KITS 03/2022
RF-51D-25, 44-84837, Lt. Grover J. Isbell, 45th TRS, 67th TRG,
Kimpo AB (K-14), Korea, 1952
This Mustang, christened Little Lynn, proudly carries
more than hundred little camera symbols representing the completed missions during the Korean War. It
was flown by Dallas, Texas native, and a WWII veteran
Lt. Grover Jim Isbell. The Korean War was not the last
conflict he participated in. He also fought in Vietnam
and retired as Major General. His Mustang survived
the Korean War and after the end of hostilities continued to fly with the Arkansas Air National Guard in
154th TRS.
F-51D-30, 44-74629, Col. Dean E. Hess, ROKAF, Seoul City AB (K-16),
Korea, October 1950
In the beginning of the Korean conflict the South Korean air forces were equipped with communication
and training aircraft only. Therefore ten Mustangs
were released for the US stocks and training of selected Korean pilots took place in Japan under the
command of Maj. Hess. Under his leadership the unit
designated Bout One transferred back to the Korean
peninsula from where the sorties were flown first by
the American instructors and then, after their piloting skills improved, by the Korean pilots. Col. Hess
together with LTC Russell L. Blaisdell and S/Sgt Merle
Y. Strang organized an airlift to Jeju island for thou-
sands of Korean orphans fleeing the advancing North
Korean and Chinese soldiers aiming to capture Seoul.
The Mustang flown in combat by Col. Hess carried the
numeral 18 on the fuselage and the nose was decorated with the Korean inscription “I fly with faith”.
F-51D-25, A68-809 (45-11474), W/Cdr Louis T. Spence, CO of No. 77 Squadron RAAF,
Iwakuni, Japan, August 1950
After November 1948 No. 77 Squadron equipped with F-51D Mustang was the only Australian unit incorporated
into the British Commonwealth occupation forces and in
summer 1950 was preparing to return to Australia. After
the outbreak of the war in Korea the unit’s transfer was
canceled and as per General MacArthur’s request attached to 5th AF. No.77 Squadron, led by W/Cdr Lou Spence,
March 2022
flew its first sortie on July 2, 1950 from Iwakuni air base
in Japan. Lou Spence, a WWII veteran with No. 3 Squadron RAAF in North Africa and No. 452 Squadron RAAF
commander in Australia, led the unit until September 9,
1950, when he was killed during the napalm raid on Angang-ni. It remains unclear if the aircraft crashed into
the city due to the enemy fire or pilot’s error.
INFO Eduard
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