7 days ago
'Only 22': Korean war pilot kept cool in face of bomb blasts and enemy fire
27 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.
Read more from The Senior
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. Following the war, he went on to command two ships, attaining the rank of Commodore before retiring following a decorated 33-year career.
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.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
27 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.
Read more from The Senior
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. Following the war, he went on to command two ships, attaining the rank of Commodore before retiring following a decorated 33-year career.
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.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
27 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.
Read more from The Senior
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. Following the war, he went on to command two ships, attaining the rank of Commodore before retiring following a decorated 33-year career.
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.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
27 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.
Read more from The Senior
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. Following the war, he went on to command two ships, attaining the rank of Commodore before retiring following a decorated 33-year career.
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.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
