▁to ▁be ▁its ▁last ▁flight ▁before ▁rot ating ▁back ▁to ▁Australia . ▁ ▁Korean ▁War ▁Sp ence ▁and ▁his ▁family ▁were ▁about ▁to ▁go ▁on ▁hol iday ▁before ▁returning ▁to ▁Australia ▁when , ▁on ▁ 2 5   J une ▁ 1 9 5 0 , ▁No . ▁ 7 7 ▁Squadron ▁was ▁placed ▁on ▁stand by ▁for ▁action ▁in ▁the ▁Korean ▁War , ▁which ▁had ▁just ▁broken ▁out . ▁The ▁unit ▁was ▁specifically ▁requested ▁by ▁General ▁Douglas ▁Mac Ar thur , ▁commander ▁of ▁United ▁Nations ▁( UN ) ▁forces . ▁No . ▁ 7 7 ▁Squadron ▁fle w ▁its ▁initial ▁esc ort ▁and ▁pat rol ▁sort ies ▁from ▁I w ak uni ▁on ▁ 2   J uly , ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁non - American ▁UN ▁unit ▁to ▁go ▁into ▁action . ▁That ▁day , ▁Sp ence ▁took ▁eight ▁Must angs ▁on ▁an ▁esc ort ▁mission ▁for ▁United ▁States ▁Air ▁Force ▁( US AF ) ▁B - 2 6 ▁Inv aders ▁attack ing ▁a ▁bridge ▁south ▁of ▁Se oul . ▁Famil ies ▁still ▁living ▁at ▁I w ak uni , ▁pending ▁their ▁rep atri ation ▁from ▁what ▁had ▁become ▁an ▁oper ational ▁theatre , ▁could ▁watch ▁the ▁Must angs ▁depart ▁for ▁miss ions ▁over ▁Korea . ▁ ▁A ▁friendly ▁fire ▁incident ▁occurred ▁on ▁ 3   J uly ▁ 1 9 5 0 , ▁when ▁No .   7 7 ▁Squadron ▁attacked ▁a ▁train ▁full ▁of ▁US ▁and ▁South ▁Korean ▁troops ▁on ▁the ▁main ▁highway ▁between ▁Su won ▁and ▁Py ong ta