Great Feats Performed by KPA Air Force

Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- It has been 72 years after the foundation of the Juche-oriented air force which has reliably safeguarded the territorial air of the DPRK in the spirit of devotedly defending the leader and the country.

After the country's liberation from Japan's colonial rule, President

Kim Il Sung penetrated deep into the significance and importance of the air force and declared the birth of the Juche-oriented air force through the publication of the historic speech "Let Us Create the Air Force of the New Korea" he made on November 29, Juche 34 (1945).

Since then, the air force of the DPRK has performed great feats in the grim annals of the Korean revolution.

In the period of the Fatherland Liberation War (1950-1953), the U.S. imperialists hurled one fifth of its air force, boasting of its "air supremacy", but could not escape shameless defeat.

Only in a week of July 1950, the DPRK air force shot down 13 U.S. warplanes, including "B-29" and damaged over 10 warplanes.

At dawn of January 1, 1952, they destroyed more than 20 warplanes and lots of combat equipment through a surprise bombing attack on the Kimpho airfield.

In June 1952, a plane of the DPRK air force shot down or dispersed more than 20 enemy warplanes in the sky over Sinuiju, thus defending the President on a tour of inspection.

After the war, the DPRK air force has dealt telling blows to the U.S. imperialists whenever they invade the territorial sky of the DPRK.

It is well evidenced by the incidents of "F-80" shot down in January 1954, "EC-121" downed in April 1969 and "RC-135" driven back in March 2003 and others.

In the new century of Juche, the DPRK air force has enjoyed its heyday, demonstrating its invincible might under the guidance of respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.

In this period, it has produced 14 human bombs, possessed of a-match-for-a-hundred heroic spirit and self-sacrificing and self-blasting spirit, and a number of service personnel decorated for their meritorious service.

And dozens of air units and subunits were named after the heroes, including Kim Hwa Ryong, Kang Sung Hyon and Ri Ki Bong, who dedicated their life to defending the leader and performed great feats during the Fatherland Liberation War.

The title of Hero of the Republic was awarded to fighter 009 for playing a great role in different battles during the war and fighter 415 for shooting down "EC-121" and to other warplanes.

Indeed, the great feats performed by the DPRK airmen are a historic miracle which could be worked only by the air force of the Korean People's Army. -0-