77 Squadron in Korea | Part 1

Part 1 of a 3-part series on 77 Squadron in Korea. This video features interviews from the Australians At War Film Archive australiansatwarfilmarchive.u... including James Flemming (ID: 1703); Keith Meggs (ID: 983); Frederick Barnes (ID: 1260); Leslie Reading (ID: 1851); and Richard Cresswell (ID: 582).
See the full documentary here • RAAF 77 Squadron in th...
Special thanks to Air Force Association NSW for funding and 77 Squadron Association for their book "Swift to Destroy: An Illustrated History of 77 Squadron RAAF 1942-2012" from which this story is based.
CONTENTS
00:00 Introduction
02:20 Lou Spence and 77 Squadron
03:17 James Flemming
05:12 First Missions
06:29 First KIA
06:45 Staging from Taegu
07:20 Keith Meggs
08:52 Enemy advances south
09:20 Close Air Support
10:54 More losses including W/C Spence
13:28 Pohang
13:58 Frederick Barnes
16:06 Yonpo
18:14 Pusan
19:05 Leslie Reading
21:09 Richard Cresswell
22:55 Mid January 1951 push
26:34 End montage
Part 2 is here • 77 Squadron in Korea |...
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____________ Disclaimer ____________
Footage of 77 Squadron by British Pathé used under licence.
Original footage and recreated scenes may not be 100% accurate to the event being described but has been used for dramatic effect. This is because there may not have been original footage of a particular event available, or copyright prevents us from showing it. Our aim is to be as historically true as we can be given the materials available.
Copyright disclaimer under fair dealing sections ss 40/103C, ss 41/103A,ss 42/103B of the Copyright Act which includes research, study, criticism, review, and reporting of news. Copyright remains with the respective owners. These videos are made for educational purposes only.
The Australian Military Aviation History Association is a not-for-profit association with the intent of recording, preserving and promoting Australian military aviation history.

[@raafdocumentaries]

The Korean War saw the RAAF enter the jet age with the Meteor in 1951. The Americans were flying the Sabre at the time and it wouldn't be too long before Australia also started flying this iconic jet fighter kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4a5qaGfq9Zlp5I

[@peterkirgan2921]

Yes but not until 1957 Being a former RAAF pilot out of Williamtown nsw I actually trained on a a Sabre till conversion to the Mirage 3 big Jim Flemming was our c/o

[@jimcottee9187]

The Korean War was the start to my dad's extensive flying career. He was in that very first flight 77 Squadron took over North Korea & flew many missions with Lou Spence until his demise. ( I found out many years later he suffered nightmares from many tragic missions - including that train disaster.) After a year flying Mustangs, he came back as an Instructor, before going to England to do the British Test Pilot Course. He flew everything, including all the V Bombers. Milt was then the RAAF's chief test pilot at Laverton Air Base as the Vampire, Sabre & Canberra showed up for him to push to their limits. We ended up in The States in 69' for dad to fly the F-111's over Texas for 2 years, before becoming the Project Officer in D.C. to deliver them to the RAAF.

[@markpaul-ym5wg]

My uncle was in on that airborne drop with the 187th PIR combat team.He recieved a silver star during that operation by single Handley taking out 3 machine gun nests with hand grenades.😊😊😊

[@johnwatts312]

Terrific stuff, looking forward to the story continuing in Part 2

[@raafdocumentaries]

Thanks John - working on part 2 now!

[@AnthonyOMulligan-yv9cg]

I've known many South Koreans here in Australia over the last 30 year's. Each and every was an ABSOLUTE Individual, wonderful friends, wonderful memories.

[@thatoneguy3112]

My Grandfather Louis Leese was a W/O in 77 from WW2 till around Vietnam. Love and respect to those that served living or passed ❤️

[@OziBlokeTimG]

Have an uncle who was a pilot with this crowd. Flew mustangs, Canberra bomber and the like. Served in the occupation of Japan, Korea, Vietnam... and more. Always had colourful stories to tell. Great guy....

[@KnightOps290]

Thank you, just what I've been looking for.

[@peteanderson2533]

2:20 love the "old timee" way of speaking!

[@WrightCycloneR1820]

Brilliant doco, great background history and very interesting overall. Puts us Brits to shame that the RAF never sent any operational squadrons to Korea.

[@raafdocumentaries]

Many thanks!

[@wor53lg50]

They did it was 801 of the the air fleet arm.. How many carriers did you aussies take, also Brits was flying sabres under Yankee tatoo, getting practice for the transition..

[@markwheat2668]

What another show on the 77th! Circle the wagons and make some coffee! It would have been an honor to work on their P-40's! Semper Fi RAAF! Now some coffee, thanks Australia!

[@hictecnic]

Excellent episode. Looking forward to part two. 👌👍🙂

[@elvinsmatthew]

Love this channel. Was hoping to hear more on how our mustangs handled the Russian piston engined plane like laggs,yaks etc. Still over all loved it. Very informative.

[@raafdocumentaries]

There are so many details we could go into (and might as separate videos), but just to outline the story is going to take us about 90 min in three episodes. Down the track we will do more aircraft-specific stories.

[@fredorico41]

​@@raafdocumentaries Your doing a wonderful 👍 job on this channel

[@PaulieLDP]

Is there any flight performance data on the CA-18 Mustang with a Merlin 66? I have seen mention of a P-51C with the engine doing 650km/hr at sea level, I'm guessing something roughly the same.

[@raafdocumentaries]

Sorry you'll have to go searching. I've got all the stats on the Mk.21 with the V-1650-7 V12 (max speed 703km/hr [437 mph] at 7620m [25,000ft]).

[@peterfarrell520]

remember my aunty telling me about 77 sqdn and lou spence as they were friends .

[@seanlander9321]

Australia was the first country to come to the assistance of the South Koreans. It then put together and commanded a force comprising Britain, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and India. The South Koreans have zero recognition of Australia’s commitment to their country.

[@MrOlgrumpy]

Terrible overwhelming "MUZAC" opening and closing of the video

[@vrosi1963]

There should be lots of crashed F51 parts don't you think