Air Superiority: Controlling the Skies

DAYTON, Ohio -- Air superiority exhibit in the Korean War Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)

All-weather F-82G fighters at an air base in Japan. The USAF was forced to base some of its fighter units in Japan when communist forces overran South Korean bases in 1950 and 1951. (U.S. Air Force photo)

The World War II-era F-51D initially fought the North Korean Air Force, but it was primarily used as a ground attack aircraft during the Korean War. (U.S. Air Force photo)

After day raids became too costly, the communists resorted to dropping grenades and small bombs from old biplanes at night. This downed "Bedcheck Charlie" was a Japanese Tachikawa Ki-9 left over from World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo)

F-82G taking off from a rough airstrip in Korea. Although aviation engineers finished the first hard runways by the end of 1951, many of the "K" bases remained unpaved until the closing months of the war. (U.S. Air Force photo)

The F-80C was more than a match for the propeller-driven fighters of the North Korean Air Force but suffered from short range when flying from Japanese air bases. (U.S. Air Force photo)

The museum’s F-80C, pictured here, was based in Japan with the 8th Fighter-Bomber Group at the beginning of the Korean War, and it flew some of the earliest combat missions. (U.S. Air Force photo)

In June 1950 the USAF’s primary day superiority fighter in the Far East was the straight-wing jet F-80 (upper left). The propeller-driven F-82 (upper right) was the primary night fighter. The faster, swept-wing F-86 Sabre (lower left) took over the day fighter role from the F-80 in late 1950, while the jet-powered F-94 (lower right) replaced the F-82 in 1951. (U.S. Air Force photo)

In November 1950 the Air Force sent the highly-experienced 27th Fighter Escort Group to Korea to protect B-29 bombers from MiG-15 attacks. Pictured here are 27th FEG F-84s being loaded onto the carrier USS Bataan for shipment to Korea. (U.S. Air Force photo)

F-84s of the 27th FEG. Unfortunately, the straight-wing F-84 was not as capable as the swept-wing MiG-15 in air-to-air combat. Still, the F-84 saw widespread use as an effective ground attack aircraft in Korea. (U.S. Air Force photo)

On Jan. 23, 1951, 1st Lt. Jacob Kratt of the 27th Fighter Escort Group performed the remarkable feat of downing two MiG-15s while flying an F-84. Three days later, he shot down a Yak-3, becoming the highest-scoring F-84 pilot of the Korean War. (U.S. Air Force photo)

The first F-86As arrived in Korea in November 1950 aboard the carrier USS Cape Esperance. (U.S. Air Force photo)

F-86s parked in sandbag revetments on an air base in Korea. The sandbags protected aircraft from bomb fragments. (U.S. Air Force photo)

F-86Es in April 1952. In late 1951 F-86 units applied yellow bands on the fuselage and wings as a recognition aid. Previously, these markings were black and white stripes. (U.S. Air Force photo)

J47 engine change on an F-86E at Kimpo Air Base in 1952. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Armorers tend to the guns of an F-86. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Rows of F-86Es being readied for a mission. (U.S. Air Force photo)

F-86 fighter pilots at Suwon Air Base in Korea. (U.S. Air Force photo)

F-86F sitting on PSP (Pierced Steel Planking). PSP was used to create temporary runways. (U.S. Air Force photo)

51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing F-86s, like the one pictured here, had black checkerboard tails. (U.S. Air Force photo)

The F-94B replaced the propeller-driven F-82G and protected both Korea and Japan from night attacks. F-94 pilots also escorted B-29s on night raids against North Korea. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Fighter aircraft often carried decorative “nose art” in Korea. Pictured here is Capt. Karl Dittmer Jr., an F-86 pilot with three MiG kills, at work. Dittmer painted nose art on many of the 335th Fighter Interceptor Squadron’s Sabres at Kimpo. (U.S. Air Force photo)