Military Archives Depot, Pretoria
South African archives appertaining to the Korean War
On 25 June 1950, the North Korean army crossed the thirty-eighth parallel
to attack the American sponsored government of South Korea. Western Powers
responded quickly and despatched a multinational task force, under a United
Nations banner, to the conflict area. By October, the North Koreans were
routed. However, the intervention of Red China resulted in a prolonged
war which eventually ended in a stalemate at Panmunjom on 27 July 1953.
South Africa's contribution to the United Nations Forces consisted of a
Liaison Headquarters and No 2 SAAF Fighter Bomber Squadron.
The Korean documents in the custody of Documentation Service are to
be found in four main geographical groups, which reflect the channels of
Commonwealth liaison and military command, from South Africa House in London
to the Ministry of Defence and Defence Headquarters in Pretoria, and then
via the office of the Senior Air Liaison Officer in Tokyo to No 2 Squadron
in Korea. Of these archive groups, only three deal with the Korean war
exclusively.
Archives of the Senior Air Liaison Officer, SA Air Force Liaison Headquarters,
Japan (ref. SALO)
This office was maintained during the Korean war, to provide logistical
support to the squadron in Korea and coordinate South Africa's war effort.
This liaison office was based in Tokyo, where the majority of the Union
Nation Forces staff were situated. The Senior Air Liaison Officer, who
headed the mission, was at that time South Africa's chief representative
in the Far East. The group comprises 4.4 linear metres.
Archives of the Officer Commanding, No 2 Squadron, SA Air Force (ref. 2SQN)
These comprise 7.1 linear metres and contains the archival residue of the
South African squadron which operated with the United States Air Force
in Korea from 1950 to 1953. The material includes aircraft accidents and
battle casualties, maps and plans, rockets and equipment, armaments malfunctions,
training in inter alia escape and evasion, operational orders, personnel
matters and a complete set of the Squadron's war diaries.
War Diaries and Missions SAAF Korea (ref. WDM)
Another complete set of 2 Squadron's war diaries may be found in this group,
which also contains a complete set of war diaries for the SA Air Force
Liaison Office in Tokyo. This group comprises a total of 4.8 linear metres.
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at ian@ma2.sun.ac.za
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