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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4319

FIELD REPORT (ADVANTIS - 0035)　21 October 1950

Informant was cooperative and talked freely but could not remember details. Reliability, fair.

Feb 46 - PW onlisted into 17th Regt, 11th Co, Volunteer Army (義勇軍) at HUNCH’UN (琿春), MANCHURIA.

Apr 46 - Released from the Volunteer Army and returned to farming at TAIPING-TUNG (太平洞), MANCHURIA.

Apr 47 - Inducted into CCF and employed at a small munition plant in HUNCH’UN, MANCHURIA.

Jun 47 - PW was put in jail for a week and discharged from the army because he was trying to talk 2 other youths into quitting the work at the factory and return to their homes. He was not permitted to join any organization and was considered an anti-Communist.

30 Mar 48 - Inducted in 4th Ind Regt, Guard Co, at TUNHUA (敦化), MANCHURIA.

18 Nov 48 - Transferred to a combat unit, 43rd Army, Rear Area # Guard Co, 1st Plat.

Apr 50 - PW departed MANCHURIA with a division of Korean troops for North KOREA. Arrived in N. KOREA, 13 Apr 50.

Obs: Apr 47 - Jun 47

PW was employed as a laborer assembling hand grenades at the above plant, which was located approximately 3 km NE of the RR station. This plant was the hospital for the former Japanese 4647 Unit, which was stationed here. It was converted into a munition plant by the CCF and hand grenades with wooden handles and 81-mm Mortar shells were manufactured here. PW heard that the gunpowder for these grenades and shells was also being manufactured here. Production rate was not known, but more hand grenades than 81-mm Mortar shells were being manufactured. The testing of these grenades and shells was conducted and He believed that approximately 20% of these shells and grenades did not explode.

An estimated 600 Red troops and 300 civilians were employed here. Occasionally work continued till late at night if the required number of these shells and grenades were not completed. There were a few Japanese technicians employed at this plant. The workers in this plant included women. The workers were restricted to the section of the plant they worked in and forbidden to enter other parts of the plant.

About the only machines PW observed in this plant were lathes. The plant was poorly equipped and most of the work was done by hand.

This plant consisted of one brick building with corrogated iron roof. There were many barracks in the neighborhood of the plant, but they were damaged and not in use. These barracks were billets for the former Japanese 4647 Unit.

Obs: Jul 44

From a distance of about 1 km PW observed the airfield which was located approximately 5 km SW of the RR station. It was located in a farming area and the terrain was flat.

PW believed that the facilities of this airfield were not good and large planes could not use this field. There were 5 or 6 buildings on the airfield. Size and contruction of the buildings was not known.

According to hearsay this airfield was damaged due to bombings by Russian planes.

Obs: Nov 48 - Apr 50

The 4th Ind Regt to which PW was assigned during the period Mar 48 to Nov 48 became a unit of the 43rd Army on 18 Nov 48. At this time the 43rd Army was stationed in MANCHURIA. It was a combat unit four (4) divisions: 156th Div, 127th Div, 128th Div and the 129th Div. A Guard Regt was attached directly to the 43rd Army.

The 156th Div was made up mostly of Koreans. The other Div were made up of Chinese. PW heard that there were 10,000 men and officers in the 156th Division. The asst Div Co, 156th Div was a Korean, Sr Col CHON, U (全宇). He was the highest ranking Korean officer in the 43rd Army and later became Div Commander of the 7th NKPA Div, with the rank of a Maj Gen. He then became a Lt Gen when commanding the 7th Div during the war.

PW did not know the organization and high ranking officers of the 127th, 128th and 129th Div. PW saw about 100 Japanese officers, mostly medical officers in the 43rd Army. There were also a few Japanese nurses. No Russian advisors were seen.

In Oct 49, PW was told in a lecture that the CO of the 43rd Army was Gen LEE, Chak Pu (李作簿) and that he was an expert strategist.

The 43rd Army was comparatively well equipped. PW saw rifles, IMG, HMG, various types of mortars, and light artillery pieces in this unit. Most of these weapons were of Japanese make. PW believes that there were some American manufactured automatic rifles and submachine guns. Signal equipment was lacking and only battalion headquarter and up were provided with telephones. Small units used horses or foot messengers to dispatch messages. Food supplies were obtained from the civilians living in the neighborhood. Each house was required to give a certain amount of rice to the troops and the amount varied accorded to the financial standing of that family. Some food was obtained through the army, but PW has eaten any of this food.

The men were issued two sets of cotton uniforms each year and during the winter they were issued quilted uniforms. These quilted clothes were in ragged condition and they had to turn them in in the spring. The summer uniforms were made of cotton cloth and the two sets of uniforms usually lasted for only a year. The shoes were made of cloth and the men could have them exchanged when they were damaged. During the winter they were issued fur lined shoes, but the outside of the shoes were made of cloth and leather. These shoes had to be turned in in the spring.

The 43rd Army has been engaged in many battles. And it was reinforced with troops from other units when it was below strength. PW heard that this 43rd Army was one of the best combat units in the CCF.

The 43rd Army departed HEISHAN HSIEN (黑山縣), MANCHURIA in Nov 48 and arrived at KUANGCHOU (廣州), CHINA, fighting most of the way against Chinese Nationalist Army. They passed through FEIP’ING (北平) and HANKOU (漢口), CHINA.

In Feb 50, all Koreans from the 43rd Army were assembled in KUANGCHOU and sent to CHENG-CHOU (鄭洲), CHINA. At CHENG-CHOU, CHINA, more Koreans were gathered together and the 7th Div (NKPA) was organized. The 7th Div arrived at WONSAN, KOREA in Apr 50.

PW believed that the 43rd Army has been stationed along the Chinese sea coast facing HAINAN TAO (海南島) since Jan 50.

For the Commanding Officer: