ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1908 18 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1164) 16 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CH’OE, SUNG GWAN (崔承官) (최승관) |
| RANK: | Capt (總尉) |
| AGE: | 24 |
| DUTY: | Co CO |
| UNIT: | 16th Armored Brigade (Code No 101) Motorcycle (Recon) Co |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 yrs), Normal School (4 years) |
| OCCUPATION: | Teaching |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | MIWON (米院) (1060-1530) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 29 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | MANCHURIA, YENCHI-HSIEN, HUNCH’UN, YENY’UG LITS’U-TSUN (滿州𨒂吉省琿春縣煙筒砬子村) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | MANCHURIA, CHI LIN SHENG, P’AN SHI HSIEN CHIN TAI CH’U |
| INTERROGATOR: | TAKESAKO (FEAF) |
PW was average intelligence and cooperative. However, his memory of dates and sequences of events were extremely poor. His knowledge of composition, equipment re his unit was limited.
Born and bred in MANCHURIA, his entry into North Korea in 1948 was the first time he had stepped on Korean soil. He was a teacher until the termination of World War II but was purged since CCF occupation because of unreliable political background.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
14 Apr 48 - Inducted into Recon Bn. 105th Armored Brigade P’YONGYANG. Received training until outbreak of conflict.
June 50 - In early June 50, various elements of the 105th Armored Div were separated and consolidated into 16th Armored Brigade.
8 Jun 50 - Commissioned Lt (中尉)
Aug 50 - In early August, 16th Armored Brigade departed PY’ONGYANG.
Early Sep 50 - Arrived SINBAN-NI (新反里). The tank bns of the unit never crossed the NAKTONG River but the three (3) motorized infantry bns crossed and engaged in battle.
22 Sep 50 - Brigade first began withdrawal
25 Sep 50 - PW commissioned Capt. Withdrawal turned into rout. At OK’CHON, PW deserted unit to surrender.
29 Sep 50 - Gave himself up to ROK troops.
Original organization and strength of 16th Armored Brigade:
Hqs Co
Three tank bns
Three co’s to bn
Five tanks to co
Three motorized infantry bns
Three co’s to bn
115-120 men to company (transportation by trucks, no unk)
Motorcycle co
144 men and 48 motorcycles
Transportation co
Signal co
As of Aug when the 16th Armored Brigade departed P’YONGYANG, each tank bn was equipped with, at the most, ten T-34/85 tanks. According to hearsay, the tank bns received additional tanks en route to front. (Primary reason in the tank bns delay in arriving at the front was that they were far under T/E strength, and could not engage in full scale combat).
Last known strength of unit:
To the best of the PW’s knowledge, the 16th Armored Brigade was “annihilated”. Because the three motorized Bns crossed the HAKTONG River, their casualties were as heavy as any of the other infantry units. Only three of the original 48 motorcycles were in fairly good operating condition at OK’CHON where PW deserted.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
