American Aircraft Flown in the Korean War

By Chris Lange Published Feb 2, 2:29PM EST

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American Aircraft Flown in the Korean War — © Public Domain / Wikimedia

The Korean War began in 1950, with the North supported by the Soviet Union, against the South, backed by the United States. Lasting only three years, the conflict resulted in the loss of around 3 million people. While much of this war was fought on the ground, many decisive victories were won in the sky.

General Douglas MacArthur was the designated commanding general of U.S. military forces in the region, overseeing the deployment of arms, vehicles, and aircraft for the conflict. For aircraft, the new jet-powered F-80s were put on full display as well as other recently developed and upgraded aircraft that followed in the aftermath of World War II.

To identify the U.S. aircraft used during the Korean War, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of American aircraft from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft used by militaries worldwide. We listed these aircraft alphabetically and included supplemental information from Military Factory regarding type of aircraft, year introduced, manufacturer, total units produced, top speed, and armament.

The F-80 Shooting Star, a fighter-bomber aircraft introduced in 1945, did not see action in World War II. However, it became a significant component of the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. While the F-80 proved fairly successful against slower Soviet fighters like the Ilyushin IL-10, it was vastly outclassed by the more advanced Soviet MiG fighter jets of that era.

To address the MiG threats, the U.S. heavily relied on the North American F-86 Sabre. This aircraft achieved impressive success with 757 air victories and only 103 losses during the Korean War, making it one of the most effective planes in the conflict, boasting a kill ratio of at least 8:1.

These are American aircraft used in the Korean War:

A-1 Skyraider (AD-1)

Type: Bomber / ground attack aircraft
Year introduced: 1946
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft
Total units produced: 3,180
Top speed: 321 mph
Armament: 20mm autocannons, rocket pods, torpedoes, conventional drop bombs

A-26 / B-26 Invader

Type: Heavy attack aircraft
Year introduced: 1944
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft
Total units produced: 2,452
Top speed: 355 mph
Armament: 12.7mm machine guns, guided bombs, rocket pods

AF Guardian

Type: Carrierborne anti-submarine warfare aircraft
Year introduced: 1950
Manufacturer: Grumman
Total units produced: 389
Top speed: 317 mph
Armament: Conventional drop bombs, torpedoes, 127mm HVAR rockets

AJ (A-2) Savage

Type: Bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1950
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
Total units produced: 143
Top speed: 471 mph
Armament: Conventional drop bombs

B-29 Superfortress

Type: Strategic long-range high-altitude heavy bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1943
Manufacturer: Boeing
Total units produced: 3,970
Top speed: 358 mph
Armament: 12.7mm Browning M2 machine guns, 20mm M2 automatic cannon

B-45 Tornado

Type: Bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1948
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
Total units produced: 143
Top speed: 570 mph
Armament: 12.7mm M3 machine guns, conventional drop bombs

B-47 Stratojet

Type: Heavy bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1951
Manufacturer: Boeing
Total units produced: 2,039
Top speed: 600 mph
Armament: 20mm cannons, conventional drop bombs

B-50 Superfortress

Type: Heavy bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1948
Manufacturer: Boeing
Total units produced: 370
Top speed: 380 mph
Armament: 20mm cannons, 12.7mm machine guns, conventional drop bombs

Bell Model 47

Type: Light utility helicopter
Year introduced: 1946
Manufacturer: Bell Helicopters
Total units produced: 5,600
Top speed: 106 mph
Armament: None

C-119 Flying Boxcar

Type: Gunship / transport aircraft
Year introduced: 1949
Manufacturer: Fairchild
Total units produced: 1,183
Top speed: 281 mph
Armament: None

C-124 Globemaster II

Type: Heavy-lift transport aircraft
Year introduced: 1950
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft
Total units produced: 448
Top speed: 323 mph
Armament: None

C-131 / R4Y Samaritan

Type: MEDEVAC / VIP Transport / Trainer aircraft
Year introduced: 1950
Manufacturer: CONVAIR
Total units produced: 512
Top speed: 293 mph
Armament: None

C-45 (Expeditor)

Type: Utility / trainer aircraft
Year introduced: 1941
Manufacturer: Beech Aircraft
Total units produced: 1,300
Top speed: 224 mph
Armament: None

C-46 Commando

Type: Long-range transport aircraft
Year introduced: 1941
Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright
Total units produced: 3,181
Top speed: 270 mph
Armament: None

C-47 (Skytrain / Dakota)

Type: Transport aircraft
Year introduced: 1942
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft
Total units produced: 12,748
Top speed: 230 mph
Armament: None

C-54 Skymaster (DC-4)

Type: Transport aircraft
Year introduced: 1942
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft
Total units produced: 1,170
Top speed: 275 mph
Armament: None

C-69 Constellation (Model L-049)

Type: Long-range transport / electronic warfare aircraft
Year introduced: 1945
Manufacturer: Lockheed
Total units produced: 856
Top speed: 346 mph
Armament: None

C-74 Globemaster

Type: Strategic heavy-lift transport aircraft
Year introduced: 1945
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft
Total units produced: 14
Top speed: 329 mph
Armament: None

C-97 Stratofreighter

Type: Transport aircraft
Year introduced: 1944
Manufacturer: Boeing
Total units produced: 60
Top speed: 375 mph
Armament: None

Cessna O-1 Bird Dog (L-19)

Type: Observation STOL aircraft
Year introduced: 1950
Manufacturer: Cessna / Ector Aircraft
Total units produced: 3,431
Top speed: 130 mph
Armament: Air-to-surface rockets

F-82 / P-82 Twin Mustang

Type: Long-range escort / ground attack aircraft
Year introduced: 1946
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
Total units produced: 273
Top speed: 461 mph
Armament: .50 Browning heavy machine guns, conventional drop bombs, rockets

F-84 Thunderjet

Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1947
Manufacturer: Republic Aviation
Total units produced: 7,524
Top speed: 587 mph
Armament: 12.7mm heavy machine guns, aerial rockets, conventional drop bombs, napalm

F-86 Sabre

Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1949
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
Total units produced: 9,500
Top speed: 690 mph
Armament: 12.7mm Browning M2 machine guns, 20mm automatic cannons, rockets, Sidewinder missiles

F-89 Scorpion

Type: Interceptor aircraft
Year introduced: 1950
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
Total units produced: 1,050
Top speed: 636 mph
Armament: 20mm T-31 automatic cannons, Mighty Mouse air-to-surface rockets, Falcon air-to-air missiles

F-94 Starfire

Type: Interceptor aircraft
Year introduced: 1950
Manufacturer: Lockheed
Total units produced: 853
Top speed: 585 mph
Armament: 12.7mm Browning M3 machine guns, Might Mouse air-to-air rockets

F2H Banshee

Type: Carrierborne fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1947
Manufacturer: McDonnell Aircraft
Total units produced: 895
Top speed: 581 mph
Armament: 20mm Colt Mk 16 automatic cannons, drop bombs, aerial rockets

F3D / F-10 Skyknight

Type: Carrierborne night fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1951
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft
Total units produced: 268
Top speed: 529 mph
Armament: 20mm M2 cannons, air-to-air missiles, conventional drop bombs

F4U Corsair

Type: Carrierborne fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1942
Manufacturer: Chance Vought
Total units produced: 12,571
Top speed: 446 mph
Armament: 12.7mm M2 Browning, M2 automatic cannons, aerial rockets, conventional drop bombs

F7F Tigercat

Type: Carrierborne heavy fighter aircraft
Year introduced: 1944
Manufacturer: Grumman
Total units produced: 365
Top speed: 460 mph
Armament: 20mm M2 cannons, 12.7mm M2 Browning machine guns

F9F Panther

Type: Carrierborne ground attack aircraft
Year introduced: 1949
Manufacturer: Grumman
Total units produced: 1,382
Top speed: 545 mph
Armament: 20mm M2 cannons, air-to-surface HE rockets

Ford Trimotor

Type: Transport aircraft
Year introduced: 1926
Manufacturer: Ford Motor
Total units produced: 199
Top speed: 149 mph
Armament: None

H-13 Sioux

Type: Light utility / observation helicopter
Year introduced: 1947
Manufacturer: Bell Helicopters
Total units produced: 2,400
Top speed: 106 mph
Armament: None

H-19 Chickasaw

Type: Transport helicopter
Year introduced: 1950
Manufacturer: Sikorsky
Total units produced: 1,728
Top speed: 101 mph
Armament: None

Hiller OH-23 Raven (Model UH-12)

Type: Light utility helicopter
Year introduced: 1948
Manufacturer: Hiller Aircraft
Total units produced: 1,820
Top speed: 95 mph
Armament: None

HU-16 Albatross

Type: Flying boat / utility transport aircraft
Year introduced: 1949
Manufacturer: Grumman
Total units produced: 466
Top speed: 235 mph
Armament: None

L-15 Scout

Type: Light liaison observation aircraft
Year introduced: 1947
Manufacturer: Boeing
Total units produced: 12
Top speed: 112 mph
Armament: None

L-5 Sentinel

Type: Light reconnaissance aircraft
Year introduced: 1942
Manufacturer: Stinson Aircraft
Total units produced: 3,896
Top speed: 165 mph
Armament: None

N3N (Yellow Peril)

Type: Trainer aircraft
Year introduced: 1936
Manufacturer: Naval Aircraft Factory
Total units produced: 997
Top speed: 127 mph
Armament: None

P-51 Mustang

Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1942
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
Total units produced: 15,586
Top speed: 437 mph
Armament: 20mm cannons, 12.7mm Browning M2 machine guns, conventional drop bombs, rockets

P-80 / F-80 Shooting Star

Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
Year introduced: 1945
Manufacturer: Lockheed
Total units produced: 1,715
Top speed: 577 mph
Armament: 12.7mm M2 Browning machine guns, conventional drop bombs, HVAR rockets

P2V Neptune

Type: Anti-submarine warfare / maritime patrol aircraft
Year introduced: 1947
Manufacturer: Lockheed
Total units produced: 1,036
Top speed: 314 mph
Armament: 20mm M-24 cannons, 12.7mm machine guns, conventional drop bombs, torpedoes, HVAR rockets

Piasecki H-25 (HUP Retriever)

Type: Transport helicopter
Year introduced: 1949
Manufacturer: Piasecki Helicopter
Total units produced: 339
Top speed: 106 mph
Armament: None

R-5 / H-5

Type: Light utility helicopter
Year introduced: 1945
Manufacturer: Sikorsky
Total units produced: 300
Top speed: 106 mph
Armament: None

RB-29 / F-13 (Superfortress)

Type: Long-range reconnaissance aircraft
Year introduced: 1944
Manufacturer: Boeing
Total units produced: 100
Top speed: 224 mph
Armament: .50 Browning heavy machine guns

T-33 Shooting Star

Type: Trainer aircraft
Year introduced: 1948
Manufacturer: Lockheed
Total units produced: 6,557
Top speed: 603 mph
Armament: 12.7mm Browning M3 machine guns, conventional drop bombs, rocket pods

About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.