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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.
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.


The Yonpo area was [[UN Offensive, 1950|captured by UN forces]] in October 1950 and the airfield was put into service by the UN forces. The USAF designated the base '''K-27'''.<ref name="Y'Blood">{{cite book|last=Y'Blood|first=William|title=Down in the weeds: Close air support in Korea|publisher=Air Force Historical Studies Office|year=2002|isbn=9781428990173|page=21}}</ref> The [[35th Fighter Wing|35th Fighter-Interceptor Group]] and [[Marine Aircraft Group 12]]]]<ref name="Smith">{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Charles|title=U.S. Marines in the Korean War|publisher=Government Printing Office|year=2007|isbn=9780160872518|page=225}}</ref> moved to the base in mid-November and provided close air support to the U. S. Army [[X Corps (United States)|X Corps]] and the [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st U.S. Marine Division]] surrounded at the [[Battle of Chosin Reservoir]].
The Yonpo area was [[UN Offensive, 1950|captured]] by the [[5th Marine Regiment (United States)|5th]] and [[7th Marine Regiment (United States)|7th Marines]] advancing from [[Wonsan]] on 30 October 1950<ref name="Smith">{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Charles|title=U.S. Marines in the Korean War|publisher=Government Printing Office|year=2007|isbn=9780160872518|page=203}}</ref> and the airfield was put into service by the UN forces. The USAF designated the base '''K-27'''.<ref name="Y'Blood">{{cite book|last=Y'Blood|first=William|title=Down in the weeds: Close air support in Korea|publisher=Air Force Historical Studies Office|year=2002|isbn=9781428990173|page=21}}</ref> The [[35th Fighter Wing|35th Fighter-Interceptor Group]] and [[Marine Aircraft Group 12]]<ref name="Smith, p. 283-4">Smith, p.283-4</ref> moved to the base in mid-November and provided close air support to the U. S. Army [[X Corps (United States)|X Corps]] and the [[1st Marine Division (United States)|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.<ref name="Smith, p. 286">Smith, p.286</ref>


USAF units based there included:
USAF units based there included:
Line 54: Line 54:


USMC units based there included:
USMC units based there included:
*[[Marine Aircraft Group 12]] until 17 December 1950, units attached included:
*[[Marine Aircraft Group 12]] from 1-17 December 1950<ref name="Smith, p. 283-4">Smith, p.283-4</ref>, units attached included:
*[[VMFA-212|VMF-212]] operating [[Vought F4U Corsair|F4Us]] until 7 December 1950
**[[VMFA-212|VMF-212]] operating [[Vought F4U Corsair|F4Us]] until 7 December 1950
*[[VMF-311]] operating [[Grumman F9F Panther|F-9Fs]] from 10-14 December 1950
**[[VMF-311]] operating [[Grumman F9F Panther|F-9Fs]] from 10-14 December 1950<ref name="Smith, p. 327">Smith, p.327</ref>
**[[VMO-6]] operating OYs and HOS-3s<ref name="Smith, p. 634">Smith, p.634</ref>


UN units based there included:
UN units based there included:
*[[No. 77 Squadron RAAF]] operating F-51Ds attached to the 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group
*[[No. 77 Squadron RAAF]] operating F-51Ds attached to the 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group


Following the successful retreat from the Chosin Reservoir, UN forces abandoned the base on 17 December 1950 as part of the [[Battle of Chosin Reservoir#Evacuation at Hungnam|evacuation of Hungnam]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Futrell|first=Frank|title=The United States Air Force in Korea, 1950-1953|publisher=Air Force History & Museums Program|year=1983|isbn=9780912799711|page=263}}</ref>
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.<ref name="Smith, p. 320">Smith, p.320</ref> General MacArthur met with Gerneral [[Edward Almond]] at Yonpo on 11 December and approved the X Corps [[Battle of Chosin Reservoir#Evacuation at Hungnam|evacuation plan]].<ref name="Smith, p. 321">Smith, p.321</ref> 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.<ref name="Smith, p. 331">Smith, p.331</ref>


===Postwar===
===Postwar===

Revision as of 07:49, 26 June 2013

Yonpo Airfield
Yonpo Air Base
F9F-2 of VF-721 about to attack Yonpo in 1951
Coordinates39°00′59.90″N 125°50′52.90″E / 39.0166389°N 125.8480278°E / 39.0166389; 125.8480278
TypMilitary airfield
Site information
OwnerKorean People's Air Force
Controlled byImperial Japanese Army Air Service
Korean People's Air Force
United States Air Force
Conditiondisused
Site history
Built1940s
Built byImperial Japanese Army Air Service
In use1940s-present
Materialsconcrete
Airfield information
Runways
Direction Length and surface
09/27 {{{r1-length}}} {{{r1-surface}}}

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

Facilities

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.

The Yonpo area was captured by the 5th and 7th Marines advancing from Wonsan on 30 October 1950[1] and the airfield was put into service by the UN forces. The USAF designated the base K-27.[2] The 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group and Marine Aircraft Group 12[3] moved to the base in mid-November and 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.[4]

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.[7] General MacArthur met with Gerneral Edward Almond at Yonpo on 11 December and approved the X Corps evacuation plan.[8] 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.[9]

Postwar

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

See also

References

  1. ^ Smith, Charles (2007). U.S. Marines in the Korean War. Government Printing Office. p. 203. ISBN 9780160872518.
  2. ^ Y'Blood, William (2002). Down in the weeds: Close air support in Korea. Air Force Historical Studies Office. p. 21. ISBN 9781428990173.
  3. ^ a b Smith, p.283-4
  4. ^ Smith, p.286
  5. ^ Smith, p.327
  6. ^ Smith, p.634
  7. ^ Smith, p.320
  8. ^ Smith, p.321
  9. ^ Smith, p.331


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