F-86E Sabre "ONU" - Italian Sabre, Filipino Pilots

During the Congo Crisis (1960–1965), the secessionist State of Katanga, led by Moïse Tshombe, established the Katangese Air Force (Force Aérienne Katangaise, FAK), which was predominantly operated by foreign mercenary pilots from countries including Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom. Early in the conflict, the FAK had complete air supremacy with its 3 Fouga Magister jets which harassed government and UN forces in the region.

Notably, the FAK was implicated in the 1961 plane crash that killed UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, with reports suggesting that a Belgian mercenary pilot, Jan van Risseghem, attacked Hammarskjöld’s aircraft. On the contrary, UN investigation concluded that the plane where UN Secretary-General Dan Hammarskjöld crashed because of pilot error since it had to fly around to avoid the FAK but the Belgian mercenary pilot did strafe the plane days before the crash causing some damage to its fueslage.

As a direct result of these shortcomings, Italy donated five F-86E(M) Sabre jets to the United Nations in late 1961 and early 1962. In 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal responded to the United Nations’ call for support in the Congo Crisis by authorizing the deployment of the 9th Tactical Fighter “Limbas” Squadron of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to the United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC). Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jose Rancudo, the squadron departed the Philippines on February 11, 1963. The PAF operated from Kamina Air Base, helping establish air superiority and supporting peacekeeping operations especially in Operation Grandslam that followed the chaos of earlier confrontations like the disastrous Siege of Jadotville (Note: The PAF actually arrived late for Operation Grandslam which decimated the FAK - the UN had anticipated that the FAK already had their airforce up and running but it needed a few more weeks for aviation fuel and ammunition. The UN striking early meant that the FAK was destroyed before it flew but if it hadnt been the case, the role of the PAF pilots wouldve been to further secure air superiority in the cleanup ops that followed Op Grandslam). This was also further justified after reports of the FAK purchasing several P-51 Mustangs earlier that year (that arrived without spare parts and still needed to be refurbished).

Aside from the Philippines, India, Ethiopia, Sweden, and Iran answered the UN’s call and also sent their air forces to the UNOC for further support. India however have to pull out because of the excalating border conflict with China at that time, as well as Ethiopia after losing one jet to an accident. This was further compounded by the hesitancy of other nations to provide enough fuel and ammunition to arm these jets fearing that it might needlessly antagonize the other powers in the region.

Nevertheless, this was the first time the UN assembled an air force for its peacekeeping mission and so was dubbed 1st UN Air Force. By July 1964, UNOC had fully pulled out after subjugating the rebels and re establishing the status quo in the region.