Korean War remembered
Fifty years and not forgotten

By LACW Simone Liebelt

Hornets make a flypast during the ceremonial parade at RAAF Base Williamtown to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. Photos by CPL Mark Eaton

Wing Commander Dick Creswell briefs pilots of 77SQN in front of A77 Gloster Meteors during the Korean War. Photo courtesy RAAF Museum

Wing Commander Dick Cresswell (ret’d) and Air Commodore John Quaife admire the honour board that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the ceasefire of the Korean War. It will be on permanent display at the Fighter World Museum, Williamtown.

Veterans from around Australia rekindled old friendships during the commemorations.

IT’S been dubbed the “forgotten war” but the conflict was vividly recalled at commemorations to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War at RAAF Base Williamtown.

CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston joined representatives of the Korean and American Embassies and the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) to pay tribute to all those who served in the conflict at a ceremonial parade on July 25.

Past and present members of No. 77 Squadron gathered to remember the service and sacrifice of RAAF and RAF Korean War Veterans in the battle to stop the spread of communism on the Korean peninsula from 1950-53.

77SQN was the first RAAF squadron to fly jet aircraft into combat, with one quarter of its pilots killed or captured during the three-year occupation that resulted in almost 19,000 operational missions flown in Mustang and Meteor aircraft.

Wing Commander Dick Creswell (ret’d), who commanded the squadron during the war, paid special tribute to the ground crew, who he described as essential, but sometimes forgotten members of the squadron.

“I, as an old CO, can only say thank you,” he said.

“In this short period I couldn’t of wished for a better ground crew who all worked under difficult conditions in spite of lousy living standards and constant cold to freezing weather.”

Earlier this year, the 77SQN Association was awarded a grant under the “Saluting Their Service Grants Program” to produce an Honour Board for public display in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the ceasefire of the Korean War.

Following the parade on July 25, Korean Veteran and Patron of the 77SQN Association, Air Chief Marshal Sir Neville McNamara (ret’d), officially unveiled the Honour Board at the 77SQN Gallery of the Fighter World Museum at Williamtown.

Anniversary activities continued with a reunion function and a memorial service, attended by Korean War veterans and members of the 77SQN Association and their families, on July 26-27.

AIRMSHL Houston recently announced that a “Sister Squadron Agreement” between 77SQN and No. 102 Squadron had been reached with the ROKAF, creating an important military relationship between Australia and Korea.

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