Loading rockets, 77 Squadron, Kimpo, Korea

Two Australian ground crew loading rockets onto a Meteor jet on a runway in Korea. The work is a study for the painting, 'Adjusting rockets on jets, 77 Squadron, Kimpo, Korea'. The 77 Squadron was formed at Pearce, Western Australia, in March 1942. The Squadron moved to Milne Bay, New Guinea, in February 1943 and became heavily engaged in air combat with Japanese aircraft. In March 1946 the Squadron moved to Bofu, then Iwakuni, Japan, as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation force. The Squadron was preparing to return to Australia in June 1950 when it was called upon by the United Nations for duties in Korea. It performed its first escort on 2 July 1950. Other escorts were followed by operations against enemy tanks, transport, fuel and ammunition dumps. The 77 Squadron began its move to Kimpo, Korea in late July 1951, after converting to the Meteor jet fighter. The unit's main involvement was in fighter sweeps and bomber escorts. In 1952 the role changed to area defence and ground attack, resulting in losses from the Squadron. By cessation of hostilities on 27 July 1953, the Squadron had lost 58 members, and returned to Australia at the end of 1954. It was disbanded on 12 August 1956.