Pilot 2 (P2) James Hilary (Jim) Flemming standing on the wing of a 77 Squadron P-51 Mustang ...

Pilot 2 (P2) James Hilary (Jim) Flemming standing on the wing of a 77 Squadron P-51 Mustang aircraft (A68-757). This aircraft was P2 Flemming's 'personal' aircraft that he flew regularly for three years, prior to the Korean War, and in which he flew on the first operational mission flown by 77 Squadron over North Korea. On Sunday 2 July 1950 77 Squadron commenced operations by flying three operational sorties from Iwakuni in Japan. On the first mission, four Mustangs were to escort United States Air Force (USAF) C-47s carrying wounded from Korea to Japan. The mission was aborted as the transports were not at the at the nominated rendezvous point. On the second mission, eight Mustangs flew close escort for 17 USAF B-26 Invaders bombing railway bridges over the Han River south of Seoul. P2 Flemming was originally tasked for this mission but aborted in the air with an unservicaeble aircraft. On the third and final mission flown by the squadron on the first day of operations, six Mustangs, including P2 Flemming in A68-757, escorted a formation of 12 USAF B-29 Superfortress', that had flown from Guam, to bomb the Hamhung airfield in North Korea. Leaving Iwakuni at 1400 the Mustangs landed five hours and ten minutes later. This mission over North Korea was a violation of the agreement authorised by the Australian Government that initially limited Australian aircraft to operations south of the 38th parallel, but as the Australian Government did not object, the USAF command accepted that 77 Squadron aircraft would then operate over the whole of the Korean peninsula. P2 Flemming is wearing a US flying suit, RAAF Mae West and RAAF leather flying helmet. This aircraft was involved in the squadron's first casualty when Squadron Leader G. Strout, flying A68-757, was killed on 7 July 1951 attacking the east coast railway line in the vicinity of Samchock, South Korea.