Yonpo Airfield

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

Yonpo Airfield
Yonpo Air Base
F9F-2 of VF-721 about to attack Yonpo in 1951
Coordinates39°47′26″N 127°32′7″E
TypeMilitary airfield
Site information
OwnerKorean People's Air Force
Controlled byImperial Japanese Army Air Service
Korean People's Air Force
United States Air Force
Site history
Built1940s
Built byImperial Japanese Army Air Service
In use1940s-present
Materialsconcrete
Battles/warsBattle of Chosin Reservoir

History

Korean War
C-119s preparing to drop supplies to Marines in the Chosin Reservoir
MGCIS-1 radar site located at Yonpo Airfield in December 1950.

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.[1]:99

The Yonpo area was captured by the 5th and 7th Marine Regiments advancing from Wonsan on 30 October 1950[2] and the airfield was put into service by the UN forces. The USAF designated the base K-27.[3] The 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group[4] moved to the base on 18 November and was joined by the Marine Aircraft Group 12[2]:283–4 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.[2]:286

USAF units based there included:

    • 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group from 18 November-7 December 1950, units attached included:
    • 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron operating F-51Ds
    • 40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron operating F-51Ds
    • 339th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron operating F-82Gs
  • 437th Troop Carrier Wing operating C-46s
  • 6150th Tactical Support Wing from 27 November-1 December 1950

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.[2]:320 General MacArthur met with General Edward Almond at Yonpo on 11 December and approved the X Corps evacuation plan.[2]:321 From 14–17 December USAF Combat Cargo Command moved 228 patients, 3,891 passengers, and 20,088 tons of cargo from Yonpo.[4] 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.[2]:331

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 (PDF). Air Force History & Museums Program. p. 98. ISBN 9780912799711. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. Smith, Charles (2007). U.S. Marines in the Korean War (PDF). Government Printing Office. p. 203. ISBN 9780160872518. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. Y'Blood, William (2002). Down in the weeds: Close air support in Korea (PDF). Air Force Historical Studies Office. p. 21. ISBN 9781428990173. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4.  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force document: "History Milestones Sunday, January 01, 1950 - Thursday, December 31, 1959". Retrieved 25 June 1950. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help) Archived 2013-06-28 at Archive.today
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