ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3482 21 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI - 1516) 12 February 1951
| NAME: | WANG, Ta Lin (王大林) (CCF) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| ORGN: | 50th Army, Engr Regt, 2nd Bn, 3rd Co, 1st Plat, 2nd Sqd |
| DUTY: | General |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| AGE: | 26 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | SUCHUAN SHENG, LUCHOU HSIEN, NANTIEN PA (四川省 亀州縣 南天覇) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 080800 I Feb 51 in the vic CS 1143 |
| INTERROGATOR: | W.T.O. |
PW was very cooperative and possessed common sense, although lacking education, and is familiar with military service.
Information seems fairly reliable.
a. T/O & E and Strength of Unit:
50th Army (Code Name: LIANGSAN PU): 3 Unknown Inf Div, Arty Regt, Engr Regt, Cav Co, Guard Co, and Sig Co
Engr Regt: 3 Engr Bn
Engr Bn: 3 Engr Co
Engr Co: 3 Engr Plat
Engr Plat: 3 Engr Sqd
Engr Sqd: 12 men
| 1st plat, Engr Regt | ||
| a. Personnel: | Original (27 oct 50) | Present (Feb 51) |
| EM | 35 | 25 |
| Off | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 37 | 26 |
| b. Equipment and ammo: | ||
| Pistols (Chinese) | 1 (15 rd per) | 1 (rd unk) |
| Rifles, M-38 | 12 (30 rd per) | 12 (rd unk) |
| Grenades | 1 ea man | Unk |
| Explosive Blocks (US) | 38 | 38 |
| Wire Cutters | 6 | 6 |
| Shovels | 3 | 6 |
| Picks | 6 | 6 |
| 3rd Co (Engr) | ||
| a. Personnel: | ||
| EM | 121 | 60 |
| Off | 9 | 5 |
| Total | 130 | 65 |
| b. Equipment and ammo: | ||
| Detonator Box (Jap) | 1 | 1 |
| THOMPSON SMG | 3 (100 rd per) | 2 (rd unk) |
| Wagons | 3 | 0 |
| 2nd Bn, Engr Regt | ||
| a. Personnel: | ||
| EM and Off | 400 | 200 |
| b. Equipment and ammo: | ||
| AT Mines | 8 | 8 |
| Wagons | 5 | 0 |
| Engr Regt | ||
| a. Personnel: | ||
| EM and Off | 1,000 | unk |
| b. Equipment and ammo: | ||
| None besides those already mentioned. | ||
| Remarks: | ||
| Bridge repair and construction equipment were acquired locally. Nons were carried by the unit. Most of the casualties were caused by air attacks. | ||
| Cav Co, 50th Army | ||
| a. Personnel: | ||
| EM and Off | 120 | 120 |
| b. Equipment and ammo: | ||
| Thompson SMG | unk | unk |
| LMG (Canadian) | 〃 | 〃 |
| Carbines (US) | 〃 | 〃 |
| Pistols (Mausers, Jap) | 〃 | 〃 |
| All personnel of this company consisted of Mongolians, reputed to be skillful horsemen. PW heard that captured UN PW were sent to rear under the escort of this company. | ||
| Arty Regt, 50th Army | ||
| a. Personnel: | ||
| EM and Off | 1,200 | unk |
| b. Equipment and ammo: | ||
| “35” Howitzers (25 mm? - Iron wheels) | 3 (rd unk) unk make | 3 |
| “55” Howitzers (US - Rubber tires) | 3 (rd unk) unk make | 3 |
| Mountain Guns (unk size & make) | 2 (rd unk) | unk |
| These guns were last seen o/a 15 Jan 51 at approx 25 Km North of MUNSAN, being hauled southward on the main highway. The “55” howitzers were being pulled by trucks, while the Mt guns and “35” howitzers were pulled by horses. (about 12 horses to each gun). Approximately 3 wagons, each pulled by 3 horses, were loaded with shells. PW estimated 100 rd to be on each wagon. | ||
b. Location and Activities of Unit:
2nd Bn Hq was located at YONGDUNGPO (CS 1554) approx 1 Km SW of the RR Station on an unk hill, 4 Feb 51.
The Engr Regt Hq together with the 50th Army Hq were approx 1 km North of SEOUL on an unk hill, as of 2 Feb 51.
PW heard from plat ldr that the 49th Army is presently regrouping in the KAESONG-KUMCHON area, and the 38th Army in the NAMCHON’-JON (BT 7346) area.
PW heard form plat ldr 1 Jan 51 that the real battle will be held between Feb and Mar 51 in the SEOUL area with the 38th, 39th and the 49th Armies participating. These 3 x Armies were reputed to be the best in the CCF and were known to be always fighting alongside each other in the Korean war.
It was heard that between Feb and Mar 51, these 3 Armies will begin an all-out offensive which will take them to PUSAN.
50th Army received orders 4 Feb 51 to defend the SEOUL area to the last man. If 50th Army’s units could not accomplish their mission, the Army commander was to be punished by death.
4th Co, Engr Regt mission was to repair and make passable a secondary road from YONGDUNGPO to a point approx 1 km south, for vehicular traffic. PW plat ldr stated that (5 Feb 51) artillery pieces were to travel over this road in the near future.
c. Personal and Unit History:
Conscripted Sep 38 into the CNA 20th Army at SUCHUAN SHENG (四川省). Received 3 months training.
Captured by the CCF 39th Army at CHINGHOU (錦州) in Jan 48.
Taken to HARBIN (哈爾浜) as a laborer. Remained there about 1 yr.
Assigned to the Quartermaster Corps, 39th Army Mar 17, after undergoing communist indoctrination at LIAOYANG (遼陽).
Transferred with 50 others to the Engr Regt, 50th Army in Aug 50 at SHENYANG (瀋陽).
Departed SHENYANG in Aug 50 and arrived at LIAOYANG on same day.
Departed LIAOYANG during Oct 50 and arrived at KWANSUI (関水) in Oct 50.
Departed KWANSUI in Oct 50 and marched into KOREA from an unk point on the Korean-Manchurian Border. The YALU River was crossed 25 Oct 50 over a concrete bridge.
Marching over mountain trails and secondary roads, the Regt arrived at UNSAN(雲山). Remained for 10 days replenishing their food supplies.
Departed over main highway and arrived ”NONGTO DONG” (phonetic). Remained there for 3 days.
Departed “NONGTO DONG” arrived at HWANGJU (YC 4284) via PYONGYANG, 27 Nov 50. Remained there for approx 20 days, replenishing food supplies.
Departed HWANGJU 18 Dec 50, marched over main highway and arrived YONGDUNGPO (CS 1554) 28 Jan 51.
PW was separated from his unit on 3 Feb 51 due to Malarial attack.
Travelled southward with no definite intentions, stating that if he had located his unit he would have rejoined them, and, if he met UN forces he would have surrendered.
d. Personalities:
WANG, Chung (王忠) Co Comdr, 3rd Co
LIU, Mao Lin (劉毛林) Plat Comdr, 1st Plat
CHANG, Feng (張鳳) Political Officer, 3rd Co
e. Supplies:
When not in battle, the troops ate two sufficient meals a day. Under battle conditions, troops usually ate once daily or not at all.
Food was procured locally.
No ammo stockpiles besides a few artillery shells were seen.
f. Morale:
Morale was poor due to inadequate winter equipment and food. Cold weather day and night and sleeping in the mountains lowered moral considerably.
g. Signal:
There was only one telephone in the Engr Regt Hq. Runners were used as means of communication within the regt.
h. UN PW:
PW heard from his plat ldr in Dec 50 that one hundred odd UN soldiers were captured by the 38th Army in the PYONGYANG area and that all were sent to PEKING.
During Dec 50, approx 50 US PW were seen marching northward on the main highway, approx 4 km north of PYONGYANG, guarded by the guard sqd of the 38th army. It was heard that these PW were seen with and without, overcoats. None were wounded.
Four American wounded PW were seen being carried by stretchers in the city of KAESONG. PW heard that these were being sent to PYONGYANG to a field hospital.
i. Medical:
Approx 50% of PW regt were suffering from Malaria. No medicines or medical treatment were received. Men attacked by Malaria were usually indisposed for one day. An average of 5 men out of each company suffered from frozen feet. No treatments or medicine were received.
j. Psychological Warfare:
PW was captured.
PW had never seen any leaflets.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
