ROKAF

Republic of Korea Air Force 대한민국 공군
Republic of Korea Air Force emblem
Founded	October 1, 1949
Country	South Korea
Type	Air force
Size	65,000 (2014) 794 aircraft
Part of	ROK Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Gyeryong, South Korea
Nickname(s)	"ROK Air Force", "ROKAF", "South Korean air force", "SKAF"
March	"Air Force Anthem" (Korean: 공군가; Hanja: 空軍歌; Gonggunga, literally "air force song")
Mascot(s)	Haneuli and Purumae
Engagements	Korean War Vietnam War Persian Gulf War Global War on Terrorism
Commanders
Air Force Chief of Staff	General Jeong Kyung-Doo (since 2015)
Notable commanders	Chang Sung-hwan (1962–1964)
Insignia
Roundel
Low-visibility roundel
Logo
Flag
Former roundels

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF; Korean: 대한민국 공군; Hanja: 大韓民國 空軍; Romanization: Daehanminguk Gong-gun), also known as the ROK Air Force, is the aerial warfare service branch of South Korea, operating under the Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense.

Shortly after the end of World War II, the South Korean Air Construction Association was founded on August 10, 1946 to publicize the importance of air power. Despite the then-scanty status of Korean armed forces, the first air unit was formed on May 5, 1948 under the direction of Dong Wi-bu, the forerunner to the modern South Korean Ministry of National Defence. On September 13, 1949, the United States contributed 10 L-4 Grasshopper observation aircraft to the South Korean air unit. An Army Air Academy was founded on January, 1949, and the ROKAF was officially founded on October 1949.

The 1950s were a critical time for the ROKAF as it expanded tremendously during the Korean War. At the outbreak of the war, the ROKAF consisted of 1,800 personnel but was equipped with only 20 trainer and liaison aircraft, including 10 North American T-6 Texan advanced trainers purchased from Canada. The North Korean air force had acquired a considerable number of Yak-9 and La-7 fighters from the Soviet Union, dwarfing the ROKAF in terms of size and strength. However, during the course of the war, the ROKAF acquired 110 aircraft: 79 fighter-bombers, three fighter squadrons, and one fighter wing. The first combat aircraft received were North American F-51D Mustangs, along with a contingent of US Air Force instructor pilots under the command of Major Dean Hess, as part of Bout One Project. The ROKAF participated in bombing operations and flew independent sorties. After the war, the ROKAF Headquarters was moved to Daebangdong, Seoul. Air Force University was also founded in 1956.