Korean War (1950 – 1953) in Real Time

Day 46 of the Korean War, August 9th 1950

Land operations - Korean peninsula

Troops from the 25th Regiment, Capital Division (South Korea), probed through the mountains from Kigye to establish contact with the 3rd Infantry Division (South Korea) south of Yongdok. It advanced 2.5 mi (4.0 km) north before encountering fierce KPA resistance, which pushed it almost 5 mi (8.0 km) south. It was apparent to the UN forces that the 3rd Infantry Division (South Korea) was being outflanked. It held the road 20 mi (32 km) north of P'ohang-dong but there were no defenses inland in the mountains and KPA units had penetrated there.

Task Force Kean was poised to retake Chinju. The task force, aided by air power, initially advanced quickly though KPA resistance was heavy.

Land operations - Korean peninsula (Battle of Taegu)

United States Army, Major General Hobart R. Gay, commanding officer of the 1st Cavalry Division (United States) at his headquarters in Taegu learned of the KPA's river crossing in the area of his division south of Waegwan. Since the first reports were vague, General Gay decided to withhold counterattack until he learned more about the situation.[32] He quickly learned that around 750 KPA infantry troops had gathered on Hill 268, also known as "Triangulation Hill", which was 3 mi (5 km) southeast of Waegwan and 10 mi (16 km) northwest of Taegu. General Gay ordered his division to counterattack the enemy gathering to force them across the river. He and General Walker thought that this attack could be a feint, and that the KPA could be planning a larger attack to their north. Furthermore, the hill was important because of its proximity to the lines of supply. The main Korean north–south highway and the main Seoul-Pusan railroad skirted the base of Triangulation Hill.

At about 09:30, General Gay ordered the 1st Battalion of the 7th Cavalry Regiment (United States), to counter the KPA penetration. This battalion moved from its bivouac area just outside Taegu, accompanied by five tanks of A Company, 71st Heavy Tank Battalion (United States). This motorized force proceeded to the foot of Hill 268. Meanwhile, the 61st Field Artillery Battalion shelled the hill heavily.

At about 12:00 the artillery fired a preparation on Hill 268, and the 1st Battalion next attacked it with orders to continue on southwest to Hill 154. Hill 268 was covered with thick brush from about 4 ft (1 m) and trees eight to 10 ft (3 m) high. The day was very hot, and many of the American soldiers collapsed from heat exhaustion during the attack, which was not well-coordinated with the artillery fire. The KPA repulsed the attack.

Naval operations - Korean peninsula

A imaginative B-29 report of heavy junk concentrations near Yosu brings the Canadian Tribal-class destroyers HMCS Cayuga and HMCS Athabaskan on a flank speed sweep of the south coast, but with negative results.

A South Korean Navy LST sailed for Ochong Do, an island 40 miles off Kunsan, to establish an advanced ROKN supply base which will eliminate the 300-mile round trip to Pusan.

A month sins it has begun doing patrols and escorts duties of the coast of Korea, tragedy struck, S-class destroyer, HNLMS Evertsen (D802) operating of the west coast of Korea, where it is difficult to navigate due to the many reefs, islands and sandbanks and due to submarine danger, Evertsen is sailing in a zigzag course during her patrol near the island of Fokusa Sho. In the early evening the destroyer struck a reef. An eighteen meter crack opens and several rooms filled with water. The Ship Security Service quickly closed hatches and doors to prevent a larger part of the ship from being flooded. Despite the use of pumps, the ship still list to port, and the commander decides to send a distress signal to the Admiralty in Hong Kong. Two British ships sailed to the Evertsen with additional pumps and a supply of wood to install more struts to reduce the water. The Evertsen is taken in tow and arrived in the port of Sasebo, Japan, a few days after the incident.

United States

The (United States) Deputy Under Secretary of State, Mr. H. Freeman Matthews, told the Department of Defense that many Latin America nations expressed a desire to help but felt themselves too poor to make an effective contribution. Existing legislation required reimbursement for practically all military equipment provided Latin America other than limited amounts of surplus. Mr. Matthews believed that Congress could be induced to authorize the grant of equipment to Latin American forces organized specifically to assist the UN effort. He suggested either that the larger countries be induced to raise special contingents for service in Korea or that an international force of volunteers, drawn from all the Latin nations, be created. The advantages of widespread participation by the nations of this region were impressive, in his view. Latin America had abundant manpower; the nationalism and patriotism of the peoples of the region would be aroused in support of UN action; their governments would draw closer to the United States, thereby simplifying the problem of guarding the Western Hemisphere in case of general war. The Joint Chiefs of Staff agreed that forces should be obtain from Latin America and that US assistance therefore was an indispensable prerequisite. They believed that the Department of State should take action to solicit aid from those countries. Even units below the preferred minimum strength of a battalion would be accepted. They were sympathetic to the creation of an inter-American force made up of national contingents, but they thought it “wholly impracticable and militarily unsound” to attempt to organize, train, and equip a unit composed of unorganized volunteers from a number of countries.

Day 48 of the Korean War, August 11th 1950

Land operations - Korean peninsula

Task Force Bradley (United States) struck out from Yonil Airfield to counterattack the KPA forces around P'ohang-dong while Task Force P'ohang attacked from An'gang-ni area. Both forces immediately met resistance from KPA units. By that time the KPA had captured P'ohang-dong. What followed was a complicated series of fights through the large region around P'ohang-dong and An'gang-ni as ROKA forces, aided by US air power, engaged groups of KPA units operating all around the vicinity.

Air operations - Korean peninsula

C-119 Flying Boxcars began airlifting trucks from Tachikawa AB in Japan to Taegu.

Naval operations - Korean peninsula

VMF-323 Corsairs and USAF F-51 Mustangs caught about 100 vehicles of the 83rd Motorcycle Regiment (North Korea) in the open, inflicting massive casualties in what was known as the “Kosong Turkey Shoot.” On August 10th, United States Navy, Captain Vivian M. Moses was shot down, rescued by a Marine helicopter, and returned to Badoeng Strait the following day. United States Navy, Captain Moses was on the carrier for only one hour before getting in another plane, only to be shot down and killed while attacking the North Korean regiment, and becoming the first Marine aviator killed in the Korean War. Moses was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart posthumously.

Colossus-class light fleet aircraft carriers HMS Warrior (R-31) and HMS Ocean (R-68) arrived in theater, initially serving as troop transports and aircraft ferries, although in later deployments they would serve as operational aircraft carriers.

South Korea

Occasionally, guerrillas would attack trains in rear areas of the Pusan Perimeter, usually in the Yongch'on-Kyongju area in the east or along the lower Naktong in the Samnangjin area. These attacks generally resulted in only a few persons wounded and minor damage to rail equipment. The most successful guerrilla attack behind the lines of the Pusan Perimeter occurred this day against a VHF radio relay station on Hill 915, eight miles south of Taegu. A guerrilla force, estimated at 100 men, at 0515 attacked the 70 ROK police guarding the station and its American operators. They drove off the ROK police and set fire to the buildings. American casualties were 2 killed, 2 wounded, and 3 missing. When a ROK police force reoccupied the area later in the day the guerrillas had disappeared.

Day 50 of the Korean War, August 13th 1950

YouTube (The First UN Counterattack)



Land operations - Korean peninsula

Photo: Captain R. E. Daltry, Korean Military Advisory Group (right), discusses a problem with Col. Harn Byung-sun, South Korean Regiment Commander (second from right), near the front line in Korea," August 13, 1950



Naval operations - Korean peninsula

Two Seafires operating from Colossus-class aircraft carrier HMS Triumph (R16) conduct their first armed reconnaissance when two Seafires photographed the ports of Mokpo and Kunsan.

North Korean occupied South Korea

The English-language propaganda broadcasts of "Seoul City Sue", on the air since June 28th, ended after a U.S. airstrike on the North Korean controlled radio broadcast facilities in Seoul. "Sue" was an American, Anna Wallace Suhr of Oklahoma, who had pledged allegiance to the North Korean cause after the invasion of Seoul. After the broadcast tower was repaired, she did not return to the air.

Air operations - Korean peninsula

Endangered by the NKA advance to Pohang, two squadrons of F-51s in the 35th Fighter-Bomber Squadron moved from nearby Yonil airfield in South Korea to Tsuiki AB, Japan.

United States

News of the Rashin bomber raid reaches Washington, D.C., the Department of State objects strongly. Deputy Undersecretary Matthews called Major General Burns, in Secretary Johnson’s office, and told him that the attack violated the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) instructions against approaching the borders too closely. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Omar Bradley and United States Secretary of Defense, Louis A. Johnson believe that the margin of distance is ample and that Rashin is a valid military target. The matter is carried to the (United States) President Harry Truman, who after some discussion, upheld his military advisors.

Day 52 of the Korean War, August 15th 1950

Land operations - Korean peninsula

The Battle of Battle Mountain began around the Seobuksan mountain area in South Korea.

The first in a series of night raids on Korean east coast took place by a landing party from a Navy underwater demolition team and Marine reconnaissance unit embarked in fast transport Horace A. Bass (APD-124), which was configured to carry about 160 troops. Three night raids took place, destroying two bridges and three tunnels. During daylight, Horace A. Bass shelled North Korean targets.

Air operations - Korean peninsula

The Far East Air Forces (FEAF) has some light bombers and fighter-bombers joining in the interdiction campaign. This campaign sought the destruction of thirty-two rail and highway bridges on the three main transportation routes across Korea: (1) the line from Sinanju south to P'yongyang and thence northeast to Wonsan on the east coast; (2) the line just below the 38th Parallel from Munsan-ni through Seoul to Ch'unch'on to Chumunjin-up on the east coast; (3) the line from Seoul south to Choch'iwon and hence east to Wonju to Samch'ok on the east coast. The interdiction campaign marked nine rail yards, including those at Seoul, P'yongyang, and Wonsan, for attack, and the ports of Inch'on and Wonsan to be mined. This interdiction program, if effectively executed, would slow and perhaps critically disrupt the movement of enemy supplies along the main routes south to the battlefront.

Naval operations - Korean peninsula

Yosu, previously attacked by Crosley-class high speed transport USS Diachenko (APD-123) and Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer USS Collett (DD-730) was bombarded so thoroughly by Tribal-class destroyer HMCS Cayuga and Bay-class anti-aircraft frigate HMS Mounts Bay that no worthwhile targets were deemed to remain.

Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) departed Sasebo and steamed into the Sea of Japan, striking targets south of the 38th Parallel, hitting bridges and supply dumps. On 17 August, strikes shifted to north of the 38th Parallel, hitting industrial targets, rail facilities, and coastal shipping. Following refueling on 18 August from oilers Passumpsic (AO-107) and Cacapon (AO-52), and re-arming from Mount Katmai (AE-16, the first ammunition ship to arrive in Korean waters), TF 77 transited to the Yellow Sea.

The Fiji-class cruiser HMS Jamaica (44), returning from patrol, bombarded the port of Kunsan and its factories and docks with satisfactory results.

North Korea

The 105th Armored Division (North Korea) receives 21 new T-34 tanks and 200 troop replacements, which it distributed to the divisions attacking Taegu. The tank regiment with the 13th Division (North Korea) reportedly has 14 T-34 tanks.

Japan

CTG 96.7 advises Commander Naval Forces, Far East (COMNAVFE) of his intention, if not otherwise directed, of seizing the Tokchok Islands in the Inchon approaches as a base for intelligence activities and future operations.

United States Army, General MacArthur establishes the headquarters group of the Special Planning Staff to take charge of the projected amphibious operation. For purposes of secrecy the new group, selected from the GHQ FEC staff is designated, Special Planning Staff, GHQ, and the forces to be placed under its control, GHQ Reserve.

United States

The Joint Chiefs of staff (JCS) enlarged the list of targets that the air force is allowed to hit in Korea but specify that the population in nearby cities must receive advance warning in each instance. “Dummy” warnings should also be given to other areas, so as to avoid pinpointing specific objectives.

Day 54 of the Korean War, August 17th 1950

YouTube (Seesaw Battle On For Beachhead)



Land operations - Korean peninsula

600 Korean Marines are landed on the Tongyong peninsula south of Kosong. There, by seizing and holding the isthmus north of Tongyong city, the ROK Marines effectively bottled enemy troops in on the landward side, and prevent their movement across the narrow water to the island of Koje, below Chinhae.

Marines began first battle of Naktong River Bulge.

Eighth Army (United States) ordered the 27th Infantry Division (United States) to move its headquarters and a reinforced battalion "without delay" to a point across the Kumho River 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Taegu on the road from Tabu-dong to Sangju "to secure Taegu from enemy penetration" from that direction. South Korean sources reported a KPA regiment, led by six T-34 tanks, had entered the village of Kumhwa, 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Tabu-dong. The 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Division (United States), a platoon of the Heavy Mortar Company, and most of the 8th Field Artillery Battalion (United States) moved north to Ch'ilgok where the 1st Infantry Division (South Korea) command post was located. By nightfall, the entire 27th Regiment (United States) was north of Taegu on the Tabu-dong road, reinforced by C Company, 73rd Tank Battalion (United States). US Army commanders also ordered the 37th Field Artillery Battalion (United States) to move from the area around Kyongju and P'ohang-dong, where a heavy battle had been in progress for days, for attachment to the 27th Infantry Regiment (United States) in order to reinforce the 8th Field Artillery Battalion (United States) above Taegu.

Naval operations - Korean peninsula

While anchored, Royal Canadian Navy, Commander Welland, the commanding officer of Tribal-class destroyer HMCS Athabaskan (G07) goes aboard Fiji-class cruiser HMS Kenya (14) to meet here commanding officer, Royal Navy, Captain p w brock and ROK Navy officers on future operations. The leader of the ROK naval forces in the area was Korean Navy, Commander Lee Hi Yung, the Commanding Officer of PC-461 Class Submarine Chaser Kum Kang San (PC-702), a most aggressive fighter, who had under his command a small force of seamen with which he was systematically mopping up the Communists on the islands in the Inchon area. It was decided at the meeting that the island of Taku Chaku would be next on Commander Lee’s list and would be assaulted on the following morning.

A Republic of Korea Navy Intelligence Unit infiltrates in Yonghung-do (Yeongheung Island) and Tokchok-do (Deokjeok Island) conducted Operation X-ray to obtain information on the conditions there.

With Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers USS Mansfield (DD-728), USS Collett (DD-730) and USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729) as screen, with patrol plane spot, and with a combat air patrol from Task Force 77, Baltimore-class heavy cruiser USS Toledo (CA-133) cruised the 40-mile stretch of coast, from Songjin south to Iwon, where the railroad runs close to the sea. Targets were plentiful, and the 297 rounds of 8-inch HC expended against three railroad bridges and several hundred freight cars were considered to have been profitably invested. At the same time the Essex-class aircraft carriers USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) and USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) who make up Task Force 77 are flying strikes against rail facilities and such minor coastal shipping as could be discovered between the 38th and 42d parallels; in the course of this work one jet sweep found an ammunition train, and exploded it so effectively as to bring back tangible proof in the form of fragments embedded in the fighters’ wings. On conclusion of the day’s operations both carrier and gunnery forces headed southward, Admiral Higgins to relieve the fire support group off Pohang, and the carriers to pass through Tsushima Strait en route to their fuelling rendezvous south of Korea.

United States

The 7th Marine Regiment (United States) is reactivated as part of the 1st Marine Division (United States) who today depart the from West Coast for Korea.

United nations

United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Warren Austin contended that the General Assembly’s decision in favor of “fair and free elections.. . throughout the
whole of the Korean peninsula” is still valid, though its execution has been blocked by the North Korean regime. “As order is brought out of chaos,” he continues, “some United Nations body should be on the spot to lend all practicable assistance to the Republic in establishing democratic government in the reunited Korea.“

Hong Kong

Aircraft repair ship and light aircraft carrier HMS Unicorn (I72) escorted by the C-class destroyer HMS Cossack (R57) arrives at Hong Kong, Here she embarks troops of the Middlesex Regiment, while the Fiji-class light cruiser HMS Ceylon (30) embarks men of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders for passage to Pusan.

Day 56 of the Korean War, August 19th 1950

Land operations - Korean peninsula

First Battle of Naktong Bulge (August 5–19, 1950: On August 5, the 4th Infantry Division (North Korea) crossed the Naktong River in the vicinity of Yongsan, attempting to cut UN supply lines to the north as well as gaining a bridgehead into the Pusan Perimeter. Opposing it was the 24th Infantry Division of the Eighth Army (United States). Over the next two weeks, US and KPA forces fought a bloody series of engagements inflicting heavy casualties on one another in a confusing series of attacks and counterattacks, but neither side was able to gain the upper hand. In the end, the US forces, aided by reinforcements, air support and heavy weapons, destroyed the KPA force which was hampered by lack of supply and high desertion rates. The battle was a turning point in the war for the KPA, which had seen previous victories owing to superior numbers and equipment. UN forces now had a numerical superiority and more equipment, including M4 Sherman tanks and heavy weapons capable of defeating the KPA T-34 tanks.

Photo: PFC Harold R. Bates and PFC Richard N. Martin rest atop the third objective that U.S. Marines seized overlooking the Naktong River, South Korea, 19 August 1950



Air operations - Korean peninsula

The city of 200,000, fifty miles beyond the northern limit of the blockade and an equal distance south of the Soviet frontier, is one of the key strategic positions on the western shore of the Japan Sea. Located on a bay which opens to the southward, Chongjin has inner harbors protected by breakwaters and equipped with railroad sidings, cranes, and warehouses. In 1945 it had been captured by Russian marines in the only amphibious assault of the Soviet’s short war against Japan; current information indicated that it was frequently visited by Russian ships, that Soviet naval units were stationed there, and that the port was a Soviet restricted area. Now, however, its prior exemption was cancelled out and Russian security regulations were breached. Today sixty-three B-29s attacked the industrial and port area of Chongjin.

Since capturing Seoul, the North Koreans had built two pontoon bridges over the Han at that point, one north and one south of the rail and highway bridges. They had also started a new railroad bridge north of the old triple bridge group. The steel cantilever railroad bridge on the west still stood, defying all the efforts of the Far East Air Forces to bring it down. For almost four weeks the Air Force bombed this bridge daily with 1-, 2-, and 4-thousand-pound general purpose bombs with fuze settings, intended to damage both the superstructure and the abutments. Nine Superfortresses of the 19th Bombardment Group dropped 54 tons of 1,000-pound bombs on the west railway bridge at Seoul, it survived repeated air attacks to bring it down. Thirty-seven USN dive bombers from two aircraft carriers followed up the USAF attack. Aerial reconnaissance the next day revealed that two spans had collapsed.

A total of 46 B-29 Superfortresses from the 22nd Bombardment Groups, 92nd Bombardment Groups and 98th Bombardment Group targeted an oil refinery and railroad workshops in Wonsan, North Korea.

Naval operations - Korean peninsula

With Operation Lee still continuing, Tribal-class destroyer HMCS Athabaskan (G07) remains off the island of Taku Chaku working with the ROK forces in preparation for the next assault landing. Twenty Lanchester machine carbines and 6,000 rounds of ammunition are lent to Korean Navy, Commander Lee’s force, and Royal Canadian Navy, Chief Petty Officer Aveling, Athabaskan’s Chief Gunnery Instructor, goes ashore to train the ROK seamen in their use, a mission that is entirely successful despite the language barrier. Besides helping in this way Athabaskan also aids the South Koreans by providing boats and by once again tending the civilian wounded. Commander Lee came aboard before the ship left for her inshore night patrol and concerted plans for an attack the following morning on the island of Ryanku.

CVG-11 aircraft off Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) struck the railroad bridge at Seoul, which was still standing after repeated air attacks. Nine Skyraiders with two 1,000-pound bombs each and nine F-4U’s with a 500-pound bomb apiece dropped a span of the bridge into the Han River. The cost, however, was the Air Group Commander, Commander Robert W. Vogel, who led the attack and was shot down when he circled back to attempt to suppress North Korean anti-aircraft batteries in order to cover the bombers following behind him in the attack. The commander of VF-112, Commander Ralph Weymouth assumed command of the air group. Weymouth had survived a crash of his damaged F9F Panther on 7 August just off Philippine Sea’s bow.

A particularly successful patrol of Fireflies operating from Colossus-class aircraft carrier HMS Triumph (R16) came across a camouflaged 150-ton motor junk armed with a variety of heavy calibre anti-aircraft guns and they left it well ablaze after expending sixteen 60lb rockets on it after which they proceeded inland to attack a number of railway wagons, oil storage tanks and small coastal junks using their cannons.

South Korea

American divisions in Korea received their first augmentation recruits-the 24th Infantry Division (United States) and 25th Infantry Division (United States), 250 each; the 1st Cavalry Division (United States) and 2nd Cavalry Division (United States), 249 each. For the next week each of the divisions received a daily average of 250 Korean recruits. On the 29th and 30th, the 1st Cavalry Division (United States) got an average of 740, and the 24th Infantry Division (United States), 950 recruits daily.

United States Air Force, General Earle E. Partridge, commanding general of the Fifth Air Force (United States) moves the Joint Operations Center from Taegu to Pusan because of enemy advances.

The strength of the ROK tactical troops is recorded as being 61,152; service troops, 23,672; total strength of the ROK Army, 84,824 men. The reported strength of ROK tactical organizations was as follows:

Total: 76,842.

- I ROK Corps Headquarters: 1,275.
- Capital Division: 16,376.
- 8th Division: 9,106.
- II ROK Corps Headquarters: 499.
- 1st Division: 10,482.
- 6th Division: 9,300.
- ROK's Headquarters: 2,159.
- 3d Division: 7,154.
- P'ohang Task Force: 575.
- Task Force Kim: 4,025.
- Special type troops: 14,641.
- Training Center and Headquarters Company: 1,250.

United States

The Joint Chiefs of Staff decided that some of their members should go to Tokyo to discuss United States Army General MacArthur plans with him. Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General J. Lawton Collins and Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Forrest Sherman were chosen for this purpose. Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Vandenberg sent his Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Lieutenant General Idwal H. Edwards, to represent the Air Force.

As part of the naval mobilization, Iowa-class battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) is transferred to the Pacific Fleet and dispatched from Norfolk to support UN forces on the Korean peninsula.