilots.

A day earlier Wing Commander Spence had received the U.S. Legion of Honour in recognition of his own service and that rendered by his command. This decoration was conferred personally by the Commander of the Far East Air Forces, Lieutenant-General George Stratemeyer.

On 9 September Spence was killed while leading a section against a target in the Pohang area. The weather was bad and there were low clouds around the target. Spence's machine failed to come out of a steep attack and plunged to the ground. Later in the month he was again decorated, this time with a posthumous award of the American Air Force Medal. Other officers of the squadron who received this decoration from Major General Earle E. Partridge, Commander of the 5th Air Force, were Flight Lieutenants C. C. Taplin, J. I. Adams and C. R. Noble.

Spence was succeeded by Squadron Leader R. C. Cresswell. This was the second time Cresswell had been appointed to command No.77 Squadron, the first time being in 1942.

Early in November the Minister for Air (Hon. T. W. White) stated that in 2,000 sorties the pilots of the squadron had fired two million rounds of .5 ammunition and more than 7,000 rockets. They had dropped 642 5oo-lb. bombs, 354 fragmentation bombs, and 925 incendiaries. Three pilots have been killed, six aircraft destroyed and twenty damaged.

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE IN MALAYA

ALTHOUGH events in Korea overshadowed happenings elsewhere in the Pacific, a squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force was, as the result of a Government decision, preparing for active service overseas before the Korean hostilities commenced. The mission of this squadron was to co-operate with the Royal Air Force in the British campaign against Communist bandits in Malaya.

The decision to send this assistance was announced by the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives on 31 May '50, when he said that the aircraft would be Dakota transports to be used for dropping supplies and general transport work.

The squadron selected was No- 38, of No. 86 Transport Wing. This wing, like 77 Squadron, had a distinguished war record, :and later pioneered the courier service from Australia to Japan. In 1948 it flew thousands of hours in the Berlin Air Lift.

The advance party departed from Schofields, N.S.W., on 17 June and arrived at Changi, Singapore, two days later. The main body under Wing Commander J. F. Lush arrived at Changi on 29june in two squadron Dakotas and one Qantas Skymaster. The squadron became operative on this day, but the move was not completed until 6 July by when 28,567 pounds of equipment and 138 personnel had been moved in the eight squadron aircraft and two Skymasters.

The squadron was placed under the operational control of the Far East Air Forces, through Air Headquarters, R.A.F., Malaya. The primary task of the R.A.F. in the East was the internal security of the area, and the protection of British and Commonwealth interests. At the time of 38 Squadron's arrival, the main task was the campaign against the Communist guerrillas.

As a forced landing in the dense jungles of Malaya would require special knowledge in order to survive, all flying personnel attended a course in jungle survival before attempting any flying duties. The course consisted of lectures and practical demonstrations, followed by a 36-hour sojourn in the jungle under operational conditions.

In Australia on 27 June, just after the war had started in Korea, the Prime Minister announced that Australia was sending a squadron of heavy bombers to 'Join in the fighting in Malaya. This was No.1 Squadron, equipped with Lincolns.

For the squadron already in Malaya, active flying began on 12 July, when one aircraft commanded by Squadron Leader J. B. Fitzgerald made an air ambulance flight of six hours' duration. Landings were made at Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Taiping - the latter two being jungle strips - where wounded troops were evacuated for treatment at Singapore.

The first supply dropping mission undertaken by the squadron was carried out on 23 July. The dropping zones, besides being mere specks of cleared jungle, are often on the sides of mountains or in deep valleys and, because the Dakotas were not designed for low flying in confined spaces, this type of mission calls for a great deal of skill on the part of the pilot. Ground troops operating in the almost impenetrable jungle are entirely dependent on air support for all their supplies, and this places an obligation on the air crews to ensure that the goods are delivered whatever the hazards.

Other duties undertaken by the squadron have included target indicating missions involving the dropping of smoke bombs, courier services to Hong Kong, Labuan and the Nicobar Islands, and leaflet drops.

Before the end of July the first four Lincolns arrived at their base at Tengah, on the western side of Singapore Island. The Australian Lincolns joined those of No.100 Squadron, R.A.F., with which they were to co-operate.

A week later a Dakota captained by Flight Lieutenant L. Hawes, D.F.C., acted as a marker aircraft for a combined bombing strike by No.1 Squadron Lincolns and No.45 Squadron R.A.F., flying Brigands. The
Dakota first of all flew over the target area some time before the bombers were due, passed back a weather report and then landed at Kota Bharu to emplane an observer who knew the area well. Back over the target area the Dakota made a reconnaissance and, when the bombers arrived, flew in dropping two smoke bombs. Three Lincolns then made a bombing run which was unsuccessful owing
to cloud. Two further markers were dropped some minutes later and this time the Lincolns successfully dropped thirty-six 1,000 lb. bombs. From here the aircraft moved to another target which was bombed, and strafed with rockets and machine guns.

In addition to bombing by daylight No. I Squadron has also bombed at night. In the first of these night strikes one of the Australian Lincolns had some exciting moments and a narrow escape when the aircraft was over the second target. The order to release bombs had been given and the toad appeared to leave the bomb bay normally. But almost immediately afterwards a blinding flash, sparks, and smoke filled the aircraft. One of the flares had ignited in the bomb rack and the parachute had become entangled in the rear bomb racks.

For a while It seemed that the aircraft would have to be abandoned, but after the contents of several fire extinguishers had, with great difficulty, been played on the flare, the fire was brought under control. A report describing the incident states that the crew thereupon brushed their hair back from a vertical position, and set course for home. The Lincoln reached base safely, with the still-smouldering flare trailing behind.

For his services on this occasion the D.F.C. was awarded to Flight Lieutenant K. I. Foster.