ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2138 31 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS 1224) 24 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CHO, Ch’ang Sok (趙昌錫) (조창석) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 31 |
| DUTY: | Cook |
| UNIT: | WONSAN Air force unit, 3rd Technical Bn |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | CH’ONUI (全義) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 26 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG NAMDO, WONSAN, NAEWONSAN-Ni, #96 (咸鏡南道元山內元山里九六) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | MORI (FEAF) |
PW was unobservant, unable to remember dates, or give information in detail. Most statements were given as hear-say therefore reliability is questionable.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
26 Jun 50: Joined the NKA at WONSAN (元山). Assigned to the Air Force Unit 3rd Technical Bn as cook.
3 Jul 50: Departed WONSAN by truck with the 3rd Technical Bn (approx 200 men).
5 Jul 50: Arrived CH’ORWON (鐵原). The Bn repaired the CH’ORWON Airfield for one week. The Bn departed less a number of pilots, maintenance crew members and three Russian Air Force advisory officers, who were dressed in civilian clothes.
O/a 12 Jul 50: Arrived SEOUL. Stayed at the SEOUL RR Station for two days.
O/a 15 Jul 50: Arrived KIMPO (金浦) Airfield by truck with approx 190 men.
O/a 19 Jul 50: A total of eight NKA single-engine fighter aircraft, five from PYONGYANG and three from WONSAN, arrived at KIMPO Airfield. All eight aircraft were destryoed the following day by UN air attack.
O/a 27 Jul 50: Departed KIMP’O Airfield with the 3rd Techhnical Bn. No air force personnel were left at KIMP’O.
O/a 29 Jul 50: Arrived KUNSAN (群山) Airfield by truck. The unit was engaged in repair of the airfield, construction of the air-raid shelters and fortifications in the vicinity of the airfield for two months.
O/a 24 Sep 50: The above repair and construction work was stopped and preparations for retreat were made.
O/a 26 Sep 50: The 3rd Technical Bn was disorganized and personnel were ordered to regroup at TAEJON.
28 Sep 50: PW himself did not head for TAEJON but walked northward from NONSAN (論山) and surrendered to the South Korean police force at CHONUI (全義).
Unit Organization and Strength:
The 3rd Technical Bn (approx 200 men) consisted of four (4) Cos, a Signal Plat, an AA Sqd and a Medical Sqd. One Co (40 men) consisted of three plats. PW did not know where the pilots were assigned and stated that all soldiers of the four (4) Cos served as ground crew members or security guards.
Equipment:
2 x AAA pieces - The AAA pieces which were set on two rubber tired wheels, were of approx 50mm caliber and the gun barrel was approx 150 cm long. The AAA piece was not automatic.
2 x DP LMG
2 x PPsh M1941 SMG
100 x Japanese Type 99 rifles
15 x TT1930 automatic pistols
Aircraft:
Three YAK-3 type single air cooled engine aircraft were observed at the WONSAN Airfield on 3 Jul 50. These three aircraft were transferred to the CH’ORWON (鐵原) Airfield on 5 Jul 50 and again to the KIMP’O Airfield on 19 Jul 50.
There were eight single-engine fighters at the KIMP’O Airfield as of 19 Jul 50, but PW heard they were all destroyed on 20 Jul 50 by US air attacks. The 3rd Technical Bn did not received any other aircraft after the above were destroyed but all members of the unit were told, while repairing the airfield at KUNSAN o/a 10 Sep 50, that the unit was to receive some new aircraft from P’YONGYANG or RUSSIA by 20 Sep 50.
Personnel:
3rd Technical Bn consisted of approx 200 men and CO was CHO, Ch’ang Su (趙昌洙), Lt Col (中佐) age 27. There were approx 30 other officers from Capt (大尉) to Jr Lt (少尉) who were mostly pilots in the unit. Also there were approx 25 M/Sgts (特務上士) in the Bn who were pilot candidates. All other NCO’s were ground crew members or security guards. PW stated that the pilot officers received best treatment and could only be reached by phone at their rooms.
There were three Russian Air Force Officer Advisors, who were always dressed in civilian clothes, at the WONSAN Airfield. PW stated that the Russian advisors followed the 3rd Technical Air Force Bn to the CH’ORWON Airfield in Jul 50 but did not enter South KOREA.
Activities:
PW never observed the three aircraft of the 3rd Technical Air Force Bn take off from the WONSAN of CH’ORWON airfields.
Morale:
The morale of the Bn was considerably lowered in Sep 50 due to the unfavorable war situation, and because the unit did not receive any aircraft.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
