Three unidentified 77 Squadron RAAF ground crew work on the cockpit of a P51 Mustang. The ...

Accession Number HOBJ0985
Collection type Photograph
Object type Negative
Maker Hobson, Phillip Oliver
Place made Japan: Iwakuni
Date made July 1950
Conflict Korea, 1950-1953
British Commonwealth Occupation Force, 1946-1952 (Japan)
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Three unidentified 77 Squadron RAAF ground crew work on the cockpit of a P51 Mustang. The aircraft has a wing commander's pennant on the side, so is probably the Mustang of Wing Commander L T Spence, Commanding Officer of 77 Squadron. The aircraft are being prepared for take off on the Squadron's first mission in support of the United Nations in South Korea. War in Korea caused suspension in June 1950 of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force's (BCOF) projected withdrawal from Japan. For the first time in the occupation, BCOF men went into action.