Former Air Force chief of staff dies at 91

Jang Ji-liang

By Kim Hyo-jin

A former Air Force chief of staff, who contributed to establishing the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), died of natural causes Monday. He was 91.

Retired Lt. Gen. Jang Ji-liang pushed to establish the Army Air Base Command as part of the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) in 1948, which a year later became the ROKAF.

Born in Naju, South Jeolla Province in 1924, Jang graduated from the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) Officer Training School in 1948. After he began working for the National Defense Guard in 1948, he realized that Korean forces needed an independent air force headquarters.

Serving as the first Air Force Headquarters Chief of Staff for Operations, he actively drew up a plan to import 100 F-51D Mustang fighter-bombers to secure ten airfields.

Jang flew the aircraft as chief of operations during the 1950-53 Korean War.

When communist guerrillas sneaked onto Mount Jiri in South Gyeongsang Province in August, 1951, the United States Command, who then led the war, ordered Jang to bomb the surrounding area of Haein Temple, widely known as the UNESCO World Heritage Site Palman Daejanggyeong, or the Tripitaka Koreana.

However, he refused, saying, “I can’t crumble the 1,400-year-old heritage into ashes.” His decision cancelled a plan to bomb the mountain, and consequently saved the Haein Temple and the Tripitaka Koreana.

In October, 1951, when the North Korean army anti-aircraft fire downed South Korean fighters, pilots had to bailout from the plane. In order to rescue the pilots who landed in a mountainous area, Jang asked them to wear bright red-colored scarves so they would be easily spotted. Since then, red scarves have been a representative item of clothing for the ROKAF.

Serving as Air Force chief of staff from 1966 to 1968, he decided to buy F-5 and F-4 jet fighters, paving the way for the modernization of Korean air forces. He also established an air control unit and operation communications network.

A memorial altar for him is installed at Asan Medical Center. He will be buried at Seoul National Cemetery, Wednesday.