The Republic of South Africa
List for UN Allies
U.N. Forces' Christmas Full Scale Offensive Operation Support (1950. 11. 2~12. 2)
The Republic of South Africa Combat Flight Squadron made sorties from the Pyongyang base to the northern Cheongcheon River during this period and performed air patrol mission over the Korea and Manchuria borderline and the saturate operation of enemy's rear side.
Strangle Operation (1951. 8. 18~12. 31)
As the battle line was deadlocked since the opening of the cease-fire talk, the Communist seized this opportunity and began rearranging the battle line by strengthening their positions and moving supplies and troops to the battle zone. Therefore, the U.N. Air Force (air power of Naval Force and Air Force) began behind the saturate operation on military facilities and important traffic points in North Korea from Aug. 1, 1951. The Republic of South Africa Air Force participated in this operation and bombed railroads and bridges in mid and western North Korea and Communist's vehicles heading south.
Saturate Operation (1952. 2. 25~6. 15)
As Communist's attack power was strengthened by mobilizing troops and supplies to the battle zone despite of the strangle operation, the U.N. Forces in early 1952 planned to increase artillery attacks on railroads and bridges in key locations for day and night and carry out air patrol. The U.N. Air Force selected 4 areas in Kunwu-ri - Huicheon, Suncheon - Sinseongchen, Sinanju - Namjidong, Pyongyang - Sariwon - Namcheonjeom as key target areas. The Republic of South Africa Air Force participated in this operation, and both sides suffered loss in some occasions by carrying out air battle with MiG-15 in the sky above Jeongju - Kunwu-ri.
Pressure Operation (1952. 6. 23~8. 31)
As the strength of Communist increased despite of the strangle operation and the saturate operation by the U.N. Forces from Aug. 1951, the U.N. Air Force that tried to achieve air domination planned intensive attacks on industrial facilities including hydraulic power plant, ammunition factories, camps for troops and supply storage. The Republic of South Africa Air Force also participated in this operation and bombed the Bujeon Lake power plant, the Jangjin Lake power plant, the Tungsten mine in Pyongyang and Gilju and the chemical plant in Hamheung. The Republic of South Africa Air Force Battalion made 2,405 sorties in total since participating in the Korean War.
After the cease-fire agreement, the Republic of South Africa Air Force Battalion transferred F-86 fighter planes to the U.S. Bombing Brigade and left in Oct. 1953.
