Bout One Project was an operation undertaken during the Korean War by U.S. Air Force to train South Korean pilots to fly F-51 Mustang fighters. On June 27, 1950, as part of the project, a special unit was formed in Japan under Major Dean Hess, with the objective of training selected South Korean pilots to fly the F-51. Some of the Korean pilots were veterans of Japanese Army and Naval air forces during World War II. On July 2, the unit was transferred to Daegu Air Base, South Korea. After transfer, the unit was redesignated as 51st Provisional Fighter Squadron of the Republic of Korea Air Force, but remained under U.S. Air Force command, as the Koreans were not deemed prepared to operate their new aircraft effectively. Nevertheless, given the desperate situation on the ground, the 51st Squ