Battle of Suwon Airfield

Battle of Suwon Airfield
Part of Korean War
Date 27 June 1950 Location Over Seoul and Suwon, South Korea Result United Nations victory
Belligerents
United States  United Nations	North Korea
Commanders and leaders
James W. Little	Unknown
Units involved
8th Fighter Wing	1st Air Division
Strength
5 F-82 Twin Mustangs 4 F-80C Shooting Stars	5 Lavochkin La-7s 8 Ilyushin Il-10s
Casualties and losses
several aircraft damaged, one South Korean T-6 Texan destroyed on the ground	7 aircraft destroyed

The Battle of Suwon Airfield was the first aerial battle of the Korean War occurring on 27 June 1950 over Kimpo Airfield and Suwon Airfield. The battle, between aircraft of the United States and North Korea, ended in a victory for the US Air Force after nine of its aircraft successfully shot down seven North Korean People's Air Force aircraft. It was the first direct engagement of the Air Battle of South Korea.

With the outbreak of the war two days earlier, the US forces were attempting to evacuate US civilians and diplomats from the city of Seoul, where a battle was ongoing between North and South Korean forces. Transport aircraft and ships, escorted by US fighter planes, were attempting to move civilians out of the country as fast as possible. During these missions on 27 June US forces were attacked by North Korean aircraft in two separate incidents in the Seoul area. Despite being outnumbered, the better-built American aircraft outmaneuvered the North Koreans, quickly shooting down half of the attacking force.

The actions were among few air-to-air battles in the early phase of the war as the North Koreans, realizing their aircraft were outmatched, quickly stopped using them aggressively against the United Nations Command. The battle also signaled a turning point in the Jet Age, as new, jet engine powered fighter aircraft had easily bested conventional fighters.