'Fourth but First' airpower key to Korean Armistice

by Airman 1st Class Aaron J. Jenne
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/22/2014 - SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The legacy of the 4th Fighter Wing extends to most major military events in recent American history.

During World War II, its aircraft led the charge on the beaches of Normandy, enabling hundreds of thousands of troops to successfully accomplish Operation Overlord on what historians would later refer to as D-Day. However, according to some historians, that pivotal point in American history pales in comparison to the then 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing's impact during the Korean War.

This year marks the 61st anniversary of Korean Armistice Day. On July 27, 2014, as America recognizes the cease of military actions in the Korean War, members from the 4th FW reflect on the wing's impact during the war and the days leading up to the cease fire.

As the first major conflict since the establishment of the Air Force in 1947, the Korean War showcased the importance of airpower as the next step to military ingenuity and necessity. Airmen, no longer organized under the Army Air Corps, were asked to play a vital role throughout the war and highlight the importance and strategic value of air dominance to the success of military operations.

In December 1950, the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing entered the war as the first Air Force unit to commit F-86 Sabres to the conflict. The wing, commanded by then Lt. Col. John C. Meyer, a World War II ace and future Strategic Air Command commander, was the first to participate in an all fighter-jet battle in American history. They downed six MiG-15s without sustaining any losses.

"In 1953, the 4 FIW transitioned from having achieved air superiority in the Korean War to achieving air supremacy," said Dr. Roy Heidicker, 4th FW historian. "There were multiple confirmed reports of enemy MiG pilots electing to bail out upon merely seeing 4 FIW fighters. They knew, based on their experience, that bailing out was preferable to being shot down."

Although the 'Fourth but First' motto was established in World War II, it was upheld by the Airmen assigned to the wing during the Korean War. They are credited with destroying 502 aircraft, 54 percent of all enemy aircraft downed during the war. Twenty-four pilots assigned to the wing eventually attained ace status. This unprecedented accomplishment earned the wing recognition as one of the Air Force's top fighter units of the Korean War.

According to Robert F. Futrell, author of "The United States Air Force in Korea," leading to the armistice agreement, the 4th FIW executed a "Fast Shuffle" deployment of half their Sabres to protect other bases and counter possible last minute attacks, which never came.

Although no final "peaceful settlement" has been finalized to date, the armistice created a ceasefire, established a new border and demilitarized zone, and led to repatriations of prisoners of war.

Futrell acknowledged that even though the 4th FIW played a defensive role in the final hours of conflict, it's possible that their major offensive role throughout the war helped spark the armistice agreement to begin with.

"Whether the [Communists] yielded because they feared an expanding air war, or whether they quit because of the pounding pressure of air attacks against their forces in North Korea, one thing was certain: airpower was triumphant in the Korean War," Futrell wrote.

The 4th Fighter Wing's role in the Korean War leading to its armistice day is widely recognized by American historians as one of the U.S. Air Force's earliest displays air dominance.

"In the Korean War the Airmen of the 4th FIW downed more MiGs than the entire rest of the United States Air Force combined. This and our accomplishments in World War II confirmed this wing as forever 'Fourth but First,'" Heidicker said.