Perfecting and Practicing Aerial Refueling over North Korea Published Sept. 26, 2008 By Keith Alexander 43rd Airlift Wing Historian POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Following the end of World War II, the Cold War heated up between the United States and the Soviet Union. The threat of Soviet world domination prompted the American government to reorganize its military force, which included the formation of a separate and independent Air Force. From its inception, the U.S. Air Force worked to develop combat air power capable of being delivered within 24-hours anywhere in the world. The Air Force needed the ability to refuel its aircraft, while airborne. The 43rd Bombardment Wing (Medium) (43 BW (M)) was helping to develop the Air Force's aerial refueling capabilities. In January 1948, Gen. Carl Spaatz made aerial refueling a top priority for the new Air Force. By May 1948, the U.S. Air Force had purchased two sets of Alan Cobham's refueling equipment. Mr. Cobham's refueling interests dated back to the early 1930s when he pioneered the probe and drogue method of refueling. According to various sources, these two sets were fitted onto two B-29 Superfortress aircraft that month. At Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, early tests were successful enough to prompt the Air Force to order all new B-50 airplanes fitted with receiving equipment in May 1948. A month later, the Air Force created two squadrons, the 509th Aerial Refueling Squadron and the 43rd Aerial Refueling Squadron. They assigned the 43rd ARS to the 43 BW (M) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. The first test conducted by these two squadrons involved a hose system. By the fall of 1948 both squadrons were experimenting with a boom system. In 1950, the 43 BW (M) set a record when the Lucky Lady II departed Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. From Feb. 26 to Mar. 3, the Lucky Lady II flew non-stop around the world in 94 hours and one minute. This feat was made possible by aerial refueling. Lucky Lady II refueled over West Africa, near Guam in the Pacific Ocean, and between Hawaii and the U.S. west coast. Four KB-29M tankers from the 43rd ARS conducted these aerial refueling missions. Now, the Air Force activated four more refueling squadrons. Within two months of the Lucky Lady II's record setting flight, North Korea attacked South Korea on June 25, 1950. North Korea's aggression forced the United States and her allies to deploy combat troops to the Korean Peninsula. Within a year, aerial refueling squadrons started rotating into Korea. Although there is some controversy about when, where and who did the first combat aerial refueling, all parties agree that it happened during the Korean War. On Sept. 28, 1952, Lt. Col. Harry Dorris fired up his RF-80 Shooting Star jet and headed down the runway at Yokota Air Force Base, Japan. Since his aircraft was loaded down with armament, Colonel Dorris' two 265 gallon tanks were not filled with fuel. Once airborne, the colonel met a KB-29M tanker, which topped him off, while flying at 15,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean. Now, the pilot headed to his North Korea target, which was located at Kilchu. There, he dropped his two 500-pound bombs on a four story building containing enemy supplies. Before flying to Onjin Peninsula, he refueled again, this time over North Korea. At Onjin, Colonel Dorris shot his four six-inch rockets at a supply dump. Afterwards, he flew to Yangdok, where he unleashed his machine guns upon an enemy troop bivouac area. From that point, he flew reconnaissance for other aircraft the remainder of the day. After dark, he refueled again over Central North Korea. When Colonel Dorris landed that night, he had spent 14 hours and 15 minutes flying combat missions. The 43rd ARS made Colonel Dorris' flight possible by refueling him several times over North Korea. More importantly, this flight epitomized what General Spaatz envisioned when he prioritized aerial refueling.