ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1909 18 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1166) 16 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | KIM, Chong Myon (金鐘晃) (김종면) |
| RANK: | Jr Lt (少尉) |
| AGE: | 19 |
| DUTY: | Encipher and Decipher Messages |
| UNIT: | Air Force, Security Section, Code Section |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 yrs) Middle School (5 yrs) |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | KWAE SAN (槐山) (880-1990) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 1 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG-NAM DO, KOWON-GUN, KOWON-MYON, TAE SU KOK-NI #155 (咸鏡南道高原面大水谷里一五五番地) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | PYONGAN NAMDO, P’YONGYANG SANGSU-RI #12 (平安南道平壞市上需里一二番地) |
| INTERROGATOR: | S/Sgt NAKAYAMA (FEAF) |
PW was very cooperative and of higher intelligence than average. Very observant and possessed good memory. He was a code man for the NKAF.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:3 Jul 50 - Inducted in NKA in P’YONGYANG. Given training in ciphering and deciphering for 6 days in Dep’t of Interior. Building located 150 meters N of P’YONGYANG City Hall and 750 meters NW of TAEDONG-GYO (大同橋) Bridge. The buildings are surrounded by tall trees and observation from air is difficult unless directly overhead.
13 Jul 50 - Arrived in SEOUL with 30 other code men from P’YONGYANG. 20 more code men were sent from CH’ORWON (鐵元) and were processed and assigned to various branches of service. PW and 2 others were attached and assigned to Air Force, Security Section as coding and decoding man to KIMP’O Air Base. The code section of the Security Section had Communications Sections where all messages in code were transmitted and received by wireless operator. In communications section there was a total of 8 men at all times, consisting of 1 officer, 1 master sergeant and 6 EM. The messages received and transmitted were mostly on supply of ammunition, fuel, and air activities between P’YONGYANG and KIMP’O. Utilized captured equipment.
27 Aug 50 - Approximately 41 men left SEOUL and arrived in TAEJON (大田) Air Base. 35 men were telephone and linesmen, 2 were wireless operators, and Code Section had 4 men. For approximately 10 days the transmitter was out of order and all messages were sent by telephone. Remained in TAEJON for approximately 30 days.
26 Aug 50 - Approximately 0300 hrs received an order from TAEJON Patrol Brigade Hq to withdraw with veterans released from hospital and other unfit for combat duties.
They intended to withdraw to NK. Midway between TAEJON and CHOCH’IWON (鳥政院) 40 men met NKA troops returning from CHOCH’IWON due to its occupation by UN troops. They advised the PW to take trails E of Ch’ONGJU (清州) through the mountain toward the north and cross the 38o parallel line. Enroute PW entered a small village and was given food and clothing. PW paid 2000 won NK money. PW was informed that there was a great number of UN troops in the neighborhood and they had taken truck loads of NKA troops as PW. About 200 meters away PW saw troops of the ROK Div and surrendered with two EM.
Composition of Unit (Air Force)
Force - Air force - 3,000 men
Section - Security - 15 men
Section - Code 15 men
Other Units of Air Force
Fighter Wing (Code No 885)
Bomber Wing
Technical Grp (Code No 778)
Advisory Grp
Political Grp
The Engineering, Food Supply, Clothing Supply and Communications sections came directly under the command of Advisory Officer and Communication Security, and Classified Section came under the command of Chief of Staff.
Personalities:
AF CG - WANG, Nyon (王年), Maj Gen (少將), Age - about 45, Remarks - Flight instructor in Chinese 8th Route Army. Returned to NK in 1949 and replaced Sr Col Lee Hwal (李활) to become the NKAF Chief of Staff.
Section Security - KIM, Sung Chun (김숭춘), Capt (總尉), Age - about 26, Remarks - Served in NKA and prior to the outbreak of the war, transferred to NKAF. He was promoted from Jr Lt to Capt in the Air Force.
Equipment for the NKAF Prior to the War:
35 Yak 17 (Yak PE) Fighter planes
30 Yak - 18 Trainers made of plyboard
35 ILZE SHACHI Fighter and light bomber.
PW saw 20 planes burned on the ground 29 Jun 50 in P’YONGYANG (平壞). On KIMPO Air Field 10 planes were burned on the ground between 1 and 5 Aug 50 and lost 15 in the air between 25 Jun 50 and 5 Jul 50. Replacements were supposed to arrive but as of 1 Oct 50 none had arrived. PW heard that a number of NK’s who met the requirements were sent to RUSSIA for flight training but number of men unknown.
Capabilities:
Disposition and Identification:
The NK Air Fields were located in the following places:
P’YONGYANG (平壞) directly E of PANWOL-TO Island
WONSAN (元山)
YONP’O (連浦)
YONGGANG (龍岡)
P’YONGGANG (平壞)
SINMAK (新幕)
Tactics:
Air tactics were the same as those of the USSR. Pilots trainsed by Russian officers.
Reserve:
Men who qualified as pilots were sent to RUSSIA for training as fighter and bomber pilots. Subsequently disposition unknown due to the fact that all movements were kept secret.
Source of Supplies:
Air supplies were limited at operational fields and rear areas. Only possible means of keeping the planes in operation was by taking parts from the damaged planes to repair others.
Main Air Force Depot:
The main Air Force Depot was in P’YONGYANG (平壞) directly E of PANWOL-TO Island (半月島).
USSR Personnel Assisting NK Air Force:
Soviet personnel have assisted the NKAF as advisors, but have not participated in actual combat.
NKAF personnel:
The original NKAF personnel were mostly former Japanese Air Force personnel trained by LEE, Hwal (李활), Sr Col who served in Japanese Air Force during World War II. He organized the People’s Air Association in SINUIJU (新義州) and upon completion of the ground training they transferred to the NKAF for further training.
Chinese Communist Air Force:
Chinese Communist Air Force did not participate in any NK aerial activities.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
