| Place | Asia: Korea |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ART90312 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Sheet: 29.5 x 45.8 cm |
| Object type | Work on paper |
| Physical description | pen and brown ink, brush and wash, gouache on paper |
| Location | Main Bld: Korea, Malaya & Indonesia Gallery: Upper Level: War Stages Mapping |
| Maker |
Hele, Ivor |
| Place made | Korea |
| Date made | 6 June 1952 |
| Conflict |
Korea, 1950-1953 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
|
Service for Joe Luscombe
Description
This quickly drawn sketch shows Australian soldiers attending a memorial service for Joe Luscombe, the first Australian Army pilot killed in Korea, on 6 June 1952. Luscombe had sat for Hele in the days several days before his death and the artist gave his portrait to Luscombe's family. (See AWM HOBJ3132)
5/7003 Temporary Captain Bryan Taylor Luscombe (1928-1952), known as 'Jo', graduated from Duntroon College in 1948 and joined the Artillery. In 1950 he was among 6 volunteers to join the 1st Field Regiment as Air observation Post Pilots and undertook training in Canberra. He arrived in Korea on 7th November 1951 and was attached to 1903 Independent Air OP Flight RAF. By the time he was killed Luscombe had been flying for more than 6 months and had completed 320 hours.
On the 5th June he was briefed by 1st Commonwealth Division Counter Bombardment Officer to make a flight at dusk to observe and photograph suspected enemy batteries north of the Imjin River. During the mission schrapnel severed the port rudder cables of his aircraft, which crashed into a cliff killing Luscombe instantly. He was 24 years old.
Luscombe is buried in the United Nations Cemetery, Busan, Republic of Korea. The airfield at Nui Dat, Vietnam, was later named in his honour.