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The F-86E Sabre flown by Lt. Col. Albert Kelly, 51st Fighter Interceptor Group commander,during the Korean War in 1952. The F-86 was the Air Force's first swept wing fighter. (Courtesy photo)Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., commander of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, leads a three-ship F-86F Sabre formation over Korea in 1954. Col. Davis, a Tuskegee Airman, was one of the first African-American wing commanders. (Courtesy photo)Sabres of 51st FIG over Korea

Capts. Joseph McConnell Jr. and Harold Fischer stand before Captain McConnell's F-86 Sabre jet, "Beautious Butch" during the Korean War. Capt. McConnell was the top ace of the war with 16 kills. Capt. Fischer was the first double ace, but was shot down and captured in April, 1953. Both were assigned to the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron of the 51st FIW. (Courtesy photo)Joe McConnell's A/C FU-735 "Beautious Butch" with 13 red stars on gun panel.

F-86 Sabres with their 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing "Checkertails" are readied for combat during the Korean War at Suwon Air Base, South Korea. (Courtesy photo)Ground crews prepare an F-86 Sabre with its 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing "Checkertail" for flight during the Korean War. (Courtesy photo)Maj. John Glenn's F-86F Sabre, "MiG Mad Marine" on the Suwon, South Korea, flightline during the Korean War. He actually named his aircraft Lyn Annie Dave for his wife and two kids. However, the flight crew surprised him with a new paint job, a big red M with letters trailing off it, to read "MiG Mad Marine." Major Glenn flew with the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing as a U.S. Marine Corps exchange pilot, and was responsible for shooting down three MiGs. (Courtesy photo)

Info on 51st FIW from Wikipedia

51st FIW Commanders during Korean War

 

Info on 51st FIW for Korean War

With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, elements of the 51st were dispatched first to Japan, then to South Korea. Korean War operational squadrons were:

It entered combat service flying the F-80C Shooting Star on 22 September of that year, when it moved to Itazuke AB, Japan, to support the breakout of the U.S. Eighth Army from the Pusan Perimeter. For nearly 4 years thereafter, the 51st FIW played a key role in the defense of South Korea despite moving to four different locations within a year and operating under austere conditions.

The wing moved to South Korea in October only to return to Japan in December, leaving combat elements behind. In May 1951, the 51st FIW moved to Suwon AB, southwest of Seoul, but retained maintenance and supply elements at Tsuiki AB, Japan, to provide rear echelon support. In November 1951 the 51st FIW transitioned to the F-86 Sabre with two squadrons (16th, 25th), adding a third squadron (26th) the following May.

The group operated a detachment at Suwon AB, Korea, beginning in May 1951, and relocated there in October 1951, with maintenance and supply elements remaining in Japan until August 1954. The wing ceased combat on 27 July 1953. The 51 FIW's war record was impressive. Wing pilots flew more than 45,000 sorties and shot down 312 MiG-15s; this produced 14 air aces including the top ace of the war, Captain Joseph C. McConnell. The ratio of aerial victories to losses was 10 to 1. Unfortunately, the wing lost 32 pilots to enemy action; however, nine that became prisoners of war were repatriated later.

 

Info on 51st FIW and 51st FIG from Air Force Historical Research Agency

51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing

In September 1950, the 51st FIW moved from Okinawa to Japan. Flying F-80 Shooting Stars, pilots provided combat patrols, close air support, and armed reconnaissance missions in support of UN ground forces in Korea. The wing moved to South Korea in October only to return to Japan in December, leaving combat elements behind. In May 1951, the 51st FIW moved to Suwon AB, southwest of Seoul, but retained maintenance and supply elements at Tsuiki AB, Japan, to provide rear echelon support. Transitioning in late 1951 to the F-86 Sabrejets, the wing assumed an air superiority mission for the rest of the war.

Combat Components 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group: duration except detached September 26-October 12, 1950.

Stations: Itazuke AB, Japan, September 22, 1950; Kimpo AB, South Korea, October 10, 1950; Itazuke AB, Japan, December 10, 1950; Tsuiki AB, Japan, January 15, 1951 (operated detachment of wing elements at Suwon from May 1951); Suwon AB, South Korea, October 1, 1951-.

Commanders: Col. John W. Weltman, -April 24, 1951; Col. Oliver G. Cellini, April 24, 1951; Col. William P. Litton, c. November 1, 1951; Col. George R. Stanley (interim), November 2, 1951; Col. Francis S. Gabreski, November 6, 1951; Col. John W. Mitchell, June 13,1952; Col. William C. Clark, May 31, 1953-.

Campaign Streamers UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea, Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953.

Decorations Two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations for periods September 20, 1950-June 30, 1951 and July 1, 1951-March 31, 1953.

 

51st Fighter-Interceptor Group

In September 1950, the 51st FIG and its 16th and 25th Squadrons moved to Japan under operational control of the 8th FBW. Within hours of arrival, group pilots began flying F-80s on combat air patrol, armed reconnaissance and close air support missions over Korea. The 51st FIG moved to Kimpo AB, located just south of Seoul, in October. In December, it flew 763 sorties, including close air support for the 2nd Infantry Division, cut off by the enemy in the vicinity of Kunu-ri. The 51st FIG helped protect the division's flanks and destroyed enemy roadblocks halting southward movement. In early January 1951, it rejoined its parent wing in Japan but continued to fly missions over Korea, staging first through Taegu and then through Suwon Air Base. Returning to Korea in late July, the 51st FIG supported ground forces and its pilots flew patrol, escort, interdiction, and armed reconnaissance missions. In September and October, the group devoted its major combat effort against railroads and other main supply routes in North Korea. After the 51st FIG transitioned to F-86 Sabrejets in November-December, its primary mission became air superiority.

Combat Components: 16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: duration. 25th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: duration. 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: attached June 1, 1952-. 68th Fighter-All Weather Squadron: attached September 25-October 9, 1950. 80th Fighter-Bomber Squadron: attached September 25-December 20, 1950.

Stations: Itazuke AB, Japan, September 22, 1950; Kimpo AB, South Korea, October 24, 1950; Itazuke AB, Japan, January 3, 1951; Tsuiki AB, Japan, January 22, 1951; Suwon AB, South Korea, July 31, 1951-.

Commanders: Col. Oliver G. Cellini, December 16, 1950; Col. Irwin H. Dregne, April 24, 1951; Lt. Col. John M. Thacker, July 21, 1951; Lt. Col. George L. Jones, November 13, 1951; Lt. Col. William M. Shelton, c. March 17, 1952; Lt. Col. Albert S. Kelly, June 1952; Col. Robert P. Baldwin, January 1953-.

Campaign Streamers: UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea, Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953.

Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citation for actions covering November 28, 1951-April 30, 1952. Two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations for periods September [22], 1950-June 30, 1951 and July 1, 1951-March 31, 1953.