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Home > Fact Sheets > First Aerial Victory
FIRST AERIAL VICTORY
On the morning of June 26, 1950, the USAF's 68th Fighter Squadron sent four F-82G aircraft from Itazuke Air Base in Japan to the seaport of Inchon, Korea, to provide aerial cover for two Norwegian ships that were being loaded with civilians evacuating Seoul. While covering a motor convoy of civilians on the Seoul-Inchon road, two of the F-82s were attacked by two Russian-made LA-7 fighters, presumably flown by North Korean pilots. Rather than endanger the civilians below, the two F-82s pulled up into the clouds instead of engaging the LA-7s. The next day, two YAKs attacked the early morning USAF flight.
This time, however, the four F-82s accepted the challenge and shot down both YAKs. The first victorious F-82, piloted by Lt. William G. Hudson and carrying Lt. Carl Fraser as radar operator, claimed its YAK over Kimpo Airfield in full view of those on the ground. During the time Lt. Hudson was firing at the YAK, Lt. Fraser was attempting to photograph the action with a malfunctioning 35mm camera. While this was taking place, Lt. Charles Moran shot down the second YAK, although the tail of his F-82 was damaged by machine-gun fire from the North Korean airplane during the engagement.
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