The Blooding of America's Jet Fighters

摘要

When North Korea ignited its war against South Korea in June of 1950, the US was not ready. America was still discarding World War II hardware, struggling with budgets, and discharging excess pilots. The Air Force's young jet fleet was thrust into a trial by fire. Air Force P-80 pilots on a comfortable tour in Japan quickly became combat F-80 pilots. As the bitter winter of 1950-1951 approached, US marines were securing positions close to the Chinese border when disaster struck: Waves of communist Chinese forces rolled across the border. American forces were brutally routed as they retreated southward, nearly driven from the peninsula. Most of the limited US Air Force units establishing positions in Korea were overrun.