Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Australian 77th Air Force Squadron, a combatant of the 6·25 Korean War,

hold exchange event with the 102nd Squadron

 

 

 

Australian and Korean Air Forces, who protected Korean airspace during the Korean War, are back together again and shared their friendship and concord.

 

Three Australian pilots including Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Sleeman, 44, 77th Squadron commander, visited Korea on July 26 for the 65th anniversary of the 6·25 Korean War and had an exchange event with the 102nd Fighter Squadron, 11th Fighter Wing.

 

The Australian squadron paid a visit to Seoul National Cemetery as their first official event on the 27th to express their sorrow and gratitude for war veterans. They moved to the 102nd Squadron and had exchange events through July 30. The events consisted of tactical discussion, a welcome dinner, culture exploration, security field trip, etc.

 

During the tactical discussion conducted on July 28, they enhanced their military cooperative relationship, sharing know-how of operating the F-15K and F-18, the representative fighters of each military.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin said, “I could feel the value of my senior soldiers’ sacrifice when I saw how Korea developed. Continuous exchange will make our alliance stronger.”

 

And the 102nd Squadron commander, Lieutenant Colonel Lee Hyun-hee said, “I’m thankful for the devotion to Korea that the 77th Squadron has shown. We will keep this friendship with the Australian Air Force forever.”

 

Including this visit, the 102nd and 77th Squadrons have visited each other three times each, six in total, having a close military exchange relationship since they set up a sisterhood relationship in 2002.

 

The 77th Squadron destroyed 3,700 buildings, 1,408 vehicles, 98 engine locomotives and freight cars and 16 bridges, and shot down five enemy aircraft during the 6·25 Korean War. And they lost 41 pilots, including Lieutenant Colonel Lou Spence, 77th Squadron commander at that time, during the war. In 1952, they made a donation of two F-51 fighters to the Korean Air Force.

 

By Sang-Yun, Kim < ksy0609@dema.mil.kr >
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