From 1950

Date

Activity

25 Jun 1950

North Korean People's Army (NKPA) crosses the 38th parallel to launch an all-out offensive on the Republic of Korea (ROK).

26 Jun 1950

UN Security Council resolves that the attack by North Korean forces constituted a breach of peace and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of North Korean forces to the 38th parallel.

27 Jun 1950

Security Council passes a further resolution requesting members of the UN to furnish such assistance to the ROK as may be necessary to repel the attack and restore peace and security to the area.  At this meeting Warren Austin, the US Representative, informs the Council that his Government has decided, in accordance with the resolution of 26 Jun, to order air and sea forces to provide cover and support to the South Korean Government troops.  Australian Government announces commitment of RAAF bomber squadron to Malaya.

28 Jun 1950

NKPA captures Seoul.

29 Jun 1950

British Government places the ships of the Royal Navy, then in Japanese waters, at the disposal of the US authorities for use in support of the ROK. Australian Government places naval vessels then present in Far Eastern waters, namely HMA Ships Shoalhaven and Bataan, at the disposal of the Security Council in support of the ROK.

30 Jun 1950

Australian Government informs Lieutenant General Robertson, Commander-in-Chief, British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF), that No 77 Squadron, RAAF, is to be committed to combat duties in Korea.  President Truman authorises General MacArthur to use the four infantry divisions of the Eighth US Army, based in Japan, for action in Korea

Date

Activity

2 Jul 1950

No. 77 Squadron, RAAF, flies first combat mission over Korea.

5 Jul 1950

Task Force Smith, first American ground combat unit to arrive in Korea, encounters North Korean troops at Osan.

7 Jul 1950

Security Council recommends that all military assistance provided to the UN should be made available to a Unified Command under US authority.  General MacArthur is appointed Commander-in-Chief, UN Command.

9 Jul 1950

Prime Minister Menzies commences planned visit to London, Washington, Ottawa and Wellington.

14 Jul 1950

Trygve Lie, Secretary-General of the UN, appeals for increased force contributions, particularly ground forces, to support the UN action in Korea.

20 Jul 1950

Taejon abandoned by UN Command forces.

26 Jul 1950

Acting Prime Minister Fadden announces commitment of Australian ground forces for service in Korea.

27 Jul 1950

Menzies fully informed of commitment of ground forces before Queen Mary (in which he sailed from London) docks at New York.

1 Aug 1950

Menzies addresses both Houses of Congress in Washington and speaks of Australia's contributions to Korea.

2 Aug 1950

Acting Prime Minister Fadden announces that only volunteers will be sent to Korea and the recruiting campaign will be accelerated.

4 Aug 1950

Naktong River perimeter (Pusan Perimeter) is established by the UN Command.

6 Aug 1950

Spender departs for New York to represent Australia at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

6-8 Aug 1950

General MacArthur confers in Tokyo with Averell Harriman and Generals Norstad, Almond and Ridgway concerning the Inchon landing.

14-18 Aug 1950

Menzies visits Japan, talks with MacArthur, inspects Australian forces preparing for Korea.

6 Aug 1950

The X US Corps is activated for forthcoming Inchon landing operation .

23 Aug 1950

Menzies returns to Australia.

28 Aug 1950

The British 27th Brigade arrives at Pusan.

31 Aug-1950

6 Sep 1950

Battle of Pusan Perimeter reaches its climax.

5 Sep 1950

The 27th Brigade begins combat operations.

7 Sep 1950

Spender leaves London after discussing Pacific pact with Attlee, Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin and Minister of State Kenneth Younger.

12 Sep 1950

The I and the IX US Corps become operational in Korea.

13 Sep 1950

Spender discusses Pacific pact with Truman in Washington.

15 Sep 1950

The X US Corps makes amphibious landing at Inchon and outflanks the North Korean forces.

17 Sep 1950

Australian Army advance party arrives in Korea.

18 Sep 1950

Kimpo airfield, near Seoul, captured by UN Command forces.

20 Sep 1950

First broadcast by Menzies in 'Defence Call to the Nation' series.

22 Sep 1950

Eighth Army breaks out of Pusan Perimeter.

Second broadcast by Menzies in 'Defence Call to the Nation' series.

25 Sep 1950

Third broadcast by Menzies in 'Defence Call to the Nation' series.

27 Sep 1950

US Joint Chiefs of Staff authorise MacArthur to conduct operations north of 38th parallel.

UN Command forces moving north link with UN Command forces moving south, near Suwon.

28 Sep 1950

UN Command forces recapture Seoul.

The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR), brought to full strength by special enlistments from Australia, arrives at Pusan and joins the 27th Brigade.

Date

Activity

1 Oct 1950

The 3rd ROK Division crosses the 38th parallel.

2 Oct 1950

Chou En-lai warns Panikkar, the Indian Ambassador in Peking, that if the Americans cross the 38th parallel China will enter the war.

7 Oct 1950

UNGA resolves to authorise the UN Command forces to pursue the North Koreans across the 38th parallel and to establish the United Nations Commission for the Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea (UNCURK).

American forward patrols cross the 38th parallel.

9 Oct 1950

Main advance of Eighth Army begins, driving northwards through Kaesong towards Sariwon and Pyongyang.

11 Oct 1950

The 3rd ROK Division takes Wonsan.

12 Oct 1950

Interim Committee of UNCURK advises MacArthur to assume provisional responsibility for administration of territory occupied by the UN Command forces in North Korea.

14 Oct 1950

Nine Chinese armies, totalling over 300000 men, begin to cross the Yalu River.

19 Oct 1950

The Eighth Army takes Pyongyang, capital of North Korea.

24 Oct 1950

MacArthur removes all restrictions on advance of non-Korean forces to the Yalu River.

26 Oct 1950

The 6th Division, III ROK Corps, reaches the Yalu River at Chosan.

27-31 Oct 1950

Chinese first phase offensive is launched.

29 Oct 1950

Australian battalion reaches Chongju, the most northerly point of its advance.

30 Oct 1950

Spender discusses Pacific security with John Foster Dulles and Dean Rusk in New York before returning to Australia.

31 Oct-2 Nov 1950

Strong Chinese attack on Eighth Army at Unsan forces its withdrawal south of the Chongchon River.

5 Nov 1950

MacArthur orders a heavy air offensive over North Korea, including the Yalu River bridges at Sinuiju.  This direction violates Joint Chiefs of Staff directive which forbade bombing within 8 kilometres of the Yalu River.

Truman lifts prohibition and attacks are made on 8 Nov.

20 Nov 1950

UNCURK holds its first meeting at Tokyo and decides to leave for Seoul on 26 Nov.  James Plimsoll represents Australia.

21 Nov 1950

UNCURK members lunch with MacArthur, who indicates that the war may end in a month.

Spender reports to Cabinet on his visit to the US.

24 Nov 1950

Eighth Army launches its drive to the Yalu River.

25-26 Nov 1950

Chinese second phase offensive is launched.

25 Nov 1950

The II ROK Corps is smashed by Chinese attack in central sector near Tokchon.

26 Nov 1950

Over 200,000 Chinese attack the Eighth US Army north of the Chongchon River and inflict heavy casualties.

27 Nov 1950

The 2nd, the 24th and the 25th US Divisions withdraw south of the Chongchon River.

28 Nov 1950

Spender addresses Australian House of Representatives on Pacific alliance.  MacArthur announces an 'entirely new war'.

30 Nov 1950

Truman refers publicly to possible use of atomic bomb in Korea.

4 Dec 1950

Truman-Attlee talks begin in Washington to consider allied policy towards China.

5 Dec 1950

Pyongyang abandoned by the Eighth Army.

7 Dec 1950

UNCURK reports that between 231,000 and 400,000 Chinese troops were engaged against UN Command forces.

11 Dec 1950

The 1st US Marine Division and the 7th US Division withdraw into defensive perimeter at Hungnam.

12 Dec 1950

Thirteen Arab and Asian nations submit a draft resolution proposing that a committee should investigate the basis for a cease-fire in Korea.

15 Dec 1950

UN Command forces withdraw south of 38th parallel.

18 Dec 1950

US requests Australia to support UN resolution condemning China as an aggressor.

23 Dec 1950

General Walker, Eighth Army commander, killed in a vehicle accident and General Ridgway appointed to succeed him.

24 Dec 1950

The X US Corps completes evacuation of Hungnam beachhead.

North Korea returns to Communist control.

31 Dec-5 Jan 1950

Chinese third phase offensive is launched.