ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1611 4 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0962) 30 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | KIM, Kun Bong (金君鳳) (김군봉) |
| RANK: | Lt (中尉) |
| AGE: | 27 |
| DUTY: | Artillery maintenance officer |
| UNIT: | 5th Div, 11th Regt |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 yrs) |
| OCCUPATION: | Machinist |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 100 m NW of YONGYANG (1200-1530) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 25 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG NAMDO, HESAN GUN, UNHUNG MYON, SOKSIN NI #2 (咸鏡南道 惠山郡 雲興面 束薪里 二区) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | KAJIWARA (FEAF) |
PW seemed intelligent, very cooperative and talked freely. He had been confident of a NKPA victory, but lost his enthusiasm after a series of NKPA setbacks. He originally volunteered into NKPA and had no desire to surrender until approached by a ROK officer who talked him into it. Recommend further interrogation on ordnance training in NKPA.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
24 Nov 46: Volunteered into NKPA at SONGJIN. Trained as ordnance technician. Known as an ordnance maintenance man and had no rank.
o/a 20 Oct 48: Arrived at POKKYE-RI (1020-1740), promoted to Sr Sgt assigned to 7th Regt of the 3rd Div. PW was the regimental ordnance apprentice.
25 Feb 49: Transferred to P’YONGYANG Artillery Technical School and attended for 14 months. Commissioned Lt (中尉).
3 Apr 50: Transferred to NANAM and assigned as ordnance officer of the 11th Regt of the 5th Div.
19 Jun 50: The entire 5th Div moved to YANGYANG by train.
o/a 21 Jun 50: Arrived YANGYANG. The 5th Div assembled and equipped here.
27 Jun 50: Crossed the 38° parallel.
30 Jun 50: Arrived in KANGNUNG by truck. PW was not with the main elements of the Div. Div was deployed to the west.
o/a 2 Jul 50: Arrived in P'YONGCH’ANG (1130-1620) and rejoined the 11th Regt.
o/a 5 Jul 50: Arrived in CH’UNGYANG via YONGWOL by truck over mountainous road.
o/a 8 Jul 50: Arrived at ULCHIN.
o/a 20 Jul 50: Arrived in YONGDOK and went into the hills 12 km SW of YONGDOK to TAEJI-DONG (1220-1500) where the 11th Regt went into action for the first time. The 12th Regt at that time was in YONGDOK and the 10th Regt was south of the 11th Div and surrounded ROK troops in CHANGSA-DONG (1230-1490). The ROK troops retreated after 15 days to P’OHANG-DONG so the 5th Div advanced S of CH'ONGHA (1230-1480). 5th Div Hq was in CH'ONGHA.
o/a 8 Sep 50: The 5th Div took positions on the hill N of P’OHANG-DONG. Div strength was about 1/5 its original strength prior to taking position N of P’OHANG-DONG. Here Div received replacements and was brought up original strength. The division lost about half its personnel from UN air and arty attack in trying to occupy P’OHANG-DONG. With the strength depleted to half, the 5th Div went on the defensive until they could receive replacements. During the offensive the 5th Div and the 7th Div which was to the west took and retook P 'OHANG-DONG several times.
o/a 23 Sep 50: The 5th Div withdrew to CH’ONGHA to regroup. Received 400 replacements from the SEOUL Area. While Div was regrouping the Div Arty ammunition dump was blown up by UN aircraft. The Div was routed out of CH’ONGHA. Ordered to regroup at YONGYANG.
25 Sep 50: PW arrived in YONGYANG. When in YONGYANG few casualties were brought in by the medics and the PW learned that remnants of the 5th Div were in the area between YONGDOK and YONGYANG. Enroute to YONGYANG, the 11th Regt CO told the men in his command that if they were not able to reach YONGYANG, he wanted them to split up into guerrilla bands in the mountain range to the west. Then he divided the 3 truck loads of food and ammunition among the men. The ROK troops entered YONGYANG on 25 Sep 50 and the PW and 6 others escaped to the hill W of YONGYANG. The ROK troops sent an unarmed officer who talked the PW into surrendering.
Strength and Organization:
As of 23 Sep 50 the strength of the 5th Div was equivalent to one regiment. PW believes the division is presently scattered in small bands in the area between YONGDOK and YONGYANG and that part of the Div may have escaped N of YONGYANG.
Equipment:
As of 23 Sep 50 the 5th Div had the following equipment:
3 x SU-76 guns
2 x 122mm (M1938) Howitzers, 200 rounds
3 x 76mm (M1942) Field gun, 300 rounds
3 x 120mm (M1943) Mortar, 0 rounds
Each rifle had less than 70 rounds of ammunition.
Intentions:
The original objective of the 5th Div was to occupy P’OHANG-DONG. The 11th Regt was to act as security troops on the east coast of P’OHANG-DONG.
Personalities:
Name: KIM, Pong Mun (金鳳門) Col, CO 11th Regt
Morale & Propaganda:
Morale was low due to lack of food and fatigue. Troops had faith in their immediate officers, but did not have much confidence in the officers of higher headquarters. These officers were always the first to retreat.
4. GENERAL:Ordnance Information:
Defects:
| M1891/30 rifle: | (1) Front sight easily became loose. |
| (2) Firing pin easily broken. | |
| DP LMG: | (1) The swivel for the biped was weak. |
| PPsh (M1941): | (1) The pin holding the coil for guiding the rounds in the drum magazine broke easily. |
| 76mm (M1927) Howitzer) | The gas chamber plug easily became loose and piece failed to return to battery. |
| 76mm (M1942) F.A.) | |
| 45mm (M1942) AT gun) | The recoil spring lost its strength after constant use. |
| 45mm (M1937) AT gun) | |
| 122mm (M1931/37) gun (Corps Arty): | The spring to elevate the barrel often broke or became loose. |
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
