ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4103 21 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (163-MISDI-0303) 28 February 1951
(Atchd 1st Mar Div)
| PW NAME: | CHEN Yung Hwa (陳永華) |
| PW NO: | 1st M-P-4648 |
| DUTY: | Squad Leader |
| UNIT: | CCF 4th Field Army, 13th Army Group, 39th Corps, 116th Div, Recon Co |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 27 Feb 51, DS 0947H |
| CAPTURING UNIT: | 1st Marines |
| INTERROGATOR: | Sgt ANDO |
PW deserted his unit five days ago and after eluding detection from CCF troops four days, made his way to UN lines where he surrendered with safe conduct leaflets. Talked freely but gave conflicting, lengthy answers. Not recommended for further interrogation.
a. Mission: 39th Corps arrived CHOWON-NI (DS 0453) 20 Feb 51 from SEOUL. Heard 39th Corps was to await a large armored unit before going into battle.
b. Strength of Unit:
(1) Original Strength (when entered KOREA Nov 50):
Hq 39th Corps: 3000
115th Div: 15000
116th Div: 15000
117th Div: 15000
(2) Present Strength (23 Feb 51):
116th Div: 11000
Other Div: unk
Strength each regt: 3000
Code Names: 50th Corps - "LIANGSAN PU"
66th Corps - "FUN HWA PU"
39th Corps - "HAN HAI PU"
115th Div - 15th PU
116th Div - 16th PU
117th Div - 17th PU
Code No: 346th Regt - #36
347th Regt - #37
347th Regt - #38
4th Field Army consisted of 13th, 14th and 15th Army Groups. 13th Army Group consisted of 38th, 39th, 40th, and 50th Army Corps. An independent arty regt is a part of 13th Army Group. All above units are in KOREA.
23 Feb 51 39th Corps was in vicinity of CHOWON-NI (DS 0453)
23 Feb 51 CCF 66th Corps CP was in area (DS 1358)
c. Chronology:
Nov 50 - 13th Army Group entered KOREA vicinity of SINUIJU. 39th Corps went into battle first time at UNSAN. Battled into PYONGYANG.
Jan 51 - 39th Corps first to enter SEOUL. Advanced southward until replaced by 50th Corps. 39th Corps returned to SEOUL for further training and recuperation.
5 Feb 51 - 39th Corps departed SEOUL. Troops followed close to HAN River part of the way.
12 Feb 51 - 39th Corps arrived CHIPYONG NI (CS 8248) where fought two days with American Forces before moving eastward.
20 Feb 51 - Arrived CHOWON NI (DS 0453). All three divisions departed to nearby areas. They were to wait for a large armored unit before going into battle again.
23 Feb 51 - During night PW and two of his men accompanied a staff officer and his Korean interpreter to 66th Corps CP "EUCHUN NI" (DS 1358 approx) to obtain information on present front. As the group neared CP, PW deserted and escaped northward. Eluding CCF troops everywhere, he travelled to HONGCHON (DS 0271). Then went southward.
27 Feb 51 - PW passed through UN lines and surrendered.
d. Personalities:
Recon Co CO: CHEN Yung Kong (陳永康)
e. Weapons and Equipment: Bn Weapons:
88mm Mortars - 4
60mm Mortars - 6 to 9
HMG - 4
LMG - 8 to 10
Many troops armed with US SMG. Each rifleman carried four hand grenades and unit-tank hand grenades.
Div Arty Bn possessed twelve Type 38 Japanese arty pieces, horse-drawn with disc wheels.
Telephone communication down to bn. Fireless used for communications from regt upward.
f. Status of Supply:
Supplies are transported by trucks and horses at night only. Recent ammunition supply, for rifles only. Troops received additional clothing once at SEOUL.
g. Other Units:
Indep Arty Regt of 13th Army Group was in HOKGCHOH (DS 0271) vicinity 25 Feb 51. Part of regt was deployed approximately 12 km SE of HONGGHON behind small hills. The greater part was along road running SW of HONGCHON, 4 km away. All guns were US 105 Howitzers, and a battery consisted of four guns. PW estimated thirty-two pieces. Guns were all placed near roads so ammunition could be hauled by trucks. Guns well camouflaged. Most taken from CNA. Some had been taken from American troops in KOREA. CCF 50th Corps was observed in SEOUL, 5 Feb 51.
h. Foreign Element:
5 Feb 51, strength of NKA in SEOUL was equivalent to CCF Army Group.
i. Morale - Definitely low. Many troops seek chance to surrender but cannot do so at will.
j. UN Weapons:
Arty barrages are most effective weapon, although CCF troops fear aircraft the most.
Born and raised in FORMOSA. Volunteered into CNA Nov 45 and served until captured by CCF Nov 49. Promoted to sqd ldr six months ago. Because of his six years education in FORMOSA, PW had fair knowledge of Japanese languages.
For the AC of S, G-2:
UYEDA
