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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3733　2 March 1951

FIELD REPORT (EXTRACT OF ADVATIS SPECIAL REPORT 031)　23 February 1951

Reliability - Fair

Company Level:

Two flags, one red and the other white, 50cm x 50cm. They are attached to wooden staffs, 3cm diameter ranging in length from 75cm to 100cm.

Battalion Level:

Each battalion carries two flags. Two types:

Regimental Level:

Each Regt carried one CCF Army flag.

(1) Red background with five (5) yellow stars in the upper corner, next to the pole. One star, 30cm in diameter is in the corner bounded by an arc of four stars, each 15cm diameter. (See sketch)

Dimension - 150cm square. The flag is attached to a wooden pole 7cm in diameter and 250cm long, at the top of which is a flat brass spearhead, 20cm in length. The base of the spearhead has red tassels 20cm long. The base of the pole is attached to either a steel tripod or “U” spike, 20cm in length.

(2) Same as above except that in place of the five stars, the numbers (八一) are substituted. The figures (八一) are 7cm wide and 30cm long.

Note: The flag with the characters (八一) is used more often than are the flags bearing the five stars.

Company Level:

Identification or Recognition:

Challenge:

Odd days, one flag, either red or white grasped either in the left or right hand held fully extended overhead or up and down, or held extended horizontally, or waved in a circular position in front of the body.

Color and hand in which flag is to be held are determined the previous night by the Army chief of staff.

Responses:

The company that answers uses either red or white flags, single flag on odd days of the month, grasped in either the left or right hand and using one of the four methods described in the “Challenge”. The answer usually differs from the challenge and is also determined by the Army chief of staff the previous night.

Even days of the month - two (2) flags are used, one red and one white.

Signals are:

Two flags held fully extended overhead.

Two flags with arms fully extended horizontally sidewards.

Two flags waved in a circular fashion (clockwise or counter clockwise) in the front of the signaler.

Two flags crossed in front of the chest.

The color, hand and method are determined the previous night by the Army chief of staff.

The response on even days is accomplished by using two flags and one of the abovementioned five methods of signalling, also determined by the Army chief of staff the night before.

Battalion Level:

The kinds of flags, methods of signalling are the same as that for the companies.

Regimental Level:

The Regt carries only the CCF Army flag. A signalman attached to the Regt Hq carries the flag and sets it up only when the regimental objective is reached. The flag is set up on the highest point of the regimental objective.

There are four signal men in each company headquarters. In MANCHURIA, each signalman was given forty days of training in the use of signal flags.

None were used.

Flags are used only during daylight hours.

Other Equipment:

Used during daylight hours, when the flags cannot be seen, or when terrain obstacles negate the use of flags.

One bugler is attached to each Co Hq.

One bugle squad, of four or five buglers is attached to each Bn Hq. These buglers are used as replacements for bugler causalities in the companies.

The bugle is used to call the company, the CO or any member of his staff. Each company has its own call. Variations in the call indicates what element within the company is being called. Company bugler is familiar with all calls and informs the CO what element of the company is being called to Bn Hq.

Regiment: One bugle platoon of twelve buglers is attached to each Regt Hq.

Function: Replace bugler casualties in the Bn. Bugle platoon leader determines and assigns the calls and their variations for each battalion and company in his regiment. During daylight hours, only the flags and bugles are used. Whistles, small bulges and flares (red, white or blue) are used in the company for night signalling.

Each of the four officers of each company carries a whistle; each of the four signalmen of the Co carries a small bugle. The CO carries a V pistol. Each of the four officers have a signal man (with small bugles) assigned to him. Each officer has a platoon assigned to him. The CO does the assigning, taking a platoon himself, and always assigning the 60mm mortar platoon to the assistant political leader.

Variations of short or long blast on the whistle and bugle, as sounded by the platoon leader or his signalman, signals the attack or retreat.

Flares are fired by the company CO and indicate direction. Color of the flares and the direction of firing of each flare are determined by the CO.

Battalion: Rocket parachute flares are used for signalling. Signalling invariably followed:

One flare - 1st Co attack.

Two flares - 2nd Co attack.

Three flares - 3rd Co attack.

Four flares - Heavy weapons open fire.

Five flares - Heavy weapons cease fire.

No knowledge of any signal for retreat.

Regimental Level: The same method as that used in the Bn level except that the signals used apply to the Bn.

Divisional Level: Telephones and runners are used. Flags are used only during the day.

Company Level: CO usually waves the flags. However, the signalman who carries the flags, occasionally does the signalling but only under the direction of the company CO.

Battalion Level: The Bn CO usually waves the flag. Occasionally, the signalman who carries the flag does the signalling.

In the battalion, flag signalling is seldom used. Bugle calls are more frequently used for signalling.

The presence of a flag waver indicates the presence of either a company commander or a battalion commander and also the immediate vicinity of either a company command post or battalion command post.

For the Commanding Officer: