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The Advertiser
a day ago
- General
- The Advertiser
Only 27 seconds between life and death, Korean war pilot recalls
Twenty-seven seconds. That was the fine line between life and death for Royal Australian Navy pilot Norman Lee in Korea. The 95-year-old retired Commodore flew 45 bombing missions for No. 817 Squadron during his five-month campaign in the Korean War. The primary objective was to take out roads, railways, bridges and other infrastructure to prevent the enemy from advancing. Piloting Fairey Firefly planes that were not suited to dive bombing, squadron members were tasked with flying low to the ground and dropping bombs by eye using 27-second delay fuses. In the early stages of the campaign, the squadron attacked targets in flights of four aircraft, meaning pilots had just 27 seconds to get in, deliver the bomb and get out before their leader's bombs detonated. "I managed to get in within 27 seconds, so I'm obviously still here," he said. Later, as pilots' skills improved, they started attacking targets with single planes. "Later on, I dropped two 1000-pound bombs into the mouth of a tunnel where they used to park the trains at daytime to keep them safe. "I put the two bombs right into the mouth of the tunnel with delay fuses, which allowed me to escape ... before it blew up." Dropping bombs under such intense pressure sounds like a terrifying experience, but Norman said he had no fear while flying. "You've got to remember I was only 22. (I never) really had enough experience to be scared." Based on aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney, the squadron operated mainly out of the Yellow Sea, off the west coast of Korea. Despite Norman's lack of fear, the dangers were ever present, with enemy ground fire also a constant threat. Two close friends he had gone through training with were shot down on the same day. Luckily, both survived. Others weren't so lucky. Three crew members lost their lives over the course of the squadron's five-month campaign. One lost control of his plane and spun into the Yellow Sea, another was shot down and crashed into the sea, and a third tried to evacuate his aircraft at low altitude, only for his parachute to fail. Despite the constant dangers, Norman feels fortunate compared to others who served. "If you're going to fight a war, the way to do it is from an aircraft carrier. "I would have hated to be a soldier on the ground. It's nice and clean in the air. If you get the chop, you get the chop." Norman served as a Sub Lieutenant in Korea. After the war, he went on to command two ships, attaining the rank of Commodore before retiring from a decorated 33-year career. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. In the early hours of June 25, 1950, the North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th parallel to invade the Republic of Korea. As North Korean forces streamed towards Seoul, 22 countries joined the United Nations multinational military intervention to defend South Korea, and Australia was among the first countries involved. The Korean War ended on July 27, 1953 when an armistice was signed at Panmunjom. More than 17,000 Australians in the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force served in Korea; 340 Australians died, more than 1200 were wounded, and 30 became prisoners of war. Norman will attend a national service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Australia's involvement in the Korean War on June 25. The service will take place from 10.30am at the National Korean War Memorial in Canberra. Twenty-seven seconds. That was the fine line between life and death for Royal Australian Navy pilot Norman Lee in Korea. The 95-year-old retired Commodore flew 45 bombing missions for No. 817 Squadron during his five-month campaign in the Korean War. The primary objective was to take out roads, railways, bridges and other infrastructure to prevent the enemy from advancing. Piloting Fairey Firefly planes that were not suited to dive bombing, squadron members were tasked with flying low to the ground and dropping bombs by eye using 27-second delay fuses. In the early stages of the campaign, the squadron attacked targets in flights of four aircraft, meaning pilots had just 27 seconds to get in, deliver the bomb and get out before their leader's bombs detonated. "I managed to get in within 27 seconds, so I'm obviously still here," he said. Later, as pilots' skills improved, they started attacking targets with single planes. "Later on, I dropped two 1000-pound bombs into the mouth of a tunnel where they used to park the trains at daytime to keep them safe. "I put the two bombs right into the mouth of the tunnel with delay fuses, which allowed me to escape ... before it blew up." Dropping bombs under such intense pressure sounds like a terrifying experience, but Norman said he had no fear while flying. "You've got to remember I was only 22. (I never) really had enough experience to be scared." Based on aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney, the squadron operated mainly out of the Yellow Sea, off the west coast of Korea. Despite Norman's lack of fear, the dangers were ever present, with enemy ground fire also a constant threat. Two close friends he had gone through training with were shot down on the same day. Luckily, both survived. Others weren't so lucky. Three crew members lost their lives over the course of the squadron's five-month campaign. One lost control of his plane and spun into the Yellow Sea, another was shot down and crashed into the sea, and a third tried to evacuate his aircraft at low altitude, only for his parachute to fail. Despite the constant dangers, Norman feels fortunate compared to others who served. "If you're going to fight a war, the way to do it is from an aircraft carrier. "I would have hated to be a soldier on the ground. It's nice and clean in the air. If you get the chop, you get the chop." Norman served as a Sub Lieutenant in Korea. After the war, he went on to command two ships, attaining the rank of Commodore before retiring from a decorated 33-year career. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. In the early hours of June 25, 1950, the North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th parallel to invade the Republic of Korea. As North Korean forces streamed towards Seoul, 22 countries joined the United Nations multinational military intervention to defend South Korea, and Australia was among the first countries involved. The Korean War ended on July 27, 1953 when an armistice was signed at Panmunjom. More than 17,000 Australians in the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force served in Korea; 340 Australians died, more than 1200 were wounded, and 30 became prisoners of war. Norman will attend a national service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Australia's involvement in the Korean War on June 25. The service will take place from 10.30am at the National Korean War Memorial in Canberra. Twenty-seven seconds. That was the fine line between life and death for Royal Australian Navy pilot Norman Lee in Korea. The 95-year-old retired Commodore flew 45 bombing missions for No. 817 Squadron during his five-month campaign in the Korean War. The primary objective was to take out roads, railways, bridges and other infrastructure to prevent the enemy from advancing. Piloting Fairey Firefly planes that were not suited to dive bombing, squadron members were tasked with flying low to the ground and dropping bombs by eye using 27-second delay fuses. In the early stages of the campaign, the squadron attacked targets in flights of four aircraft, meaning pilots had just 27 seconds to get in, deliver the bomb and get out before their leader's bombs detonated. "I managed to get in within 27 seconds, so I'm obviously still here," he said. Later, as pilots' skills improved, they started attacking targets with single planes. "Later on, I dropped two 1000-pound bombs into the mouth of a tunnel where they used to park the trains at daytime to keep them safe. "I put the two bombs right into the mouth of the tunnel with delay fuses, which allowed me to escape ... before it blew up." Dropping bombs under such intense pressure sounds like a terrifying experience, but Norman said he had no fear while flying. "You've got to remember I was only 22. (I never) really had enough experience to be scared." Based on aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney, the squadron operated mainly out of the Yellow Sea, off the west coast of Korea. Despite Norman's lack of fear, the dangers were ever present, with enemy ground fire also a constant threat. Two close friends he had gone through training with were shot down on the same day. Luckily, both survived. Others weren't so lucky. Three crew members lost their lives over the course of the squadron's five-month campaign. One lost control of his plane and spun into the Yellow Sea, another was shot down and crashed into the sea, and a third tried to evacuate his aircraft at low altitude, only for his parachute to fail. Despite the constant dangers, Norman feels fortunate compared to others who served. "If you're going to fight a war, the way to do it is from an aircraft carrier. "I would have hated to be a soldier on the ground. It's nice and clean in the air. If you get the chop, you get the chop." Norman served as a Sub Lieutenant in Korea. After the war, he went on to command two ships, attaining the rank of Commodore before retiring from a decorated 33-year career. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. In the early hours of June 25, 1950, the North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th parallel to invade the Republic of Korea. As North Korean forces streamed towards Seoul, 22 countries joined the United Nations multinational military intervention to defend South Korea, and Australia was among the first countries involved. The Korean War ended on July 27, 1953 when an armistice was signed at Panmunjom. More than 17,000 Australians in the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force served in Korea; 340 Australians died, more than 1200 were wounded, and 30 became prisoners of war. Norman will attend a national service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Australia's involvement in the Korean War on June 25. The service will take place from 10.30am at the National Korean War Memorial in Canberra. Twenty-seven seconds. That was the fine line between life and death for Royal Australian Navy pilot Norman Lee in Korea. The 95-year-old retired Commodore flew 45 bombing missions for No. 817 Squadron during his five-month campaign in the Korean War. The primary objective was to take out roads, railways, bridges and other infrastructure to prevent the enemy from advancing. Piloting Fairey Firefly planes that were not suited to dive bombing, squadron members were tasked with flying low to the ground and dropping bombs by eye using 27-second delay fuses. In the early stages of the campaign, the squadron attacked targets in flights of four aircraft, meaning pilots had just 27 seconds to get in, deliver the bomb and get out before their leader's bombs detonated. "I managed to get in within 27 seconds, so I'm obviously still here," he said. Later, as pilots' skills improved, they started attacking targets with single planes. "Later on, I dropped two 1000-pound bombs into the mouth of a tunnel where they used to park the trains at daytime to keep them safe. "I put the two bombs right into the mouth of the tunnel with delay fuses, which allowed me to escape ... before it blew up." Dropping bombs under such intense pressure sounds like a terrifying experience, but Norman said he had no fear while flying. "You've got to remember I was only 22. (I never) really had enough experience to be scared." Based on aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney, the squadron operated mainly out of the Yellow Sea, off the west coast of Korea. Despite Norman's lack of fear, the dangers were ever present, with enemy ground fire also a constant threat. Two close friends he had gone through training with were shot down on the same day. Luckily, both survived. Others weren't so lucky. Three crew members lost their lives over the course of the squadron's five-month campaign. One lost control of his plane and spun into the Yellow Sea, another was shot down and crashed into the sea, and a third tried to evacuate his aircraft at low altitude, only for his parachute to fail. Despite the constant dangers, Norman feels fortunate compared to others who served. "If you're going to fight a war, the way to do it is from an aircraft carrier. "I would have hated to be a soldier on the ground. It's nice and clean in the air. If you get the chop, you get the chop." Norman served as a Sub Lieutenant in Korea. After the war, he went on to command two ships, attaining the rank of Commodore before retiring from a decorated 33-year career. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. In the early hours of June 25, 1950, the North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th parallel to invade the Republic of Korea. As North Korean forces streamed towards Seoul, 22 countries joined the United Nations multinational military intervention to defend South Korea, and Australia was among the first countries involved. The Korean War ended on July 27, 1953 when an armistice was signed at Panmunjom. More than 17,000 Australians in the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force served in Korea; 340 Australians died, more than 1200 were wounded, and 30 became prisoners of war. Norman will attend a national service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Australia's involvement in the Korean War on June 25. The service will take place from 10.30am at the National Korean War Memorial in Canberra.
Press and Journal
05-05-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Just what was a fleet of Belgian army vehicles doing in Kinloss?
Large convoys of vehicles belonging to the Belgian Armed Forces were spotted entering Kinloss Barracks on Saturday. They were filmed by Lossiemouth explorer David Hendry, well-known for documenting Second World War sites and finding ageing vehicles. Last July, Mr Hendry made the headlines after finding the oil tank of a Fairey Firefly, a WWII carrier-borne fighter aircraft dated April 1952, near Elgin. On Saturday, he was going back to Lossiemouth after a Star Wars convention in Forres when he spotted the convoy, made up of dozens of vehicles. The Press and Journal can now reveal the footage shows an exercise conducted by the Belgian Special Operations Regiment. Footage shows the army vehicles driving on the B9089. The fleet then turned right into the Kinloss Barracks. The barracks, home to 39 Engineer Regiment, was a Royal Air Force (RAF) base until 2012. The regiment provides engineering and technical support to both the British Army and the RAF. The Belgian Minister of Defence has confirmed that the Belgian Army is taking part of a large-scale operation in the UK. Saturday's convoy was part of a military exercise named Red Condor. It is being conducted by the Belgian 3rd Parachute Battalion, which is part of the Special Operations Regiment of the Belgian Armed Forces, with support from Belgian Air Component helicopters. Approximately 600 personnel are taking part in this exercise in the United Kingdom. The British Army has been contacted for comment.
