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Government of the Commonwealth of Australia provided one aircraft carrier (HMAS
Sydney), a frigate (HMAS Shoalhaven) and two destroyers (HMAS Bataan and HMAS
Warramunga) of the Royal Australian Navy. The Royal Australian Air Force sent
77 (F-51 Mustang) Fighter Squadron, which arrived in Korea on 30 June 1950 and
was followed later by 30 (Dakota) Transport Unit with support and administrative
personnel. Ground forces, who were all volunteers, from the Australian Infantry
Forces in Japan (67th Australian Infantry Battalion) joined with an additional
battalion from Australia (3rd Btn. Royal Australian Regiment) who embarked at
Tokyo on the American vessel Aiken Victory for Pusan on 27 September 1950. The
3Btn R.A.R. first distinguished them on 17 October when 1,982 prisoners were
captured in an ambush at Sariwon, the largest single capture of enemy troops
during the entire war. During the same advance 3Btn RAR also killed 270 North
Koreans in a bayonet charge north of P'yongyang. They also distinguished
themselves at the battle of Kapyong on 23 and 24 April 1951 for which they were
awarded the United States Presidential Unit Citation. The
Australians rotated their forces throughout the war and the following Units were
involved :-
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H.M.A.S. Anzac (Destroyer) |
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H.M.A.S. Arunta |
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H.M.A.S. Bataan (Destroyer) |
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H.M.A.S. Condamine (Frigate) |
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H.M.A.S. Culgoa |
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H.M.A.S. Murchison (Frigate) |
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H.M.A.S. Shoalhaven (Frigate) |
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H.M.A.S. Sydney (Aircraft Carrier; 805/808/817 Sqns RNAS)
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09.51 to 01.52 |
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H.M.A.S. Tobruk (Destroyer) |
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H.M.A.S. Vengeance |
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H.M.A.S. Warramunga (Destroyer) |
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1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1BtnRAR)
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03.52 to 03.53 |
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2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2BtnRAR)
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03.53 to 10.54 |
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3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3BtnRAR)
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10.50 to 10.54 |
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30 Communications Unit, Royal Australian Air Force (30Sqn; Dakotas)
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07.50 to 03.53 |
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36 Transport Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force (36Sqn; Dakotas)
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03.53 to 08.54 |
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77 Fighter Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
(77Sqn; F51, Meteors Mk7 & 8) |
06.50 to 01.55 |
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391 Maintenance Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. |
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491 Maintenance Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. |
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From
the beginning of hostilities in Korea until the armistice in July 1953, 311
officers and 4,196 other ranks of the Royal Australian Navy served in Korean
waters. During the Korean War land offensives 281 Australian servicemen were
killed in action, 1,257 were wounded in action and 37 missing in action. Apart
from the land offensive casualties 35 aircrew from 77 Fighter Squadron were
listed as missing in action.
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