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The '''Korean War''' was a major conflict on the Korean peninsula lasting from 1950 to 1953, between the communist forces of [[North Korea]], supported by the [[Soviet Union]] and [[China]], and the anti-Communist forces of [[South Korea]], supported by a multinational [[United Nations]] force in which the US was largely represented. Because no Declaration of War was ever ratified by Congress the conflict was officially referred to as a police action.

The '''Korean War''' was a major conflict on the Korean peninsula lasting from 1950 to 1953, between the communist forces of [[North Korea]], supported by the [[Soviet Union]] and [[China]], and the anti-Communist forces of [[South Korea]], supported by a multinational [[United Nations]] force in which the US was largely represented. Because no Declaration of War was ever ratified by Congress the conflict was officially referred to as a police action.

=== Prelude ===

=== Prelude ===

A [[Japan]]ese colony until the end of [[World War II]], Korea was then divided by the [[Yalta agreement]] into two administrative zones in 1945, along the 38th parallel, occupied by the Soviet Union and the [[United States]]. In both zones competing government organizations were created to rule a unified Korea, and military forces raised.  

A [[Japan]]ese colony until the end of [[World War II]], Korea was then divided by the [[Yalta agreement]] into two administrative zones in 1945, along the 38th parallel, occupied by the Soviet Union and the [[United States]]. In both zones competing government organizations were created to rule a unified Korea, and military forces raised.  

Conditions inviting the North Korean attack were created by the [[United Nations]] which issued a resolution for withdrawal of both Soviet and American troops. Troops began withdrawing September 15, 1948, leaving only about 7500 Americans lightly armed. This left in South Korea 16,000 Koreans and 7500 Americans, both groups lightly armed, against 150,000 fully armed North Korean Communists. General Roberts, head of the U. S. Military Mission said the South Koreans were not permitted to arm adequately.

Conditions inviting the North Korean attack were created by the [[United Nations]] which issued a resolution for withdrawal of both Soviet and American troops. Troops began withdrawing September 15, 1948, leaving only about 7500 Americans lightly armed. This left in South Korea 16,000 Koreans and 7500 Americans, both groups lightly armed, against 150,000 fully armed North Korean Communists. General Roberts, head of the U. S. Military Mission said the South Koreans were not permitted to arm adequately.

On January 12, 1950, Secretary of State Dean Acheson gave a speech to the National Press Club excluding South Korea from the defense perimeter.<ref>https://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/korea/large/documents/pdfs/kr-3-13.pdf</ref> Omar Bradley blamed Truman and Acheson in his memoir A General's Life<ref>A General's Life, pg. 528</ref>

On January 12, 1950, Secretary of State Dean Acheson gave a speech to the National Press Club excluding South Korea from the defense perimeter.<ref>https://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/korea/large/documents/pdfs/kr-3-13.pdf</ref> Omar Bradley blamed Truman and Acheson in his memoir ''A General's Life''.<ref>A General's Life, pg. 528</ref>

=== Outbreak ===

=== Outbreak ===

=== Pusan perimeter ===

=== Pusan perimeter ===

Pusan is a large port on the southern tip of Korea, through which came thousands of UN troops and hundred of tanks and other heavy equipment.  By August, enough troops had come through that they could successfully hold the line against the North Koreans.  Knowing that time was not on their side, [[Kim Il-Sung]] ordered his soldiers to breach the line by any means necessary.  The North Korean army attacked repeatedly, but every attempt failed.<ref>''Battle'', by R.G. Grant, DK Publishing, 2005</ref>

Pusan is a large port on the southern tip of Korea, through which came thousands of UN troops and hundreds of tanks and other heavy equipment.  By August, enough troops had come through that they could successfully hold the line against the North Koreans.  Knowing that time was not on their side, [[Kim Il-Sung]] ordered his soldiers to breach the line by any means necessary.  The North Korean army attacked repeatedly, but every attempt failed.<ref>''Battle'', by R.G. Grant, DK Publishing, 2005</ref>

Air power played a huge role in the defense of the perimeter.  With the skies firmly in UN control, American and British fighters and bombers had free reign.  [[B-29 Superfortress]]es, based on [[Okinawa]], hit North Korean supply lines and rear areas.  [[P-51 Mustang|F-82 Twin Mustangs]], F-80 Shooting Stars (America’s first combat jets), and propeller-driven medium bombers flew from Japan constantly, usually targeting North Korean troops.  [[P-51 Mustang|F-51 Mustangs]] operated from rough airfields inside the perimeter itself, some only a few minutes flying time from the enemy lines.  In addition, the carrier USS ''Philippine Sea'' had arrived, and joined the ''Valley Forge'' and ''Triumph'' in strikes on the North Koreans.  By the second week of September, UN planes were averaging around 700 sorties per day in support of the troops holding the line.<ref name="MyFirstRef"/>

Air power played a huge role in the defense of the perimeter.  With the skies firmly in UN control, American and British fighters and bombers had free reign.  [[B-29 Superfortress]]es, based on [[Okinawa]], hit North Korean supply lines and rear areas.  [[P-51 Mustang|F-82 Twin Mustangs]], F-80 Shooting Stars (America’s first combat jets), and propeller-driven medium bombers flew from Japan constantly, usually targeting North Korean troops.  [[P-51 Mustang|F-51 Mustangs]] operated from rough airfields inside the perimeter itself, some only a few minutes flying time from the enemy lines.  In addition, the carrier USS ''Philippine Sea'' had arrived, and joined the ''Valley Forge'' and ''Triumph'' in strikes on the North Koreans.  By the second week of September, UN planes were averaging around 700 sorties per day in support of the troops holding the line.<ref name="MyFirstRef"/>

In early September, enough UN troops had entered Pusan that the perimeter was secure, and attention could be turned to a counter-attack.  Time, for the North Koreans, had run out.

In early September, enough UN troops had entered Pusan that the perimeter was secure, and attention could be turned toward a counter-attack.  Time, for the North Koreans, had run out.

=== Inchon landings ===

=== Inchon landings ===

The Korean War was the first conflict in which jet aircraft fought each other.  (Both the [[Luftwaffe]] and the [[RAF]] had operational jets in WWII, but they never came into direct conflict.)  Most jet battles took place near the Yalu River, in the airspace over north-western North Korea known as "MiG alley."  The UN forces generally retained air superiority throughout most of the war, and air power helped compensate for the Communists' superior numbers on the ground.

The Korean War was the first conflict in which jet aircraft fought each other.  (Both the [[Luftwaffe]] and the [[RAF]] had operational jets in WWII, but they never came into direct conflict.)  Most jet battles took place near the Yalu River, in the airspace over north-western North Korea known as "MiG alley."  The UN forces generally retained air superiority throughout most of the war, and air power helped compensate for the Communists' superior numbers on the ground.

The general lack of permanent runways in Korea hindered the use of jet aircraft and bombers, forcing the Allies to use piston aircraft. The [[P-51 Mustang|F-51 Mustang]] was the most numerous Allied aircraft in the early months of the war. In November 1950, the first of the [[MiG-15]] aircraft appeared, and was able to outperform all Allied fighters until the introduction of the [[F-86 Sabre]]. The Sabre was arguably slightly inferior to the MiG-15, but the veteran American pilots eventually produced a kill ratio of approximately 12:1 in their favour. Many of these aerial dogfights took place in the northwestern corner of Korea, a place given the name 'Mig Alley' by Allied pilots.

The general lack of permanent runways in Korea hindered the use of jet aircraft and bombers, forcing the Allies to use piston aircraft. The [[P-51 Mustang|F-51 Mustang]] was the most numerous Allied aircraft in the early months of the war. In November 1950, the first of the [[MiG-15]] aircraft appeared, and was able to outperform all Allied fighters until the introduction of the [[F-86 Sabre]]. The Sabre was arguably slightly inferior to the MiG-15, but the veteran American pilots eventually produced a kill ratio of approximately 12:1 in their favor. Many of these aerial dogfights took place in the northwestern corner of Korea, a place given the name 'Mig Alley' by Allied pilots.

Another noteworthy point during the Korean Conflict was the first significant use of [[helicopters]], for transport, reconnaissance and rescue missions.

Another noteworthy point during the Korean Conflict was the first significant use of [[helicopters]], for transport, reconnaissance and rescue missions.

==See also==

==See also==

*[[United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea]]

*[[United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea]]

==References==

==References==

 

[[Category:Korea]]

[[Category:Korea]]