ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2139 1 November 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 - MISDI - 1142) 20 October 1950
| PW NAME: | PYON, Kyo Son (辺桂善) (변계선) |
| RANK: | Jr Lt (少尉) |
| ORGN: | 43rd Div (code 695), 474 AA Bn Hq |
| DUTIES: | Financial Officer |
| EDUCATION: | Middle School, 2 yrs |
| AGE: | 31 |
| OCCUPATION: | Sales Clerk |
| ADDRESS: | PYONGAN PUKTO, TAECHON GUN, KANGSO MYON, HAZAN RI, #371 (平安北道泰川郡江西面馬場里三七四) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 171400 K Oct 50, 3 kms S of CHAERYON (BT 2953) by US Forces |
| INTERROGATOR: | T.M.O. |
PW, until conscripted into the North Korean Army, aided a group of 15 deserters since June 50, by giving them shelter and food.
Prior to deserting the unit, the PW took all of his Bn’s payroll (70,000 Won) and turned it over to US forces.
Information seems fairly reliable.
T/O AND E & STRENGTH OF: 43rd Division (as of 17 Oct 50)The 43rd Division (code 695 unit) was activated on 15 Sep 50, at HAEJU (BT 0405) to guard the seacoast against UN amphibious landing.
The Division Hqs was composed of the Division Commander, Asst Division Commander, Chief of Staff, Division Finance, Division Signal, Division Supply, Division Ordnance, and the Division Tactical Planning Section.
The following units were attached to the Division Hqs: 1 x AA Bn, 1 x Engr Bn, 1 x Signal Bn, 1 x Medical Bn, 1 x Transportation Bn, 1 x SPG Bn and 1 x Recon Co.
The AA Bn was composed of 1 x 37mm Automatic AA Company and 2 x AA HMG Companies. Each AA Company was composed of 2 x platoons of 3 x Sqds.
The Engr Bn was composed of 1 x Construction Company, 1 x River Ferry Company and 1 x Mine Laying Company. Each Engr Company was composed of 3 x Platoons of 4 x squads.
The Signal Bn was composed of 3 x companies of 3 x platoons of 4 x sqds.
The Medical Bn was composed of 3 x companies and a field hospital unit.
Each Company was composed of 3 x platoons of 4 x sqds.
The Transportation Bn was composed of 3 x companies of 3 x platoons of 4 x sqds.
The SP Gun Bn, although on paper, did not exist because of the lack of technicians and equipment.
The 43rd Division (code 695 Unit) was composed of 1 x Artillery Regt and 3 x Infantry Regts. (74th, and 2 unidentified Inf Regts).
The Arty Regt was composed of 3 x Bns. One of these 3 Bns was broken up into 3 companies and each company was attached to each Infantry Regt.
An Artillery Company was composed of 3 x Platoons of 3 x sqds.
2 x Bns of the Arty Regt were with the Div Hqs.
1/3 of the Arty Regt was armed.
The Infantry Regts were composed of 3 x Bns, 1 x 82mm Company. Each Bn was composed of 3 x companies of 3 x Rifle Platoons and 1 x HMG Plat.
Each Plat was composed of 4 x sqds.
Remarks: About 50% of the Division was armed (small arms only).
The Division was to receive its weapons on 15 Oct 50, from SINUIJU.
| Original | |
| A4 Battalion: | |
| a. Personnel | 304 |
| b. Equipment & ammo: | The unit had no AA HMG & AA automatic cannon. The whole unit was armed with 48 x M1891/30 rifles. |
On 15 Oct 50, the 43rd Division received orders to proceed to SARIWON (BT 0464) to join forces with another North Korean Division and to make a last ditch stand. PW deserted his unit while enroute.
PERSONNEL & UNIT HISTORY:Conscripted 3 Sep 50, at TAECHON GUN, with 8 school teachers and sent to HAEJU, for assignment with the newly activated AA Bn of the 43rd Division. PW was commissioned Jr Lt because of his education, and assigned as the Bn finance officer. He received no military training.
PERSONALITIES:O Jin U (오진우), Maj Gen, CG, 43rd Div
KIM Song Chang (김성창), Capt, Bn Cultural Officer, acting Bn C.O.
YOM Suk Chin (염숙진) Capt, Bn Supply Officer
KANG Ung Chon (강응천) Lt, Bn Intelligence Officer
KIM, Ji Su (김지수) Lt, Bn Propaganda Officer
HWANG Chong Yul (황종율) Lt, Co Culture Officer
LEE, Yong Dok (리용덕) Lt, Culture Officer
PAK Yong Kuk (박용국) Jr Lt, Supply Plat Ldr
FOOD & AMMO:The 43rd Div (code 695 unit), had sufficient food.
Every village and town in North Korea had a Peoples Committee whose duty it is to feed and collect food.
Ammo was insufficient. The PW’s Bn received no ammo since its original issue 15 Sep 50.
US PW’sThe #15th Peoples School in PYONGYANG until 10 Oct 50, was utilized as a PW camp for US prisoners. On 10 Oct 50, PW Camp was transferred to the 19th Peoples School in PYONGYANG.
PW heard that the above PW camp hold approx 600 US PW’s.
CHINESE COMMUNIST & RUSSIAN AID:The Chinese Communists are aiding the NKA by giving them supplies. Between June 50 and Oct 50, the Chinese Communists gave the North Korean Army about one hundred thousand blankets. The blankets were shipped to North Korea by way of SINUIJU. PW received a new blanket made in MANCHURIA.
PW also heard that weapons and ammunitions are being shipped to North Korea from Russia by way of MANCHURIA, SINUIJU to PYONGYANG.
GENERAL INFO:1. Political Personalities:
PAK, Il U (박일우) - North Korean Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)
2. North Korean Laborers in RUSSIA.
In 1947, several thousand North Koreans were sent to SIBERIA, KAMCHATKA, and KARAFUTO as forced laborers because of the shortage of food.
3. North Koreans Sent to MANCHURIA For Pilot Training:
PW was told by his Bn Commander that 300 N.K. Air cadets were sent to KIRIN, MANCHURIA, to train under the Russian airforce.
(The former Japanese airfield near KIRIN, is said to be the training field.)
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
