Yonpo Airfield

Yonpo Airfield
Yonpo Air Base

F9F-2 of VF-721 about to attack Yonpo in 1951
Coordinates 39°00′59.90″N 125°50′52.90″E / 39.0166389°N 125.8480278°E
Type Military airfield
Site information
Owner Korean People's Air Force
Controlled by Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
Korean People's Air Force
United States Air Force
Site history
Built 1940s
Built by Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
In use 1940s-present
Materials concrete
Battles/wars Battle of Chosin Reservoir

Yonpo Airfield, also known as Yonpo Air Base or K-27 Air Base, is an airport near Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province, North Korea.

History

Korean War

C-119s preparing to drop supplies to Marines in the Chosin Reservoir

On 2 July 1950 the 19th Bombardment Group launched a strike on Yonpo Airfield based on faulty intelligence there were 65 Korean People's Air Force (KPAF) aircraft there, but only 16 KPAF aircraft were in the field, none of which were damaged by the airstrike.[1] On 19 July carrier aircraft of Task Force 77 attacked Yonpo destroying 15 aircraft.[2]

The Yonpo area was captured by the 5th and 7th Marines advancing from Wonsan on 30 October 1950[3] and the airfield was put into service by the UN forces. The USAF designated the base K-27.[4] The 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group[5] moved to the base on 18 November and was joined by the Marine Aircraft Group 12[6] on 1 December, both provided close air support to the U. S. Army X Corps and the 1st U.S. Marine Division surrounded at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. X Corps established a casualty clearing and evacuation station at Yonpo for casualties evacuated from the Chosin.[7]

USAF units based there included:

USMC units based there included:

UN units based there included:

Following the successful retreat from the Chosin Reservoir, US Marines of Regimental Combat Teams 5 and 7 prepared a defensive line around Yonpo on 9 December, however General Douglas MacArthur ordered the withdrawal of X Corps to South Korea.[10] General MacArthur met with General Edward Almond at Yonpo on 11 December and approved the X Corps evacuation plan.[11] From 14–17 December USAF Combat Cargo Command moved 228 patients, 3,891 passengers, and 20,088 tons of cargo from Yonpo.[5] The aerial evacuation from Yonpo continued until 17 December when the field was closed and operations were moved to a temporary field at Hungnam harbour.[12]

Postwar

The KPAF continues to use the base and several squadrons of Antonov An-2s appear to be based there.

See also

References

  1. Futrell, Frank (1983). The United States Air Force in Korea, 1950-1953. Air Force History & Museums Program. p. 98. ISBN 9780912799711.
  2. Futrell, p.99
  3. Smith, Charles (2007). U.S. Marines in the Korean War. Government Printing Office. p. 203. ISBN 9780160872518.
  4. Y'Blood, William (2002). Down in the weeds: Close air support in Korea. Air Force Historical Studies Office. p. 21. ISBN 9781428990173.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "History Milestones Sunday, January 01, 1950 - Thursday, December 31, 1959". U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 2013-06-28. Retrieved 25 June 1950.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Smith, p.283-4
  7. Smith, p.286
  8. Smith, p.327
  9. Smith, p.634
  10. Smith, p.320
  11. Smith, p.321
  12. Smith, p.331