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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4449

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS FWD 0020)　23 November 1950

Fairly cooperative but did not appear to be observant.

Limited information obtained seems to be reliable.

1 Aug 45: As a member of the Japanese Army in MANCHURIA, informant was captured by the Russian Forces.

15 Sep 45: Along with about 1,000 PWs (80 Koreans, 920 Japanese), informant was shipped by rail to BIPAKAN, RUSSIA, where he was interned in an unidentified PW camp. PW’s were engaged only in logging. There were about 4 known deaths, which were caused by malnutrition.

21 Jan 46: These 1,000 PW’s were sent to an unidentified PW camp in BIRCEIDZHAN, RUSSIA, by rail. They were engaged in logging and house construction. There were no reported deaths in this camp.

2 May 46: The 1,000 PW’s were sent to OBLUCHE, RUSSIA, and were interned in an unidentified camp, engaged in logging, road repairing, and house construction. There were 30 reported deaths, which were mostly caused by malnutrition.

25 Aug 47: 970 PW’s were sent by rail to KHABAROVSK. All Koreans, numbering 2,115 men, were interned in #4 PW camp apart from the Japanese. Koreans were engaged in various types of factory labor, house construction, and general work. About 150 died, in this camp from burns (barrack-fire) and diseases.

14 Nov 48: Approx 2,000 Koreans arrived at NAKHODKA by rail and were processed for restriction through #1, #2, and #3 PW camps (53 District).

21 Nov 48: The 2,000 Koreans, informant included, arrived by ship at HUNCHAN, KOREA, where a large restriction center was located.

NOTE: All dates are appropriate.

Aircraft Repair Plant - KHABROVSK, RUSSIA - Mar 48 to Jul 48

Summary and Observation:

A fairly large unidentified (designations unknown) aircraft repair and aircraft parts manufacturing plant (consisting of two large buildings situated side by side) was located within the KHABROVSK airfield area, as part of its airfield) facilities.

During the period Mar 48 to Jul 48, informant almost daily observed the exterior and interior of the plant, since he was employed as one of the many general laborers. Because the informant had a poor memory for technical data, the following consists mostly of general information.

Location:

The above plant was situated in the ESE section of the KHABAROVSK Military Airfield, which was located approx 1 km E of #1 RR station and 4 or 5 km of NE of #4 PW camp (for Koreans only). An unidentified branch of a river (possibly from USSURI River) formed the semi-circular west border of the airfield.

Area:

The plant occupied plot of land in the ESE section of the airfield. The plant area itself was not bounded by any type of fence. Numerous willow-like trees were growing in the rear of the plant.

Accessibility:

This plant was conveniently located near #1 RR Station. A short-spur line led from the main-tracks (which connected #1 RR Sta with #2 RR Sta) into the plant area. Several times a week, freight cars, numbering from 2 to 6, are side-tracked in the immediate vicinity of the plant.

A main dirt highway (8 meters in width) ran SE of the plant. This highway connected #1 KHABAROVSK City with #2 KHABAROVSK City, a distance of approx 6 km. Daily, at least 6 large trucks arrive and depart from the plant and utilize this highway.

Facilities:

The plant consisted of two identical red-brick buildings which were situated side by side. There was a space of 15 meters between the two buildings. A single-tracked 55 spur line was in this space. Each building measured approx 200 meters long, 40 meters wide, and 5 meters high. The roofs of the both buildings were flat and covered with tar-coated cement. The main entrance to these buildings were facing toward the RR spur line. There were 3 brick smoke-stacks to each building. Each one (smoke stack) measured about 10 meters high by 2 meters in diameter. Thick black smoke was constantly billowing from these stacks.

Machinery:

Informant observed 1 large (capacity unknown) Bessemer type converter in one of the buildings. Scrap metal was melted down in this converter, which used coke as fuel.

The liquid metal was poured into molds to form some type of machine parts.

There were many large and small lathes, milling-machines, drilling and boring machines, thread-cutting machines, gear-cutting machines, and many other unidentified machines. Their origin was unknown. Informant stated that all the machinery was comparatively new.

There were no mechanized overhead traveling cranes located within the plant buildings. Heavy equipment was moved from one place to another (within the same building) by overhead block and tackle system employing chains. These were all manually operated.

Products:

Informant believed that this plant manufactured all parts to assemble complete aircraft (type unknown). Additional airplane parts were stored in the airfield warehouse.

Informant heard that complete aircraft engines, propellers, wings, and fuselages were manufactured here to replace the damaged parts or sections of aircraft now in operation.

Production date is unknown.

Personal:

Approx 20 Korean PW’s, 30 Japanese PW’s, 400 Russian convicts, and 100 Russian soldiers were employed 6 days a week for an 8 hour period.

A platoon of unidentified Russian soldiers, wearing red shoulder epaulets, guarded both the PW’s and convicts, as well as the plant area.

General Information:

On the incoming freight cars, observed mostly scrap metals (both steel and aluminum) and coal. On the outgoing freight cars and trucks, he observed both large and small wooden crates. Their contents or destinations were unknown.

PW’s and convicts were not paid any salary. However, if the production rate goes over the daily quota, every worker would receive about 20 rubles. The amount of money would increase with the size of production over set quota. The workers almost daily surpassed their quota.

Military Airfield - KHABAROVSK, RUSSIA - Mar 48 to Jul 48

Summary:

An unidentified Russian military airfield was located in KHABAROVSK area. Heard that there were several other airfields in addition to the one he had observed.

Observation:

Almost daily, during the period Mar 48 to July 48, employed in one certain section of the airfield premises as a general laborer. He was not permitted to walk about freely to make observations.

Location:

The airfield was located in the east outskirts of KHABAROVSK, approximately 1 km E of #1 RR station, and 4 or 5 km ENE of PW camp #4 (Koreans only).

Area:

Estimated that the airfield area measured 2 km long by 1.5 km wide. As far as he knows, the area was oval in shape and was completely encircled by a three meter high barb-wire fence. Clear visibility of this airfield area from the outside could not be obtained, due to the growth of numerous willow trees in the entire immediately visibility of the surrounding barb-wire fence.

Facilities:

Aircraft Repair Plant - (Refer to separate heading under “ECONOMIC”).

Runways: - There were no definite runways located on this airfield. Since the airfield itself was covered with well-kept grass, any section of the area could be utilized as a runway. Apparently heavy rainfall did not affect the condition of the ground, since informant observed aircraft employing the runway in inclement weather.

Hangars: - Informant stated that there were no hangars located on this airfield. On numerous occasions he observed aircraft land on this airfield. On numerous occasions he observed aircraft land on the field and “disappear”. He later heard from fellow PW’s that this airfield was equipped with underground hangars, which were capable of accommodating an unknown number of aircraft.

Fuel Storage: - A concrete structure, measuring approx 20 m long by 10 m wide by 15 m high, was situated in the west section of the airfield. The RR spur-line ended right alongside this target. Informant frequently observed that mobile RR gasoline or oil tank cars unloaded (by pumping) fuel into this structure. He never approached this facility, hence details are unavailable. There were many fuel drum-cans in the immediate vicinity of this structure. Believed that the fuel was being used by aircraft. He did not have any information on underground fuel storage.

Warehouse: - A concrete warehouse building, measuring about 80 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 6 meters high, was situated in the WGW section of the airfield. The roof was gabled and constructed of concrete slabs. Informant never entered this warehouse. He frequently observed aircraft engine parts, propellers, etc, being hauled into this warehouse from the freight cars, which stopped right in front. Capacity of this building was unknown.

Personnel:

Unable to estimate the number of Russian military personnel stationed at this airfield.

Aircraft:

Observed an unknown number of twin-engined transports, bi-winged trainers, and fighter planes, but he was unable to identify them. Flying schedules of the aircraft was also unknown.

Training:

From the #4 PW Camp occasionally observed that the airfield was conducting night aerial training with the use of powerful searchlights. Number and type of aircraft participating in the training was unknown. Did not hear anything concerning the use of AA guns by the Russians during this training.

On four separate occasions, observed bi-wing trainers being employed during parachute training. Evidently the pilot of the aircraft was learning to jump, as only one man at a time participated.

No further information available.

General Information - KHABAROVSK, RUSSIA - Aug 47 to 10 Nov 48

Interrogation:

Once, in Jan 48 and again, in Jul 48 while he was interned in #4 KHABAROVSK PW Camp, was interrogated by a Russian officer, who utilized a Korean interpreter. All (over 2,000 Koreans) PW’s were interrogated at one time or another. Informant was asked about his complete personal history. No mention was made concerning connection with local police, intelligence sections, etc. Interrogations usually last about 30 minutes.

Communistic Indoctrination:

At least once or twice a week, after working hours, communist indoctrination classes were held in #4 PW Camp. The PW’s were not forced to attend, but approx 70% of the internees went. Some, if not many, were not able to read or write, so they did not attend. Korean newspapers printed daily in KHABAROVSK were mostly discussed. Informant (who is illiterate) heard from his fellow PW’s that the items usually included in the newspapers dealt with propaganda. South Korean activities were usually denounced, while at the same time those of North KOREA praised. A greater portion of the newspaper (two sheets) dealt with the Soviet way of life and its advantages. The majority of the PW’s were misled and actually believed the propaganda. When they were repatriated to KOREA they out that over half, if not all, of the propaganda stories were untrue. There were about 150 Korean reactionists, who orally denounced the indoctrination system. These men were the only Koreans, who were not repatriated to KOREA prior to the end of 1948. Their fate was unknown.

For the Commanding Officer: