Korean War (1950 – 1953) in Real Time

[lordroel]

Korean War (1950 – 1953) in Real Time

The Korean War was fought between North Korea and South Korea from 1950 to 1953. The war began on June 25th 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea following clashes along the border and rebellions in South Korea. This thread is dedicated to that war and will will be a weekly update true the use of YouTube videos courtesy of the excellent The Great War channel and a daily update using the following sources.

(This thread will be allowed to be discussed in as long as no jumping ahead of the last posted update as to avoid spoilers and try to focus on the war).

The USAF in Korea A Chronology 1950-1953

Korean War: Chronology of U.S. Pacific Fleet Operations

Wikipedia: June 1950

U.S. Army Center of Military History - Korean War Campaigns

Anzac Portal - A chronology of the Korean War

The B-29’s Campaign in the Korean War: A chronology

CANADIAN NAVAL OPERATIONS IN KOREAN WATERS 1950 – 1955

United States Army in the Korean War - The First Year

The United States Air Force In Korea 1950-1953

The Joint Chiefs of Staff and National Policy 1950-1951

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The Korean War Channel Trailer

The Korean War by Indy Neidell

[lordroel]

Day 1 of the Korean War, June 25th 1950

YouTube (The Korean War Begins)



YouTube (Korean War Begins - 1950)



Land operations - Korean peninsula

Newspaper: 25 June 1950



Operation Pokpung: At 10:00 on 25 June The Pentagon received a report detailing that North Korean forces had invaded the South at several locations. The report claims combat was initiated at 04:40 when Ongjin was hit by North Korean artillery fire. Individual KPA units advanced 3 to 5 kilometres into South Korean territory within the first three hours. The ROKA put up a strong resistance in the direction of Ongjin, Kaesong and Seoul. Osin, Kaesong and Sinyuri were captured on the first day. KPA forces advanced 12 kilometres in the Sunsen direction and 8 kilometres along the eastern coast. Two amphibious landings occurred on the coast south of Kangnung at 05:25. One landing occurred in the Korio region and consisted of two battalions of naval infantry and 1,000 partisans. The other landing occurred in the Urutsyn area and consisted of 600 partisans. The city of Urutsyn was captured. The South Korean military engaged the North Korean warships, but the landings were successful.

Air operations - Korean peninsula

United States Air Force, Major General Earle E. Partridge, Commander, Fifth Air Force, ordered wing commanders to prepare for air evacuation of United States citizens from South Korea. He also increased aerial surveillance of Tsushima Strait between Korea and Japan.

The Twentieth Air Force placed two squadrons of 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing (FIW) on air defense alert in Japan.

North Korean fighter aircraft attacked Seoul and Kimpo Airfields, destroying one USAF C-54 on the ground at Kimpo.

Photo: A U.S. Air Force Douglas C-54 Skymaster transport burning at Kimpo airfield, 25 June 1950



United States fighter planes of 8th Fighter Group fired on by small North Korean convoy at 37 50' N. - 129 40' E. off coast of South Korea at approximately 1700 [K].

North Korea

Announcement on radio by North Koreans of their invasion of South Korea made at 1200 [K].

Japan

3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) in Japan, placed on alert, and commences preparation of local defences.

In Tokyo the headquarters of Naval Forces Far East settled down for a normal peacetime weekend. Then the telephone rang, and when the United States Marines, Lieutenant Colonel who was Staff Duty Officer that day picked up the receiver he found himself talking to the Military Attaché at Seoul. This conversation put an end to holiday routine. Within minutes the headquarters had shifted to a state of readiness, and overnight it became clear that war, at least of a sort, was at hand. The unexpected nature of the Korean involvement and the speed with which the crisis broke meant that most U.S. Naval Forces, Far East planning (NAVFE), like that of other military headquarters, had to be thrown out the porthole. But it was at least possible to salvage so much of it as was concerned with the evacuation of American citizens. While American civilians and their dependents were ordered out of the Seoul area by United States Ambassador to South Korea, John J. Muccio, Commander Naval Forces, Far East (COMNAVFE) instructed Admiral Higgins (commander of Cruiser Division 5) to send Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer USS Mansfield (DD-728) and Fletcher-class destroyer USS De Haven (DD-469) to cover the exodus from the port of Inchon.

Photo: The U.S. Navy light anti-aircraft cruiser USS Juneau (CLAA-119) at anchor in Kagoshima, Japan, on 25 June 1950



United Nations

Ambassador Gross telephoned United Nations Secretary-General Trygve Lie and read to him the formal United States request that the Security Council be convened immediately to consider the aggression in Korea (Korean Conflict). The request, read as follows:

“The American Ambassador to the Republic of Korea has informed the Department of State that North Korean forces invaded the territory of the Republic of Korea at several points in the early morning hours of June 25 (Korean time).

“Pyongyang Radio under the control of the North Korean regime, it is reported, has broadcast a declaration of war against the Republic of Korea effective 9 p. m. EDT June 24.

“An attack of the forces of the North Korean regime under the circumstances referred to above constitutes a breach of the peace and an act of aggression.

“Upon the urgent request of my Government, I ask you to call an immediate meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations.”

United Nations Security Council called into emergency session. Soviet Union boycotts session due to permanent seating of Taiwan representing China instead of Communist mainland government. In Soviet absence and their veto power not in effect, Council Resolution 82 passed demanding that North Korea end invasion. This legitimized United Nations actions and the most dramatic of the early events in the pantheon of Korean War facts.

Korean People's Army strength on June 25th 1950

The current estimates of ROK intelligence agencies on June 25th 1950 set the strength of the North Korean forces at 10 infantry divisions, 1 tank division, 1 air force division, and an antiaircraft gun regiment-120,000 infantry soldiers, 34,000 constabulary troops, 5,000 armored troops, and 2,000 air force personnel. Weapons strength, according to ROK figures, amounted to 1,600 artillery pieces, 50 T-34 tanks and SU-76 self-propelled (SP) guns, 211 YAK-9 fighters and IL-10 attack planes.

A State Department report from Seoul as of May 11th 195O, at some variance with these estimates, credited the North Korean Army with 103,000 soldiers and constabulary troops of all types (excluding 25,000 provincial police), 65 tanks, including some T-34's, 296 light and medium artillery pieces, 780 medium and heavy mortars, and 356 45-mm. antitank guns. Aircraft attributed to the North Korean Air Force were set at 100 YAK aircraft, 70 IL-10 attack planes, and 10 reconnaissance planes. Later reports, believed more accurate, gave the North Korean Army 135,000 men organized into 8 infantry divisions, 1 armored brigade, 2 half-strength divisions, 1 separate infantry regiment, and 1 motorcycle reconnaissance regiment. Many of these troops were veterans from the armies of the Soviet Union and Communist China. In addition to large amounts of artillery, the North Koreans possessed 150 T-34 Russian-made tanks and 180 high-performance combat aircraft.

Naval comparison - South Korean Navy versus Korean People's Navy

The Navy of the Republic of Korea on the first day of the outbreak of the war consisted of four YMS, two steel-hulled ex-Japanese minecraft (JML) and the ROK Navy's single LST at Inchon. In Mokpo, at the southwestern tip of the peninsula, there were two YMS and some small craft. Nine YMS were in the Pusan-Chinhae area along with some small craft, as was also the recently arrived PC-461-class submarine chaser ROKS Baekdusan, (PC-701) purchased by subscription of naval personnel. Three other PCs had been obtained from the United States, but these were still in the Hawaiian Islands. By contrast, the North Korean Navy was somewhat larger and better equipped than the ROKN, with 13,000 personnel and equipment mostly obtained from the Soviet Union. This included three OD-200–type submarine chasers, five G-5–type aluminum-hulled motor torpedo boats (PT-boats), two former U.S. YMS-type small minesweepers (via U.S.-Soviet lend-lease during World War II), one ex-Japanese minesweeper, one floating base, one military transport, six various motor gunboats, and up to 100 miscellaneous small craft, schooners, junks, sampans, etc.

Deployment of U.S. Forces in the Far East, June 1950

On June 25th 1950, the United States Army had four divisions-the 7th, 24th, and 25th Infantry Divisions and the 1st Cavalry Division (infantry) in Japan on occupation duty. Also in the Pacific were the 5th Regimental Combat Team in the Hawaiian Islands and the 29th Regiment on Okinawa. The divisions, with the exception of the one in Europe, were under-strength, having only two instead of the normal three battalions in an infantry regiment, and they had corresponding shortages in the other combat arms. The artillery battalions, for instance, were reduced in personnel and weapons, and had only two of the normal three firing batteries. There was one exception in the organizations in Japan. The 24th Regiment, 25th Division, had a normal complement of three battalions, and the 159th Field Artillery Battalion, its support artillery, had its normal complement of three firing batteries.

The four divisions, widely scattered throughout the islands of Japan, were under the direct control of Eighth Army, commanded by United States Army Lieutenant General LWalton H. Walker. The 7th Division, with headquarters near Sendai on Honshu, occupied the northernmost island at Hokkaido and the northern third of Honshu. The 1st Cavalry Division held the populous central area of the Kanto Plain in Honshu, with headquarters at Camp Drake near Tokyo. The 25th Division was in the southern third of Honshu with headquarters at Osaka. The 24th Division occupied Kyushu, the southernmost island of Japan, with headquarters at Kokura, across the Tsushima (Korea) Strait from Korea. These divisions averaged about 70 percent of full war strength, three of them numbering between 12,000 and 13,000 men and one lightly more than 15,000. They did not have their full wartime allowances of 57-mm. and 75-mm. recoilless rifles and 4.2-inch mortars. The divisional tank units then currently organized had the M24 light tank. Nearly all American military equipment and transport in the Far East had seen World War II use and was worn.

In June 1950, slightly more than one-third of the United States naval operating forces were in the Pacific under the command of United States Navy, Admiral Arthur W. Radford. Only about one-fifth of this was in Far Eastern waters. United States Navy, Vice Admiral Charles Turner Joy commanded U.S. Naval Forces, Far East. The naval strength of the Far East Command when the Korean War started comprised:

1 Cruiser: Juneau-class cruiser, USS Juneau (CL-119).
4 destroyers: Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers USS Mansfield (DD-728), USS Collett (DD-730), USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729) and Fletcher-class destroyer USS De Haven (DD-469).

Not under MacArthur's command, but also in the Far East at this time, was the Seventh Fleet commanded by Vice Adm. Arthur D. Struble. It comprised:

1 aircraft carrier: Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45) with Carrier Air Group 5, its complement of 86 planes is made up of two jet fighter squadrons with 30 Grumman F9F-2 Panthers; two piston- engined fighter squadrons equipped with the World War II Vought F4U-4B Corsair; and a piston-engined attack squadron of 14 Douglas AD-4 Skyraiders.
1 heavy cruiser: Oregon City-class heavy cruiser USS Rochester (CA-124)
8 destroyers, a naval oiler, and 3 submarines. Part of the Seventh Fleet was at Okinawa; the remainder was in the Philippines.

The Fleet Marine Force was mostly in the United States. The 1st Marine Division was at Camp Pendleton, Calif.; the 2d Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, N.C. One battalion of the 2d Marine Division was in the Mediterranean with fleet units.

At the beginning of hostilities in Korea, the U.S. Air Force consisted of forty-eight groups. The largest aggregation of USAF strength outside continental United States was the Far East Air Forces (FEAF), commanded by General Stratemeyer. On 25 June, there were 9 groups with about 350 combat-ready planes in FEAF. Of the 18 fighter squadrons, only 4, those based on Kyushu in southern Japan, were within effective range of the combat zone in Korea. There were a light bomb wing and a troop carrier wing in Japan. The only medium bomb wing (B-29's) in the Far East was on Guam.

At the end of May 1950, FEAF controlled a total of 1,172 aircraft, including those in storage and being salvaged, of the following types: 73 B-26's; 27 B-29's; 47 F-51's; 504 F-80's; 42 F-82's; 179 transports of all types; 48 reconnaissance planes; and 252 miscellaneous aircraft. The Far East Air Forces, with an authorized personnel strength of 39,975 officers and men, had 33,625 assigned to it.

Commanding the United States armed forces in the Far East on 25 June 1950 was General MacArthur. He held three command assignments: (1) as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) he acted as agent for the thirteen nations of the Far Eastern Commission sitting in Washington directing the occupation of Japan; (2) as Commander in Chief, Far East (CINCFE), he commanded all U.S. military forces-Army, Air, and Navy-in the western Pacific of the Far East Command; and (3) as Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces, Far East, he commanded the U.S. Army in the Far East.

South Korea

The ROK Army high command at Seoul come to the conclusion that the North Koreans were engaged in a general offensive and not a repetition of many earlier "rice raids." Acting in accordance with plans previously prepared, it began moving reserves to the north of Seoul for a counterattack in the vital Uijongbu Corridor. The 2nd Division at Taejon was the first of the divisions distant from the Parallel to move toward the battle front. The first train with division headquarters and elements of the 5th Regiment left Taejon for Seoul at 1430, accompanied by their American advisers. By dark, parts of the 5th Division were on their way north from Kwangju in southwest Korea. The 22nd Regiment, the 3nd Engineer Battalion, and the 57-mm. antitank company of the ROK 3d Division also started north from Taegu that night.

United States

Page from White House butler Alonzo Fields's personal papers. This one describes his conduction of a service-event that resulted in Truman's decision to enter the Korean War



Philippines

Balao-class submarines USS Segundo (SS-398) and USS Catfish (SS-339), two submarines operating under the command of the Seventh Fleet take on full loads of torpedo warheads from the Dixie-class destroyer tender USS Piedmont (AD–17) and a day later on the 26th, sailed for Sasebo.

[lordroel]

Day 2 of the Korean War, June 26th 1950

Newspaper: 26 June 1950



Land operations - Korean peninsula

Operation Pokpung: Further advances by KPA forces into South Korea. The Kaesong and Ongjin peninsula were cleared. The 1st and 4th Divisions captured Tongducheb and Bunsan. The 2nd Division took Siunseen. The 6th Division crossed the bay and captured the point in the direction of Kimpo Airfield. The forces from the amphibious landings advanced and had taken the port of Tubuiri. The main force advanced through the Uijeongbu corridor towards Seoul.

First Battle of Seoul: Republic of Korea Army, Brigadier General Yi Hyong Gun, commander of the Second Division of the South Korean Army, decided against making a counter-attack against invading North Korean troops after determining "that the situation was out of control" and ordered a retreat toward Seoul.

Air operations - Korean peninsula

In continued preparation for air evacuation of United States citizens from Korea, Far East Air Forces (FEAF) traded C-54s for C-47s from all over the Far East, because the latter could land on smaller airfields.

The Republic of Korea requested ten F-51s from the United States Air Force to supplement the South Korean Air Force's AT-6s and liaison-type airplanes.

Photo: U. S. officer briefs South Korean pilots, 27 June 1950



Naval operations - Korean peninsula

The United States Navy, Seventh Fleet sailed north from the Philippines.

Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer USS Mansfield (DD-728)and Fletcher-class destroyer USS De Haven (DD-469) arrived at Inchon to escort the Norwegian-flag ship Reinholt with 700 United States and friendly foreign nationals embarked, which departed Inchon at 1630. De Haven remained behind to escort a Panamanian freighter with additional evacuees on board. Air cover for the seaborne evacuation was provided by United States Air Force fighters flying from airfields that would shortly be overrun by NKPA troops. North Korean La-7 fighters and Il-10 ground-attack aircraft were very aggressive in the opening days of the war, and destroyed a United States Air Force C-54 transport aircraft on the ground. Nevertheless, about 750 United States citizens and friendly foreign nationals got out by air on June 27th, and another 850 on June 28th.

Battle of Korea Strait: Before dawn on June 26th 1950, the most capable ship in the ROKN was underway from the main base at Chinhae and was on patrol about 18 miles from Pusan (now Busan) at the southeast tip of the Korean Peninsula, and sighted an unidentified ship in the darkness. The PC-461-class submarine chaser ROKS Baekdusan, (PC-701) under the command of South Korean Navy, Commander Nam Choi Yong challenged the unidentified steamer with signal lights, but received no response. Bak Du San then turned her searchlight on the steamer and received heavy machine-gun fire in return that killed the helmsman and seriously wounded the officer of the deck. Bak Du San then engaged the steamer with her single 3-inch gun and six 50-caliber machine guns. The unidentified 1,000-ton steamer was actually a former U.S. transport that had been hijacked by South Korean Communist guerillas in October 1949 and taken to the North. On the night of June 25th–26th 1950, the steamer was carrying 600 troops of the North Korean 766th Independent Infantry Regiment with the intent of seizing the port of Pusan. In a running gun battle at ranges of less than 400 yards, Bak Du San sank the steamer as she tried to flee, with the loss of almost all the North Korean troops on board. ROKN sailors used M-1 rifle fire against North Korean troops that tried to reach their vessel. Bak Du San suffered two dead and two wounded.

The ROKN had partial success interdicting one of two North Korean landings along the east coast of South Korea. The first North Korean convoy (two submarine chasers, one minesweeper, and 20 troop-carrying schooners) put ashore four battalions of NKPA troops near Kangnung, just far enough south of the 38th Parallel to cut off the retreat of ROK troops along the coast road. A second North Korean convoy (two minesweepers, one patrol ship, one submarine chaser, and several schooners) landed Communist guerillas near Samcheok (about halfway down the east coast of South Korea). The small ROKN minesweeper YMS-509 engaged the convoy and sank two schooners, but was forced to withdraw after a short battle with North Korean minesweeper No. 31.

United Nations

United Nations Security Council resolves that the attack by North Korean forces constituted a breach of peace and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of North Korean forces to the 38th parallel.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 83 is adopted, determined that the attack on the Republic of Korea by forces from North Korea constituted a breach of the peace. The Council called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for the authorities in North Korea to withdraw their armed forces to the 38th parallel. They also noted the report by the United Nations Commission on Korea that stated North Korea's failure to comply with Security Council Resolution 82 and that urgent military measures were required to restore international peace and security. The Council then recommended that "Members of the United Nations furnish such assistance to the Republic of Korea as may be necessary to repel the armed attack and to restore international peace and security in the area." The resolution was adopted by seven votes to one against from Yugoslavia. Egypt and India were present but did not participate in voting. The Soviet Union did not veto the resolution because it had been boycotting the Security Council since January 1950, in protest of China's seat at the UN being held by the Republic of China and not the People's Republic of China: 

The Security Council,

Having determined that the armed attack upon the Republic of Korea by forces from North Korea constitutes a breach of the peace,

Having called for an immediate cessation of hostilities,

Having called upon the authorities in North Korea to withdraw forthwith their armed forces to the 38th parallel,

Having noted from the report of the United Nations Commission on Korea that the authorities in North Korea have neither ceased hostilities nor withdrawn their armed forces to the 38th parallel and that urgent military measures are required to restore international peace and security,

Having noted the appeal from the Republic of Korea to the United Nations for immediate and effective steps to secure peace and security,

Recommends that the Members of the United Nations furnish such assistance to the Republic of Korea as may be necessary to repel the armed attack and to restore international peace and security in the area.

United States

(United States) President Harry Truman received General MacArthur's report that ROK forces could not hold Seoul, that the ROK forces were in danger of collapse, that evacuation of American nationals was under way, and that the first North Korean plane had been shot down. After a short meeting with leading advisers the President approved a number of measures, instructions where send to MacArthur that night. They authorized him to use the Far East naval and air forces in support of the Republic of Korea against all targets south of the 38th Parallel. These instructions stated that the purpose of this action was to clear South Korea of North Korean military forces.

The State Department warns all hands of the possibility that Korea is but the first of a series of coordinated moves; the military forces of the United States go on world-wide alert; in the Mediterranean the Sixth Fleet is put to sea. In the immediate theater of operations, no less than on the world scene, possibilities are unpleasant and visibility poor. The Joint Chiefs, it is true, has estimated that there will be no Soviet or Chinese intervention, but there is plenty of history, including a day at Pearl Harbor, to teach the outpost commander that estimates make poor weapons.

(United States) President Harry Truman releases a Statement on Korea:

June 27, 1950

Statement by the President

In Korea the Government forces, which were armed to prevent border raids and to preserve internal security, were attacked by invading forces from North Korea. The Security Council of the United Nations called upon the invading troops to cease hostilities and to withdraw to the 38th parallel. This they have not done, but on the contrary ave pressed the attack. The Security Council called upon all members of the United Nations to render every assistance to the United Nations in the execution of this resolution. In these circumstances I have ordered United States air and sea forces to give the Korean Government troops cover and support.

The attack upon Korea makes it plain beyond all doubt that communism has passed beyond the use of subversion to conquer independent nations and will now use armed invasion and war. It has defied the orders of the Security Council of the United Nations issued to preserve international peace and security. In these circumstances the occupation of Formosa by Communist forces would be a direct threat to the security of the Pacific area and to United States forces performing their lawful and necessary functions in that area.

Accordingly I have ordered the 7th Fleet to prevent any attack on Formosa. As a corollary of this action I am calling upon the Chinese Government on Formosa to cease all air and sea operations against the mainland. The 7th Fleet will see that this is done. The determination of the future status of Formosa must await the restoration of security in the Pacific, a peace settlement with Japan, or consideration by the United Nations.

I have also directed that United States Forces in the Philippines be strengthened and that military assistance to the Philippine Government be accelerated.

I have similarly directed acceleration in the furnishing of military assistance to the forces of France and the Associated States in Indochina and the dispatch of a military mission to provide dose working relations with those forces.

I know that all members of the United Nations will consider carefully the consequences of this latest aggression in Korea in defiance of the Charter of the United Nations. A return to the rule of force in international affairs would have far-reaching effects. The United States will continue to uphold the rule of law.

I have instructed Ambassador Austin, as the representative of the United States to the Security Council, to report these steps to the Council.

Soviet Union

Top Secret Report on the Military Situation in South Korea from Shtykov to Comrade Zakharov:

Top Secret

To Comrade Zakharov

([transmit] in person only)

I report about the preparation and course of the military operations of the Korean People’s Army.

The concentration of the People’s Army in the region near the 38th parallel began on June 12 and was concluded on June 23, as was prescribed in the plan of the General Staff. The redeployment of troops took place in an orderly fashion, without incident.

The intelligence service of the enemy probably detected the troop redeployment, but we managed to keep the plan and the time of the beginning of troop operations secret.

The planning of the operation at the divisional level and the reconnaissance of the area was carried out with the participation of Soviet advisers.

All preparatory measures for the operation were completed by June 24th. On June 24th divisional commanders were given orders about “D”[day] and “H”[hour].

The political order of the Minister of Defense was read to the troops, which explained that the South Korean army had provoked a military attack by violating the 38th parallel and that the government of the DPRK had given an order to the Korean People’s Army to go over to the counterattack.

The order to counter-attack was met with great enthusiasm by the soldiers and officers of the Korean People’s Army.

The troops went to their starting positions by 24:00 hours on June 24th. Military operations began at 4 hours 40 minutes local time. Artillery preparation was accompanied in the course of 20-40 minutes by direct fire and a ten-minute artillery barrage. The infantry rose up and went on the attack in good spirits. In the first three hours individual units and formations advanced from 3 to 5 kilometers.

The attack of the troops of the People’s Army took the enemy completely by surprise.

The enemy put up strong resistance only in the direction of Ongjin, Kaizin and Seoul. The enemy began to put up a more organized resistance after 12:00 on the first day.

On the first day of battle the following towns were taken: Osin (Ongjin direction), Kaesong, Sinyuri—(map 1:1,000.000 published by the General Staff in 1943).

In the Sunsen direction units of the P.A. [People’s Army] advanced 12 kilometers.

On the eastern coast [they advanced] 8 kilometers.

On the very first day the DPRK navy made two landings on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The first landing party was in the Korio area and consisted of two battalions of naval infantry and around a thousand partisans. The second landing group was in the region of Urutsyn and consisted of 600 partisans.

The landings took place at 5 hours 25 minutes and were carried out successfully.

The group of partisans took the city of Urutsyn and a number of districts adjoining it.

The landings were carried out with a battle between warships of the People’s Army and ships of the South Korean army. As a result of the battle one Southern trawler was sunk and one was damaged. The DPRK fleet had no losses.

On June 26 troops of the People’s Army continued the attack and, with fighting, advanced deep into the territory of South Korea.

During June 26 (left to right) the Ongjin peninsula and Kaisin peninsula were completely cleared and units of the 6th division made a forced crossing of the bay and took the populated point in the direction of Kimpo airport.

In the Seoul direction, the 1st and 4th divisions took the cities of Bunsan and Tongducheb and the 2nd division took the provincial center Siunsen.

On the coast of the Sea of Japan the advance has continued. The port of Tubuiri has been taken.

During the course of the day there has been no communication with the 12th Infantry Division, moving in the direction of Kosen, or with the 3rd Infantry Division and the mechanized brigade attacking through Sinyuri in the direction toward Geisif.

Conclusions regarding the North.

It is necessary to note the following substantial insufficiencies in the operations of the People’s Army:

1. With the beginning of military actions and the forward advance of units and formations, staff communication was lost from top to bottom. The general staff of the People’s Army already on the first day did not direct the battle, since it did not have firm communication with a single division.

The commanders of units and formations are not trying to establish communications with the senior staff, command posts from combat level and higher change the senior staff without permission, the General Staff still has not established communications with the brigade operating along the eastern coast or with the 12th Infantry Division.

2. The command staff of the KPA does not have battle experience, after the withdrawal of Soviet military advisers they organized the battle command poorly, they use artillery and tanks in battle badly and lose communications.

3. However, our military advisers note great enthusiasm in the units of the Korean People’s army and a general aspiration to fulfill their allotted tasks.

4. The political mood among the people of North Korea in relation to the beginning of military operations is characterized by a general enthusiasm, by faith in the government of the DPRK and belief in the victory of the Korean People’s Army.

On 26 June KIM IL SUNG made an appeal to the Korean people in the name of the government of the DPRK, in which he described the situation that has been created in the country and laid out the tasks for the defeat of the enemy and the unification of Korea.

5. The Command of the Korean People’s Army is taking measures to put right the troop communications and the organization of the battle command. To this end the Army Command Post has been moved to the Tepuges area. The War Minister, the chief of the General Staff and the main military adviser, along with a group of officers, will go out to the Command Post.

Conclusions regarding the South.

The first two days of military operations have shown the following:

1. The enemy is putting up resistance and while fighting is retreating deep into the territory of South Korea, mass taking of prisoners from the South Korean army has not been noted.

2. The South Korean puppet authorities have begun to throw in troops from deep in the rear and are trying to halt the advance of the People’s Army.

3. In the first day the attack of the People’s Army caused confusion in the South. The South Korean authorities and the ambassador of the USA personally in their radio speeches called on the people of South Korea to stay calm. The staff of the South Korean army is broadcasting false reports about the successes of the South Korean army.

SHTYKOV

No. 358/sh

26.6.50.

Australia

Acting Australian Prime Minister Fadden announces that an Australian Army contingent would be placed under United States General MacArthur's command for operations in Korea.

[lordroel]

Day 3 of the Korean War, June 27th 1950

Land operations - Korean peninsula

First Battle of Seoul: by 7:30 pm, the 9th Regiment of the North Korean Army's Third Division had reached the suburbs of Seoul, the South Korean capital; by 9:30 pm, sixty-seven hours after the attack had started, North Korean tanks had arrived at the gardens of the Changdeokgung Palace.

Air operations - Korean peninsula

United states Army, General MacArthur ordered FEAF to attack North Korean units south of the 38th parallel. United states Air Force, Lieutenant general George E. Stratemeyer, Commander, FEAF_ who was in the United States when the war broke out, returned to Japan. FEAF used Kimpo Airfield near Seoul and Suwon Airfield some twenty miles south of the capital for emergency air evacuation of 748 persons to Japan on C-54s, C-47s, and C-46s. Cargo aircraft assigned to the 374th Troop Carrier Wing (TCW) and FEAF headquarters accomplished the airlift, escorted by F-82s, F-80 jet fighters, and B-26 light bombers.

Battle of Suwon Airfield: Fifth Air Force embarked on a mission to establish air superiority over South Korea, partially to prevent the North Korean air force from attacking Republic of Korea forces and to protect evacuation forces. When North Korean aircraft appeared over Kimpo and Suwon Airfields, the USAF aircraft flying air cover engaged the enemy in the first air battle of the war. United states Air Force, Major James W. Little, USAF, Commander, 339th FAWS, fired the first shot. United states Air Force,1st Lieutenant William G. Hudson, 68th FAWS, flying an F-82, with United states Air Force, Lieutenant Carl Fraser as his radar observer, scored the first aerial victory. In all, six pilots shot down over Kimpo seven North Korean propeller-driven fighters, the highest number of USAF aerial victories in one day for all of 1950.

Fifth Air Force B-26s, flying from Ashiya Air Base (AB), Japan, attacked enemy targets in South Korea in the evening, but bad weather made the raids ineffective. Fifth Air Force established an advance headquarters at Itazuke and moved B-26s to Ashiya and RF-80s to Itazuke AB, Japan, for missions in Korea. The 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing (FBW) organized a composite unit of USAF and South Korean airmen at Taegu Airfield, South Korea, to fly F-51D Mustangs.

Naval operations - Korean peninsula

As directed by Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), United states Navy, Vice Admiral Arthur Dewey Struble, Commander of the Seventh Fleet (COMSEVENTHFLT) at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, reported for duty to United states Army, General Douglas MacArthur, Commander-in-Chief, Far East (CINCFE).

South Korea

United States Ambassador to South Korea, John J. Muccio and his staff left Seoul for Suwon just after 0900. Colonel Wright and KMAG then followed the ROK Army headquarters to Sihung-ni.

Japan

The first C-54 loaded with 105-mm. howitzer shells took off for South Korea, by the end of the day transport planes had departed Japan with a total of 119 tons of ammunition.

Loaded up with ammunition (1,636 long tons of ammunition and twelve 105-mm. howitzers on board) from stocks available in Japan, USAT Sgt. George D. Keathley departs for South Korea.

Commander Naval Forces, Far East (COMNAVFE), Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy issues Operation Order 5-50, the basic order of the Korean naval campaign. In this dispatch COMNAVFE informs his forces that (United States) President Harry Truman has ordered the fullest possible support of South Korean units south of the 38th parallel "to permit these forces to reform," and has instructed the Seventh Fleet to take station to prevent either a Communist invasion of Formosa or the use of that island for operations against the mainland. Task Group 96.5, composed of Juneau-class cruiser USS Juneau (CL-119) and the four destroyers of Desdiv 91, is designated the South Korea Support Group, instructed to base at Sasebo, and ordered to patrol Korean coastal waters, oppose hostile landings and destroy vessels engaged in aggression, provide fire support to friendly forces, anti cover shipping engaged in evacuation or in carrying supplies to South Korea.

While Commander Naval Forces, Far East (COMNAVFE) operation order was promulgated, the commander of Cruiser Division 5, Admiral John Higgins Support Group was widely dispersed. The flagship Juneau-class light cruiser, USS Juneau (CL-119), with the task group commander embarked, was leaving Sasebo to investigate a reported North Korean landing on the island of Koje Do, southwest of Pusan; in the Yellow Sea, Fletcher-class destroyer USS De Haven (DD-469) was escorting a Norwegian freighter with the first evacuees from Inchon, while Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer USS Mansfield (DD-728) awaited the sailing of a second load in a Panamanian ship; Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers USS Collett (DD-730) and USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729) had been ordered down from Yokosuka to Sasebo.

United States

YouTube (Truman Authorizes U.S. Forces To Enter Korean War)



(United States) President Harry S. Truman ordered warships of the United States Seventh Fleet to assist South Korean forces in their resistance of the North Korean invasion. At the same time, President Truman ordered the Seventh Fleet to the coast of Communist China in order to prevent an attack upon the Nationalist Chinese outpost on the island of Taiwan, reversing his previous decision not to intervene in the Chinese Civil War.

The United States Congress discussed the Korean situation and the President’s response. An overwhelming majority in both houses supported what the President had done. A few conservative Republican Senators questioned the President’s right to act as he had without first consulting Congress, while one member of the House of Representatives who represented the extreme left side of the political spectrum was harsh in his denunciation. The general conviction that strong action was needed became evident when the House approved a one-year extension of the Selective Service Act, incorporating a pro vision authorizing the President to mobilize reservists of all the Services.

The 19th Bombardment Group departs Guam for Okinawa.

Soviet Union

In Moscow, the United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union, Admiral Alan G. Kirk, USN (Ret.), had, with some difficulty, delivered a note to the Soviet Government on June 27th. The note requested that the Soviet Union use its influence with North Korea to halt the attack upon South Korea. However, this request was rejected, as might have been foreseen.

United Nations

With North Korea refusing to withdraw its forces from South Korea, United Nations Security Council Resolution 83 was voted upon, as a recommendation that "the Members of the United Nations furnish such assistance to the Republic of Korea as may be necessary to repel the armed attack". The vote was 7-1, with Yugoslavia opposing, Egypt and India abstaining, and the USSR — a permanent member which could have vetoed the resolution —absent because it had walked out of the UN on January 10th 1950.

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Day 4 of the Korean War, June 28th 1950

Land operations - Korean peninsula

First Battle of Seoul: North Koreans captured Seoul, forcing the ROK government to move to Taejon located below the Han and Kum Rivers.

Photo: Tank unit of the Korean People's Army enters the streets of Seoul while being welcomed by the Korean people, 1950



North Koreans forces occupied nearby Kimpo Airfield and on the east coast, Mukho Naval Base below Kangnung.

Battle of Kaesong–Munsan (25–28 June 1950): a series of battles that occurred along the western region of the 38th parallel between 25 and 28 June 1950, and it was a part of the Operation Pokpoong (North Korea) and Operation Western Region (South Korea) that marked the beginning of the Korean War. On June 25th, the 1st Infantry and the 6th Infantry Division, supported by the 203rd Armored Regiment and the 3rd 38-Guard Brigade, of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (KPAGF) I Corps launched a surprise supporting attack on the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) 1st Infantry Division to surround Seoul from the west while the KPA I Corps main attack concurred in the west central region of the 38th parallel defended by the ROK 7th Infantry Division.

Map: North Korean Invasion, 25-28 June 1950



The bombing of the Hangang Bridge was carried out by the South Korean Army as hundreds of refugees were still fleeing across it, in an effort to prevent invading North Korean troops from advancing any further. As the North Korean Army approached the Han River, engineers of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army of South Korea had rigged explosives. In the meantime, South Korean civilians and soldiers were fleeing across to avoid being trapped behind enemy lines. Detonation of the bombs at the main bridge, at Hangang, had been set for 1:30 a.m. General Kim Pak Il, the ROK Deputy Chief of Staff, delayed the blast for 45 minutes, but at 2:15 a.m., the blast order was given, destroying two spans of the Hangang Bridge and dropping thousands of persons in a 75-foot plunge to the river, killing at least 500 people ; a railroad bridge across the river remained standing, however. The ROK Chief Engineer, Choi Chang-sik, would be blamed for the mistake and executed.

Air operations - Korean peninsula

North Korean Yaks strafed Suwon Airfield, destroying one B-26 and one F-82. In the first USAF air strikes of the Korean War, more than twenty B-26s of the 3rd Bombardment Group attacked Munsan railroad yards near the 38th parallel and rail and road traffic between Seoul and the North Korean border. One aircraft heavily damaged by enemy antiaircraft fire crashed on its return to Ashiya, killing all aboard.

The 19th Bombardment Group, operating from Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, took part in the first B-29 bombing raid of the war. The group targeted a railway bridge and various other targets of opportunity such as tanks, trucks, and supply columns along North Korean invasion routes.

Despite bad weather over Japan limiting Fifth Air Force sorties, eighteen fighters still mange to fly close air support and interdiction missions. More than thirty F-80s from Itazuke escorted C-54s and B-26s flying between Japan and Suwon.

United states Air Force, 1st lieutenant Bryce Poe II, in an RF-80A, flew the USAF's first jet combat reconnaissance mission, photographing the NKA advance elements and reporting clearing weather over the front in Korea.

C-54s, C-47s, and C-46s Cargo aircraft assigned to the 374th Troop Carrier Wing (TCW) and FEAF headquarters escorted by F-82s, F-80 jet fighters, and B-26 light bombers fly out the last of 851 U.S. from South Korea. FEAF transports airlift 150 tons of ammunition from Tachikawa AB, Japan, to Suwon, about twenty miles south of Seoul.

American fighter planes, under orders to attack any organized body of troops north of the Han River, mistakenly strafed and rocketed the ROK 1st Division, killing and wounding many soldiers. After the planes left, Colonel Paik got some of his officers and men together and told them, "You did not think the Americans would help us. Now you know better."

Naval operations - Korean peninsula

The Juneau-class light cruiser, USS Juneau (CL-119) anchored off the southeastern shore of Koje Do sends a party ashore by whaleboat, difficulties in communication with the inhabitants were somehow surmounted, and the fact established that the island remained peaceful and undisturbed. Following this check on his southern area of responsibility, Higgins headed north, and in the afternoon put the landing party ashore at Ulsan with similar result. With evening Juneau again got underway, and continued up the coast to patrol the area between Samchok and Kangnung, which was reported to have been occupied by the enemy.

United Kingdom

British Prime Minister Clement Attlee informed the House of Commons that British naval forces in Japanese waters would at once be placed “at the disposal of United States authorities on behalf of the Security Council in support of the Republic of Korea. “

United States

Air Marshal Lord Arthur Tedder, head of the British Joint Staff Mission in Washington, notifies the Joint Chiefs of Staff of British Prime Minister Clement Attlee decision. He listed the composition of the British force as one aircraft carrier, two cruisers, and five destroyers and frigates. At the same time, he stipulated that no British forces were to participate in operations involving Taiwan.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) study the matter of a possibility of Soviet intervention into the Korean War and decide that, if major Soviet units entered the fight
or appeared likely to do so, the United States should minimize its commitment in Korea and prepare for general war.

Japan

General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur calls United States Air Force, Lieutenant colonel Anthony F. Story, his personal pilot, to his office in the Dai Ichi Building in Tokyo and informs him that he wants wants to go to Suwon, located in South Korea the next day to make a personal inspection. Lieutenant colonel Anthony F. Story checks the weather reports and finds them negative-storms, rains, low ceiling, and heavy winds predicted for the day the general wants to fly.

The USNS Cardinal O'Connell (T-AKV-7) loaded up with ammunition departs for South Korea.

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Day 5 of the Korean War, June 29th 1950

Land operations - Korean peninsula

North Korean forces captured Kapyong and massed on the north shore of the Han River. Heavy fighting raged in the Kimpo area.

Air operations - Korean peninsula

United States Army, General MacArthur directs United States Air Force, General Stratemeyer, CIC of FEAF to concentrate air attacks on the Han River bridges and North Korean troops massing north of the river.

North Korean aircraft bombed and strafed Suwon Airfield, destroying a C-54 on the ground.

The 19th Bombardment Group, with eight B-29s, launch a raid on the enemy-controlled Kimpo Airfield and Seoul railway station, resulting in a reported significant number of enemy casualties. On their return flight to Kadena, Okinawa, the formation was approached by enemy aircraft, giving the B-29 gunners an opportunity to shoot down one enemy aircraft for the first time in the conflict. Additionally, the 31st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Photographic), equipped with RB-29 aircraft, began conducting reconnaissance operations over Korea from Yokota, Japan.

The 21st Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS) moved from Clark AFB in the Philippines to Tachikawa AB, Japan.

F-82s from the 68th Fighter All Weather Squadron (FAWS) using jettisonable fuel tanks, attacked with napalm for the first time in the war. Pilots of the 35th and 80th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons (FBS) shot down five North Korean airplanes that were attacking Suwon Airfield.

In the first USAF attack on North Korea, eighteen B-26s of the 3rd Bombardment Group attacked Heijo Airfield near Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, claiming up to twenty-five enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground.

The 8th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS) began photographic reconnaissance of North Korean airfields. Using RB-29 aircraft, the 31st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Photographic) also started operations over Korea from Yokota, Japan.

Naval operations - Korean peninsula

The Juneau-class light cruiser, USS Juneau (CL-119) radar detected two groups of surface ships moving down the east coast of South Korea. Juneau had been informed that ROKN units had already moved south and so she opened fire. One vessel was sunk and the others dispersed. Regrettably, the target was the ex-Japanese minelayer ROKS Dumangang (JML-305). In the rampant confusion of the time, this led to rumors that a Russian cruiser had been sighted off the east coast of Korea.

Commander of Cruiser Division 5, Admiral John Higgins orders Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729) which had now reached Sasebo, to rendezvous with Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer USS Mansfield (DD-728) in the Yellow Sea. During the day Fletcher-class destroyer USS De Haven (DD-469) joined the flagship and at 2311, Juneau commenced firing the first bombardment of the war. At Mukho half an hour's deliberate shooting, conducted with searchlight illumination and with target advice from an ROKN lieutenant, brought the expenditure against enemy personnel of 16 rounds of influence-fused 5-inch and more than 400 rounds of 5-inch antiaircraft common, with what were felt to be excellent results.

Antisubmarine warfare (ASW) patrol off Sasebo area formed.

South Korea

General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur together with a assembled group made up of fifteen individuals, including seven high-ranking officers of General MacArthur's staff board the Bataan, his personal C-54 plane. Rain was falling when the Bataan took off. The weather had now improved sufficiently to permit fighter planes to take off and intercept the Bataan and escort the c-54 Suwon. That morning North Korean fighter planes had strafed the Suwon Airfield and set on fire a C-54 at the end of the runway. This wrecked plane constituted a 20-foot obstacle on an already short runway, but United States Air Force, Lieutenant colonel Anthony F. Story succeeded in setting the Bataan down without mishap. Waiting at the airfield were 1st President of South Korea Syngman Rhee, United States Ambassador to South Korea John J. Muccio and United States Army, General Church. The party got into an old black sedan and drove to General Church's headquarters. In the conversation there Church told MacArthur that that morning not more than 8,000 ROK's could be accounted for; that at that moment, noon, they had 8,000 more; and that by night he expected to have an 8,000; therefore at day's end they could count on about 25,000. United States Air Force, Lieutenant colonel Anthony F. Story flying the Bataan took of from Suwon Airfield at 1130 and flew to Fukuoka, Japan where he refueled and made ready to return to Suwon. During the afternoon North Korean planes bombed the Suwon Airfield and a YAK fighter destroyed a recently arrived C-47 plane. General MacArthur insisted on going up to the Han River, opposite Seoul, to form his own impression of the situation. On the trip to and from the Han, MacArthur saw thousands of refugees and disorganized ROK soldiers moving away from the battle area. He told General Church that in his opinion the situation required the immediate commitment of American ground forces. He said he would request authority from Washington that night for such action.

Photo: General of the Army Douglas MacArthur (3rd from left), members of his staff and Korean Army officers, discuss the situation developing from the Communist invasion of the South Korean Republic, 29 June 1950

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The first American troops to arrive in South Korea, other then the Advance Command and Liaison Group in Korea ADCOM and United States Military Advisory Group to the Republic of Korea (KMAG) already operating in South Korea land at Suwon Airfiel. The unit, known as Detachment X, consist of thirty-three officers and men and four M55 machine guns of the 507th Antiaircraft Artillery (Automatic Weapons) Battalion. By the end of the day they had already they engaged 7 enemy planes that attacked the airfield, shooting down 1 and probably destroying another.

Australia

The Australian Government places the River-class frigate HMAS Shoalhaven ((K535) and the Tribal-class destroyer HMAS Bataan (I91) and a squadron of short-range Mustang fighter planes (77th Squadron Royal Australian Air Force) also based in Japan would be available at the disposal of General MacArthur.

New Zeeland

The New Zealand government orders Loch class frigates HMNZS Tutira (F517) and HMNZS Pukaki (F424) to prepare to make for Korean waters.

United Kingdom

The British Admiralty placed Royal Navy units in the Far East at the service of United states Navy, Vice Admiral Turner Joy, Commander, Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE). Under the command of Flag Officer Second in Command Far East Fleet, Rear Admiral Sir William G. Andrewes, this force included the Colossus-class light fleet aircraft carrier HMS Triumph (R-16), Town-class light cruiser HMS Belfast and Fiji-class cruiser HMS Jamaica (44), two destroyers, and two frigates. One Australian destroyer and one frigate added to the “Commonwealth” Force. COMNAVFE requested these forces rendezvous with C7F and TF 77 at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, as Sasebo, Japan, was considered potentially at risk from Soviet or Chinese attack.

Japan

Commander Naval Forces, Far East (COMNAVFE), request Flag Officer Second in Command Far East Fleet, Admiral Andrewes to send Fiji-class cruiser HMS Jamaica (44) and the frigates to join Admiral Higgins' Support Group and to proceed with his flagship, the Town-class light cruiser HMS Belfast, Colossus-class light fleet aircraft carrier HMS Triumph (R16) and the two British destroyers to Okinawa and report to Commander Seventh Fleet.

United Nations

Secretary-General of the United Nations, Trygve Lie transmitted a message to all member nations asking what kind of assistance they were prepared to offer South Korea in repelling the attack, as urged by the Security Council resolution of June 27th. Three members-the Soviet Union, Poland, and Czechoslovakia-declare the resolution illegal. Most of the others promised moral or material support. Material support took the form chiefly of supplies, foodstuffs, or services that were most readily available to the particular countries.

United States

(United States) President Harry S. Truman held a press conference, where the phrase "police action" was first used to describe the Korean War. One reporter prefaced a question with the statement, "Mr. President, everybody is asking in this country, are we or are we not at war?" to which Truman replied, "We are not at war." Another reporter, not identified in the record, followed up a few minutes later with the question, "Mr. President, would it be correct, against your explanation, to call this a police action under the United Nations?", and Truman responded, "Yes. That is exactly what it amounts to." One observer would note later that "Truman was constrained to answer that way", in that he had not asked the U.S. Congress to declare war and "did not want to validate the charge that he had circumvented the Constitution".

Reports coming into the Pentagon from the Far East during the morning of June 29th described the situation in Korea as so bad that Secretary of Defense Louis A. Johnson telephoned (United States) President Harry S. Truman before noon. In a meeting late that afternoon the President approved a new directive greatly broadening the authority of the Far East commander in meeting the Korean crisis.

Ambassador of Australia to the United States, Norman Makin told United States Secretary of State, Dean Acheson that his country’s ships then in Japanese waters (a destroyer and a frigate) would be made available to the UN effort. He also offered a squadron of Mustang fighter aircraft based in Japan. At the same time, New Zealand offered to furnish naval forces if the United States so requested.

Rear Admiral Charles C. Hartman, commander of Cruiser Division 3 which consist of Baltimore-class heavy cruisers USS Helena (CA-75) and USS Toledo (CA-133) receives orders to prepare to head back west with a departure date a week away. All leaves are at once cancelled by telegram, emergency repairs are hastened and supplies quickly loaded aboard.

At San Diego two Essex-class aircraft carriers, USS Boxer (CV-21) under the command of United States Navy, Captain Cameron Briggs, back from her tour in the Western Pacific, was waiting to enter a navy yard for repairs, USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) under the command of United States Navy, Captain Willard K. G oodney, had just arrived from the Atlantic Fleet and was preparing for an October departure for the Far East as relief for USS Valley Forge (CV-45). The air group designated for this deployment, Carrier Air Group 11 (United States Navy, Commander Raymond W. Vogel), was similar in composition to Air Group 5, being composed of two F9F jet fighter squadrons, two squadrons of F4Us, one of ADs and a mixed bag of specially configurated Corsairs and Skyraiders. Its training, however, was considerably less advanced than that of the Valley Forge group. The jet squadrons had been handicapped by shortage of aircraft and the pilot situation was highly unstable: many of the younger officers had received orders for separation on June 30th and many of their replacements were not yet up to fleet standards. Difficult as the situation was, it would have been much worse had the North Koreans appreciated the strategic importance of accounting periods and delayed their attack until the end of the fiscal year. As it was, emergency action by the Bureau of Naval Personnel made it possible to avoid forced separations from the service and to minimize dislocation. With the outbreak of hostilities in Korea all plans and schedules were scrapped. Loading for the Western Pacific was put on a high speed basis, considerable gear was transferred from Boxer to Philippine Sea, and the air group was embarked under emergency orders.

Turkey

The Republic of Turkey reply's to United Nations Resolution 83 requesting military aid to South Korea, following the attack by North Korea on June 25yj. The cable stats: "Turkey is ready to meet his responsibilities."

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Day 6 of the Korean War, June 30th 1950

Land operations - Korean peninsula

North Korean forces reached Samchock on the east coast, and in the west they crossed the Han River, threatening Suwon Airfield.

American observers at the Han River sent word to United States Army, General Church that the ROK river line is disintegrating. General Church sent a radio message to Tokyo describing the worsening situation. Three hours later he decided to go to Osan (Osan-ni), twelve miles south of Suwon, where there was a commercial telephone relay station, and from there call Tokyo. He reached United States Army, Major General, Edward M. Almond, MacArthur's Chief of Staff, who informs General Church, that the Far East Command has received authority to use American ground troops and that if the Suwon airstrip can be held until the next day two battalions will be flown in to help the South Koreans. General Church informs General Almond that they will to try to hold the airstrip until noon the next day.

Air operations - Korean peninsula

The 77th Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Squadron arrived in Korea to support the Fifth Air Force, to which it was subsequently attached.

The Far East Air Force (FEAF) began evacuation of the airfield and authorized improvement of Kumhae Airfield, eleven miles northwest of Pusan, to compensate for the loss of Kimpo and Suwon.

The first Fifth Air Force tactical air control parties (TACPs) arrived at Suwon. B-26s from the 3d Bombardment Group strafed, bombed, and rocketed enemy troops and traffic in the Seoul area. One flight hit a stalled enemy column.

South Korea

South Korean Army, Lieutenant general Chung Il Kwon arrives from Tokyo to replace General Chae as ROK Army Chief of Staff.

Two companies of the U.S. Army First Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division departed from the U.S. base in Japan at Kyushu under the name "Task Force Smith", designated because of its 34-year-old commander, United States Army, Lieutenant colonel Charles "Brad" Smith. After leaving at 3:00 am, the task force arrived near Pusan at 11:00 am, becoming the first set of American ground troops to be deployed in the Korean War. "Task Force Smith" has 406 men of the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, and 134 men of A Battery, 52nd Field Artillery Battalion, under the command of United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel Miller O. Perry. The forces are both poorly equipped and understrength: 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry, has only two companies of infantry (B and C companies), instead of the normal three for a US Army battalion. The battalion has half of the required number of troops in its headquarters company, half of a communications platoon, and half of a heavy weapons platoon, which is armed with six obsolescent M9A1 Bazooka rocket launchers, two 75 mm recoilless rifles, two 4.2 inch mortars, and four 60 mm mortars. Much of the equipment is drawn from the rest of the understrength 21st. A Battery, which forms the entire artillery support for the task force is armed with six 105 mm howitzers. The howitzers are equipped with 1,200 high explosive (HE) rounds but are incapable of penetrating tank armor. Only six high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds are issued to the battery, all of which were allocated to the number six howitzer sited forward of the main battery emplacement. A Battery also has four .50 calibre M2 Browning heavy machine guns and four bazookas. Most of the soldiers of the task force are teenagers with no combat experience and only eight weeks of basic training. Only a third of the officers in the task force have combat experience from World War II and only one in six enlisted soldiers have combat experience. Many of them still volunteered to join the task force. The soldiers are each equipped with only 120 rounds of ammunition and two days of C-rations.

United Nations

United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Warren Austin addressed the Security Council of the United Nations telling them of the action taken by the United States in conformity with their resolutions of June 25th and June 27th.

United States

(United States) President Harry S. Truman held a meeting with State and Defense Department officials and approved two orders: (1) to send two divisions to Korea from Japan; and (2) to establish a naval blockade of North Korea. He then called a meeting of the Vice President, the Cabinet, and Congressional and military leaders at the White House at 1100 and informed them of the action he had taken.

(United States) President Harry S. Truman signed a law extending the drafting of men into the military, days before the selective service program had been scheduled to expire. The bill, passed by Congress the day before, initially exempted veterans of World War II from being called up, and covered all men between the ages of 19 and 25, for up to twenty-one months of military service.

(United States) President Harry S. Truman and his advisors having received a offer from Nationalist China to send 33,000 troops to South Korea considered this and rejected it, partly for political reasons adduced by the Department of State, partly because of the JCS advice that Nationalist troops were of uncertain value and that the required transport could be put to better use. Accordingly, Chiang was tactfully informed that his offer was appreciated, but that any removal of troops from Taiwan would weaken the defenses of the island and should be care fully discussed with representatives of CINCFE before being carried out. The Joint Chiefs of Staff at the same time told General MacArthur that the Nationalist offer was to be declined. Should the Nationalist Government make such an offer directly to him, he was to refer it to the Department of State. “The decision whether to accept or reject the proffer of military aid by foreign govern ments should properly be made at highest levels in Washington,” they cautioned.

The Pentagon receives General MacArthur's report on his trip to Korea the previous day. This report describes the great loss of personnel and equipment in the ROK forces, estimated their effective military strength at not more than 25,000 men, stats that everything possible was being done in Japan to establish and maintain a flow of supplies to the ROK Army through the Port of Pusan and Suwon Airfield and that every effort was being made to establish a Han River line but the result was problematical. MacArthur concluded: The only assurance for the holding of the present line, and the ability to regain later the lost ground, is through the introduction of U.S. ground combat forces into the Korean battle area. To continue to utilize the forces of our Air and Navy without an effective ground element cannot be decisive. If authorized, it is my intention to immediately move a U.S. regimental combat team to the reinforcement of the vital area discussed and to provide for a possible build-up to a two division strength from the troops in Japan for an early counteroffensive.

Japan

United states Army, General MacArthur, Far East commander receives the June 29th directive send by (United States) President Harry S. Truman, this directive, authorized him to (1) employ U.S. Army service forces in South Korea to maintain communications and other essential services; (2) employ Army combat and service troops to ensure the retention of a port and air base in the general area of Pusan-Chinhae; (3) employ naval and air forces against military targets in North Korea but to stay well clear of the frontiers of Manchuria and the Soviet Union; (4) by naval and air action defend Formosa against invasion by the Chinese Communists and, conversely, prevent Chinese Nationalists from using Formosa as a base of operations against the Chinese mainland; (5) send to Korea any supplies and munitions at his disposal and submit estimates for amounts and types of aid required outside his control. It also assigned the Seventh Fleet to MacArthur's operational control, and indicated that naval commanders in the Pacific would support and reinforce him as necessary and practicable. The directive ended with a statement that the instructions did not constitute a decision to engage in war with the Soviet Union if Soviet forces intervened in Korea, but that there was full realization of the risks involved in the decisions with respect to Korea. It is to be noted that this directive of June 29th did not authorize General MacArthur to use U.S. ground combat troops in the Han River area-only at the southern tip of the peninsula to assure the retention of a port.

Commander Naval Forces, Far East (COMNAVFE), Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy headquarters issued its Operation Order 7-50 assigning 16 Scajap LSTs to Admiral James H. Doyle Amphibious Group (Force 90) and instructs him to lift the 24th Infantry Division under the command of United States Army, Major General William F. Dean, from Fukuoka and Sasebo to Pusan. Pursuant to this order CTF 90 got underway at once with Mount McKinley class of amphibious force command ship USS Mount McKinley (AGC-7), Bayfield-class attack transport USS Cavalier (APA-37), Tolland-class attack cargo ship USS Union (AKA-106) escorted by Black Swan-class sloop HMS Hart (U58) and headed for Sasebo. Admiral Joy also assumes operational control of the Royal Navy ships operating under Flag Officer Second in Command Far East Fleet, Admiral Andrewes and modifies Operation Order 5-50 to include the Commonwealth units for Korean operations only, thus exempting them from the neutralization of Formosa and the Pescadores, which remained a purely American affair.

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Day 7 of the Korean War, July 1st 1950

Land operations - Korean peninsula

North Korean forces occupied Suwon.

Task Force Smith named after its its commander, United States Army, Lieutenant colonel Charles "Brad" Smith has fully arrived in South Korea and briefly established a headquarters in Taejon.The task force soon after began moving north by rail and truck to oppose the North Korean Army. Task Force Smith was the first of several small US units sent into Korea with the mission to take the initial "shock" of North Korean advances and to delay much larger North Korean units with the goal, which would buy time to allow more U.S. units into Korea. 

Photo: the first units of U.S. Army ground forces to arrive debark from trains Taejŏn in South Korea, 1 July 1950



United States Army, Major General William F. Dean's orders to United States Army, Lieutenant colonel Charles "Brad" Smith: When you get to Pusan, head for Taejon. We want to stop the North Koreans as far from Pusan as we can. Block the main road as far north as possible. Make contact with General Church. If you can't find him, go to Taejon and beyond if you can. Sorry I can't give you more information—that's all I've got. Good luck, and God bless you and your men!

Air operations - Korean peninsula

North Korean forces occupied Suwon, denying FEAF the use of its airstrip.

Fifth Air Force gained operational control of the 77th RAAF Fighter Squadron.

Twenty-three American soldiers became the first to die in the Korean War when their C-54 transport plane crashed into a 2000 foot high hill, forty miles northwest of Pusan, upon arrival from Japan.

Naval operations - Korean peninsula

Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) established Task Force Yoke, commanded by Rear Admiral Walter Boone, to scrounge up every operational ship on the U.S. West Coast to prepare for immediate deployment to the Far East.

Commander Naval Forces, Far East (COMNAVFE) authorized COMSEVENTHFLT to continue strikes after July 3rd as practicable.

Commander Naval Forces, Far East (COMNAVFE)discontinue routine ASW patrols of Sasebo area until further notices.

Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45) (1) and Colossus-class aircraft carrier HMS Triumph (R16) (2) head for the Yellow Sea to conduct strikes into North Korea from the west, scheduled for July 3rd.

(1) USS Valley Forge (CV-45) consist of a 86-plane air group (Carrier Air Group FIVE, CVG-5) made up of two jet fighter squadrons, VF-51 and VF-52, both equipped with the F9F-2/3 Panther straight-wing jet fighters (30 total) and two squadrons of F4U-4B Corsair fighter-bombers, VF-53 and VF-54, and one squadron (VA-55) of 14 of the newer AD-4 Skyraider piston-engine bombers.

(2) HMS Triumph (R16) consist of a air group of about 48 aircraft. These included Supermarine FR.47 Seafire (the navalized version of the famous Spitfire) fighters of 827 Squadron, and Fairey FR.1 Firefly fighter-bomber/ASW aircraft of 800 Squadron, also of World War II vintage.

South Korea

USAT Sgt. George D. Keathley escorted by River-class frigate HMAS Shoalhaven (K535) enters into Pusan harbour loaded with vital ammunition (1,636 long tons of ammunition and twelve 105-mm. howitzers).

The 8055th M.A.S.H. became the first Mobile Army Surgical Hospital to be activated in South Korea.

United States

Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Sherman learns that a regimental combat team from the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMFPAC), can be sent to the Far East in ten days. This information is passed to Commander-in-Chief, Far East (CINCFE).

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Day 8 of the Korean War, July 2nd 1950

YouTube (The Fall of Seoul)



Land operations - Korean peninsula

Map: Photograph of a map of Korea entitled Current Military Situation. July 2, 1950



United states Army, General MacArthur concerned that "Task Force Smith" lacked artillery ordered General Walker to fly in howitzers from Japan if he had to. It was unnecessary to do so, for elements of the 52d Field Artillery Battalion were already on their way by LST, and they landed in Pusan that evening and moved at once to the battle area.

The commanding general of the 24th Division, Major General William F. Dean, flew to Pusan early in the morning. After spending 24 hours becoming acquainted with conditions, he telephoned from Taejon to Tokyo and spoke with General Hickey, Deputy Chief of Staff, GHQ. Wanting his initial fight with the North Koreans to be fully coordinated and supported, he told Hickey, "This first show must be good.... We must get food and bullets and not go off half-cocked." A few hours later, General MacArthur named Dean commanding general, USAFIK. Dean assumed control of KMAG and all other U.S. Army troops in Korea.

Air operations - Korean peninsula

No. 77 Squadron, led by Wing Commander Lou Spence, flew the first ground support operations over Korea, becoming the first British Commonwealth and United Nations unit to see action in the Korean War.

Painting: RAAF's first operation over North Korea when 6 North American Mustangs from No. 77 Squadron, RAAF, escorted 9 USAF Boeing B-29 Superfortresses on a bombing raid. No enemy aircraft were sighted, 2 July 1950



Naval operations - Korean peninsula

ROKN Naval Base Detachment at Pohang (on the southeast coast of South Korea, north of Pusan) detected and wiped out a North Korean infiltration landing.

Republic of Korean Navy, YMS-1-class minesweeper ROKS YMS 513 sinks three enemy small craft off Chulpo, south of Kunsan.

Battle of Chumonchin Chan: Juneau-class cruiser USS Juneau (CL-119), Black Swan-class sloop HMS Black Swan (L57) and Fiji-class cruiser HMS Jamaica (44) were sailing along the coast of the Sea of Japan when they encountered four North Korean torpedo and gunboats that had just finished escorting a flotilla of ten ammunition ships up the coast. The North Korean torpedo boats began an attack on the allied ships. Before their torpedoes could be fired however, they were met with a salvo of gunfire from the United Nations ships which destroyed three of the torpedo boats. The surviving North Korean craft fled. Later in July, Juneau encountered the same ammunition ships and destroyed them.

Japan

United states Army, General MacArthur wired the Joint Chiefs of Staff, “Request if practicable immediate dis patch of one Marine RCT ]Regimental Combat Team] with comparable Marine air unit for tactical support, earliest arrival here imperative due to pressure of impending operations.“ At the same time, he also endorsed a request by General Stratemeyer, Commander of the Far East Air Forces, for approximately 700 aircraft to fill out Air Force units to war strength.

Photo: "These are some of the ten Korean pilots who have finished a week's indoctrination in flying the North American F-51 Mustangs which have been transferred to their government for action in the Korean war. They have been checked out in all phases of the F-51, including aerial gunnery, by American pilots at an air base in Japan. They will fly the airplanes into combat Sunday 2 July 1950. They are, left to right, Lt. Kim Sung Long, Col. Lee Kun Suk, the wing commander, Lt. Lee Sang Soo, Lt. Chang Yong, and Lt. Chong Dong Chull"



United States

United States Secretary of Defense, George C. Marshall recessive from the Joint Strategic and Operations Committee a answer which was, is there a possibility that Korea could become another “Dunkirk”. The planners conclude that the changes of a forced withdrawal from Korea are negligible as long as only North Korean forces are involved and will only increase if Chinese ore Manchurian force intervene. If evacuation becomes necessary, Soviet submarines and air threats will be a serious threat, but the United States can probably maintain air and naval superiority at the evacuation areas and can thus successfully withdrawal. The planners concluded that the United States has available “adequate lift for a withdrawal of a force of two divisions” within 10 days for an orderly withdrawal of equipment and personnel, or within as little as 1 day if all equipment and supplies are abandoned or destroyed and only personnel are evacuated.

[lordroel]

Day 9 of the Korean War, July 3rd 1950

Air operations - Korean peninsula

Far East Air Force (FEAF) continues to airlift US troops to Korea but substituted smaller C-46s and C-47s for C-54s, which damaged the Pusan runways.

Pilots of four F-80s on the first mission with external rockets reported excessive drag that shortened their range.

Naval operations - Korean peninsula

Juneau-class cruiser USS Juneau (CL-119) finishes off ammunition trawlers at Chumunjin.

Two North Korean ground attack aircraft (probably Il-10s) came out of the haze overland and attacked Black Swan-class sloop HMS Black Swan (L57), causing some minor structural damage before escaping without being hit. There had been intelligence warning that an air attack was possible. This was the first North Korean air attack on ships.

Colossus-class aircraft carrier HMS Triumph (R16) launches Twelve Firefly fighter-bombers and nine Seafire fighters armed with rockets to attack the North Korean airfield at Haeju, 65 miles south of Pyongyang. Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45) launches Sixteen Corsairs loaded with eight 5-inch rockets each, and 12 Skyraiders carrying i,60~pound bombloads against the Pyongyang airfield. When the propeller-driven attack planes had gained a suitable headstart, Valley Forge catapulted eight F9F-2 Panthers, whose higher cruising speed would bring them in first over the target area. No serious opposition was encountered by the American jets as they swept in over the North Korean capital. Two Yaks were destroyed in the air, another was damaged, and nine aircraft were reported destroyed on the ground. For the enemy, this sudden appearance of jet fighters more than 400 miles from the nearest American airfield was both startling and salutary. Quite possibly, as one American commander observed, it may have deterred a sizable commitment of aircraft to North Korean bases. Following the Panthers in, the Corsairs and Skyraiders bombed and rocketed hangars and fuel storage at the airfield. Both at Pyongyang and at Haeju enemy antiaircraft opposition was negligible, and no plane suffered serious damage. In the afternoon aircraft from Triumph flew a second strike, and a second attack was launched by Valley Forge against the marshalling yards at Pyongyang and the bridges across the Taedong River. Considerable damage was reported inflicted on locomotives and rolling stock, but the bridges survived this effort.

YouTube (Korean War: First U.S. Carrier Strikes - 1950



United States

The Joint Chiefs of Staff approve the sending of a Marine Corps regimental combat team, with air support, together with two groups of B-29 bombers, 22 B-26 bombers, and 150 F-51 fighters-all the aircraft that could be made available at that time. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Bradley obtained the approval of Secretary Johnson and President Truman for these movements, and General MacArthur was informed that they would be sent as soon as practicable.

Japan

United States Navy, Admiral James H. Doyle Amphibious Group (Force 90) reach Sasebo, only to find that the 24th Division has already begun its move. Two infantry companies with supporting artillery have been flown to Pusan on the 1st, and the rest of the division was hastily loading in locally available shipping to follow by sea. Since the situation seemed under control, the ships of Task Force 90 are retained at Sasebo for other employment.

Barnegat-class small seaplane tender Suisun (AVP-53) sails for Buckner Bay, Okinawa.

New Zeeland

Loch class frigates HMNZS Tutira (F517) and HMNZS Pukaki (F424) depart Devonport Naval Base, Auckland for operations in the Korean waters.

United Nations

In a cablegram sent from North Korea's Foreign Minister, Pak Hen Nen, to United Nations Secretary General Trygve Lie, North Korea announced that it had no intention of agreeing to the UN Security Council resolution 82, calling for an end to hostilities and withdrawal of troops.

Telegram - Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Korea

The Commander in Chief, Far East (MacArthur) to the Department of the Army:

Consider that if effective Naval blockade of the entire Korean coast is to be maintained, the following principal port areas should be patrolled. Najin, Chongjin, Wonsan, Inchon, Chinnampo, Anju and Sonchon plus any South Korean port which may fall to North Koreans.

In order to keep well clear of coastal waters of Manchuria and USSR do not plan to blockade Najin, Chongjin and Sonchon. Plan to patrol on East Coast latitude 41 degrees North and West Coast to 39–30 degrees North.

With units already committed to WESTPAC no need for additional forces other than carrier CVE Task Group to provide air cover for forces operating and to increase range of surveillance. Blockade forces can be deployed as of 4th July within limitations of existing Naval Forces Far East but present patrol cannot be extended effectively until reinforcement combatant ships arrive.

[lordroel]

Day 10 of the Korean War, July 4th 1950

The Korean war is now ten days old. American citizens had been evacuated; a carrier air strike had been made against the enemy capital and the enemy air force; the east coast invasion route is under fire from naval guns. In the air the Far East Air Forces are putting forth their best efforts. On the ground the Army has engaged the enemy. Across the Korean Strait a stream of shipping is flowing into Pusan where, prior to the arrival of an Army port company, the unloading of 55 ships with 15,000 troops and 1,700 vehicles was handled by two ECA employees, Alfred Meschter and Milton Nottingham. In Korea the situation is being dealt with to the limit of the abilities of the forces available.

Land operations - Korean peninsula

Task Force Smith named after its its commander, United States Army, Lieutenant colonel Charles "Brad" Smith digs in on two hills straddling the road north of the village of Osan, 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Suwon and about 25 miles (40 km) south of Seoul. The ridges rose to 300 ft (91 m) above the road, which provided visibility almost the entire distance to Suwon. The battalion set up a 1 mi (1.6 km) line over the ridges. There, they waited to meet the advancing North Korean forces. The force was placed along the road with the infantry formations on the two hills, five of the howitzers 1 mi (1.6 km) behind the infantry, and the sixth with its six HEAT shells positioned halfway between the infantry and the other five field artillery pieces. Heavy rain made air support impossible and so United States Army, Lieutenant colonel Charles "Brad" Smith and United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel Miller O. Perry preregister the artillery battery in the hope it would be just as effective. The heavy machine guns and bazookas of A Battery along with a volunteer crew were sent forward to reinforce the infantry.

Naval operations - Korean peninsula

Juneau-class cruiser USS Juneau (CL-119) and Black Swan-class sloop HMS Black Swan (L57) work up and down the shore between Samchok and Chumunjin, firing on bridges and on the coastal road.

Photo: A Grumman F9F-2 Panther of fighter squadron VF-52 Knight Riders aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45) on 4 July 1950. VF-52 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 5 (CVG-5) for a deployement to the Western Pacific from 1 May to 1 December 1950



South Korea

United States Army, Brigadier General Crump Garvin and members of his staff arrive at Pusan to organize the Pusan Base Command, activated that day by orders of the Far East Command.

United States

The Joint Chiefs of Staff received from the Department of State a draft resolution, which had already been discussed informally with UN officials, to guide the formation of an international force. It provid that all forces fighting in Korea would be placed under a unified command, to be headed by an officer designated by the United States. This command would be authorized to fly the UN flag, as would the armed forces of member nations serving under it.

The United States would be requested to provide the Security Council with “periodic reports” on actions taken by the unified command. These reports would go to a special committee of the Security Council, which would also receive offers of assistance from member nations and transmit them to the unified command, and would advise the Security Council concerning actions taken by members to support the resolutions of 25 and 27 June. After reviewing the draft, the Joint Chiefs of Staff suggested several changes. They saw no objection either to the establishment of a unified command under a US officer, or to the requirement that the United States furnish reports to the Security Council. They recommended, however, that the resolution be amended to call for “reports as appropriate” rather than “periodic reports,” in order to make this provision “realistic and practicable.” They believed that use of the UN flag should be restricted to the headquarters of the UN commander, fearing that its use by participating nations might lead to confusion in combat.

Their most serious objection was to the proposal to establish a special committee of the Security Council. They preferred that this provision be omitted entirely, but recognized that its inclusion might be politically necessary. If so, it was essential to ensure that the committee was strictly limited to the functions listed in the draft and that it did not seek to exercise “operational control” of the forces in Korea. Moreover, in accord with normal command procedures, the channel of communication between the committee and the unified command should run through the United States. At no time should there be any direct communication between General MacArthur and the Security Council.”

[lordroel]

Day 11 of the Korean War, July 5th 1950

Land operations - Korean peninsula (Battle of Osan)

Task Force Smith, an American task force of 540 infantry supported by an artillery battery, was moved to Osan, south of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and was ordered to fight as a rearguard to delay the advancing North Korean forces while more US troops arrived to form a stronger defensive line to the south.

Map: Task Force Smith near Osan, 5 July 1950



The task force lacked both anti-tank guns and effective infantry anti-tank weapons and had been equipped with obsolete 2.36-inch (60 mm) rocket launchers and a few 57 mm recoilless rifles. Aside from a limited number of HEAT shells for the unit's 105 mm howitzers, crew-served weapons that could defeat T-34/85 tanks from the Soviet Union had not yet been distributed to the US Army forces in South Korea. A North Korean tank column equipped with ex-Soviet T-34/85 tanks overran the task force in the first encounter and continued its advance south. After the North Korean tank column had breached US lines, the task force opened fire on a force of some 5,000 North Korean infantry that were approaching its position, which held up their advance. North Korean troops eventually flanked and overwhelmed the US positions, and the rest of the task force retreated in disorder.

Photo: A team mans a Bazooka at the Battle of Osan. Members of the 24th Infantry Division, first United States ground units to reach the front, go into action against North Korean forces at the village of Sojong-Ni, near Osan. At right is Private First Class Kenneth Shadrick, who was killed by enemy fire a few moments after this photo was made, thus becoming the first United States soldier to die in the Korean campaign, 5 July 1950



Land operations - Korean peninsula

Photo: South Korean troops move up to the front line, somewhere in South Korea," 5 July 1950



Air operations - Korean peninsula

A Joint Operations Center opened at Taejon to provide improved close air support for U.S. ground forces, which battled North Korean troops near Osan for the first time.

Naval operations - Korean peninsula

Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) established Service Squadron 3, effective July 7th as principal logistic agent of Commander, Seventh Fleet (COMSEVENTHFLT).

Fleet Marine Force Pacific directs 1st Marine Division to form the 1st Provisional Marines Brigade.

Commander Naval Forces, Far East (COMNAVFE) issus OpOrder 50 to implement President Truman’s order for a blockade of the Korean Peninsula.

Flag Officer Second in Command Far East Fleet, Rear Admiral Sir William G. Andrewes with Town-class light cruiser HMS Belfast, C-class destroyers HMS Cossack (R57) and HMS Consort (R76) is detached to join the blockading forces in compliance with orders from Commander Naval Forces, Far East (COMNAVFE).

Fiji-class cruiser HMS Jamaica (44) returns from Sasebo and takes over bombardment duty from Juneau-class cruiser USS Juneau (CL-119) who retires to replenish fuel and ammunition. Together with Black Swan-class sloop HMS Black Swan (L57), Jamaica fires on road and bridge where the coastal route runs close to the sea.

Japan

United states Army, General MacArthur wired the Joint Chiefs of Staff, this time for much larger reinforcements. He asked for the 2nd Infantry Division, the 2nd Engineer Special Brigade and one regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, to be used in operations planned for some time between July 20th and August 10th.

Barnegat-class small seaplane tender USS Suisun (AVP-53) arrives at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, she will service and fuel seaplanes of Patrol Squadron 46 (VP-46) who operate the Martin PBM Mariner PBM-5Es (Martin PBM Mariner variant of PBM-5 with improved radar).

United States

The Netherlands offer a destroyer based at Surabaya. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, informed of this fact at once replied that this vessel would be acceptable. In fact, S-class destroyer HNLMS Evertsen (D802) has already been ordered into action.

Photo: Evertsen (D802) at Yokosuka 1951



Canada

Task Group 214.1,led by Minotaur-class light cruiser HMCS Ontario (C53), the V-class destroyer HMCS Sioux (R64), Tribal-class destroyers HMCS Athabaskan (G07) and HMCS Cayuga (RO4) depart Esquimalt bound for Pearl Harbor some 2,000 miles away.

[lordroel]

Day 12 of the Korean War, July 6th 1950

Land operations - Korean peninsula

Battle of Pyongtaek: The United States Army's 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division is assigned to delay elements of the North Korean People's Army's 4th Infantry Division as it advances south following its victory at the Battle of Osan the day before. The regiment emplaced at Pyongtaek and Ansong attempt to form a line to hold the North Koreans in an area where the terrain forms a bottleneck between mountains and the Yellow Sea. Half of the regiment's strength is ordered to retreat from its position before the North Korean force is encountered, leaving the flank open for the remaining force, 1st Battalion at Pyongtaek. The battalion encounters North Korean forces in the morning and after a brief fight is unable to repel them effectively. The battalion then mounts a disorganized retreat to Cheonan several miles away, having failed to significantly delay the North Korean forces in their movement south.

Photo: U.S. 105 mm howitzers are unloaded and made rady for movement to the front by South Korean soldiers," 6 July 1950



Air operations - Korean peninsula

The first strategic air attacks of the war sees nine B-29s bombing the Rising Sun oil refinery in Wonsan and a chemical factory in Hungnam, both located in North Korea.

B-26s hit a advancing enemy armored columns reported six to ten tanks destroyed.

Naval operations - Korean peninsula

Fiji-class cruiser HMS Jamaica (44) together with Black Swan-class sloop HMS Black Swan (L57) shoots up oil tanks, bridges, and shipping, and silence a shore battery at Chumunjin.

South Korea

Photo: South Korean laborers unload ammunition from ship somewhere in Korea, sent to aid them in their battle against Communist led North Korean invaders," 6 July 1950



Japan

PBM-5 Mariner flying boats of VP-46 arrived from San Diego at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, tended by Barnegat-class small seaplane tender Suisun (AVP-53). The Mariners commenced patrols along the China Coast.

United States Navy, Admiral John Higgins and Royal Navy, Rear Admiral Sir William G. Andrewes fly to Tokyo to consult with United States Navy, Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy, Commander Naval Forces, Far East on the reorganization of the force and on problems of coordination with the Army in Korea and with the ROK Navy. An additional matter of importance, which had formed the subject of a dispatch from Commander Naval Forces, Far East the previous day, was the question of the rail line on the northeast coast of Korea between Chongjin and Wonsan. Interruption of this line, both vital and vulnerable, would force the enemy to move rail traffic from the Vladivostok region by a circuitous route through Manchuria and down the west coast. Such interruption was urgently desired by Admiral Joy.

Photo: USN light cruiser Juneau under the flag of Rear Admiral John Martin Higgins has just completed her combat mission in Korea and arrived in Sasebo, Japan for replenishment,  6 July 1950



China

The Joint Intelligence Committee estimates that there are 565,000 troops in Manchuria (of whom 70,000 are Koreans), plus 210,000 more farther south, around Peking and Tientsin. Many of these are needed at home to maintain internal security, but some at least could be spared for Korea. The Military Intelligence Section of the Far East Command (FECOM) agrees with this appraisal but gives a smaller estimate of the size of the forces available with 489,000 in Manchuria (115,000 regulars and the rest local militia), and 176,000 regulars in North China.

United States

Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) departs San Diego for Pearl Harbor.

Telegram - Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Korea

The British Prime Minister (Attlee) to President Truman.

Message From Mr. Attlee to the President.

I have been giving much thought to the problems which are likely to face us as the situation in Korea develops. These problems are of course primarily military but they are likely to have increasingly wide political implications.

2. The implications will concern not only the way in which we should like to see the situation in Korea develop but also the reactions of the Russians as it develops. Russian reactions may be expected not only in the Far East; we have been giving some thought to other parts of the world where the Soviet Government may cause trouble for us.

3. A particular aspect of the situation in Korea which is causing us concern is that the Russians have involved the Western Powers in a heavy commitment without themselves playing an overt part, and there are other areas in the Far East where the same tactics are open to them. You have already made known your concern with Indo-China and Formosa. There is some reason to think that Communist-inspired activities in Malaya have already been stepped up in tune with the Korean affair. And we can not ignore the possibility of a Chinese attack on Hongkong.

4. But further, we can not be sure that these activities on the part of Russia will be confined to East Asia. I understand your Military Advisers have already expressed the view that Persia may again become a danger spot. We should consider whether the opportunity may not be taken of relighting the fire in Greece. And there may be other areas of potential trouble.

5. No-one can attempt to provide precisely in advance for every eventuality. But I hope you will agree with me that we should look ahead as far as we can and reach some agreement as to our common policy in these areas in the event of further outbreaks.

6. I would like to propose to you therefore that representatives of our two Governments should meet to consider what courses of action are most likely to be adopted by the Soviet Government and should have an exploratory discussion of the plans we should adopt to meet them. Plans have already been concerted between us over a wide field but I think that the time may have come for extending the area to which our detailed plans should apply. Other Governments, in particular the French, may be concerned but it will suffice if they are informed as and when the situation demands.

7. I would therefore like to suggest to you that you should authorise the appropriate United States authorities to discuss these problems with Lord Tedder in Washington. If you approve this suggestion, I should propose to send a representative of the United Kingdom Chiefs of Staff to advise Lord Tedder on our thinking here.

8. It seems to me that such talks cannot ignore the political implications. I should therefore be glad to hear whether you would propose that the Department of State should be associated with these talks. If so, I should of course arrange for Lord Tedder also to be supplied with appropriate political advice.

9. My colleagues and I attach very great importance to reaching the closest possible understanding with the United States Government so that we can both plan in full confidence that we understand each other’s approach to these weighty problems. I therefore deeply hope that you will be able to give me an early and favourable reply to this suggestion.

10. I am sure you will agree that there should be no publicity about the proposed talks either before or while they take place.

[lordroel]

Day 13 of the Korean War, July 7th 1950

In the course of the first week of July American infantrymen have made contact with the enemy, the 24th Infantry Division (United States) has completed its movement to Korea, and the 25th Infantry Division (United States) has begun its embarkation. The Air Force has carried out attacks against the invading army and against targets of opportunity. A carrier strike has been flown against the North Korean capital, and the gunnery ships of Naval Forces Japan, augmented by British units, has continued their bombardment of the enemy’s east coast invasion route.

Land operations - Korean peninsula

Battle of Pyongtaek: U.S. and North Korean forces clashed for the third time in the village of Pyongtaek in western South Korea. The fight ends in a North Korean victory after intense fighting around the town throughout the night and into the morning.

Photo: a South Korean soldier moves up to the front lines somewhere in Korea, in the battle between South Korean and the Communist led North Korean invaders," 7 July 1950



Naval operations - Korean peninsula

River-class frigate, HMAS Shoalhaven (K535) patrols west coast of Korea to assist with blockading.

Black Swan-class sloop HMS Black Swan (L57) is relieved by Black Swan-class sloop HMS Hart (U58) who together with Fiji-class cruiser HMS Jamaica (44) destroy an oil tank north of Ulchin, cruise northward firing at cliff roads and end the day with an effective bombardment of Yangyang, the end of the coastal rail line from the north, where more oil tanks were destroyed.

Air operations - Korean peninsula

United States Air Force, General Partridge resumed command of the Fifth Air Force.

No. 77 Squadron RAAF, suffers its first fatality when its deputy commander, Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader Graham Strout is killed during a raid on Samchok. He is the first Australian and the first non-American UN serviceman to die in Korea.

South Korea

Photo: Eighth Army Commander Lieutenant General Walton Walker (left) is met by Major General William Dean at an advance airfield near Taejon, July 7, 1950



United States

The United States Department of Defense implements the newly renewed draft law "to build up to full operating strength the units of the Army, Navy and Air Force to be used in the Korean operation.

At a secret meeting in the White House, (United States) President Harry Truman declines a suggestion from Director of Central Intelligence, Roscoe Hillenkoetter that the UN be asked to approve use of the atomic bomb in the war.

The 1st Provisional Marine Brigade is activated at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. The core of the ground element is the 5th Marines, while Marine Aircraft Group 33 makes up the air element of the brigade.

The Chief of Naval Operations authorize the activation of certain units of the mothball fleet in order to provide some slight reserve for new contingencies.

United Nations

Without a Soviet Union representative appearing to cast a veto against it, United Nations Security Council Resolution 84 is adopted by the Security Council at its 476th meeting, by 7 votes to none, with 3 abstentions (Egypt, India, Yugoslavia):

The Security Council,

Having determined that the armed attack on the Republic of Korea by forces from North Korea constitutes a breach of the peace,

Having recommended that Members of the United Nations furnish such assistance to the Republic of Korea as may be necessary to repel the armed attack and to restore international peace and security in the area,

1. Welcomes the prompt and vigorous support which Governments and peoples of the United Nations have given to its resolutions 82 (1950) and 83 (1950) of 25 and 27 June 1950 to assist the Republic of Korea in defending itself against armed attack and thus to restore international peace and security in the area;

2. Notes that Members of the United Nations have transmitted to the United Nations offers of assistance for the Republic of Korea;

3. Recommends that all Members providing military forces and other assistance pursuant to the aforesaid Security Council resolutions make such forces and other assistance available to a unified command under the United States of America;

4. Requests the United States to designate the commander of such forces;

5. Authorizes the unified command at its discretion to use the United Nations flag in the course of operations against North Korean forces concurrently with the flags of the various nations participating;

6. Requests the United States to provide the Security Council with reports as appropriate on the course of action taken under the unified command.

Pacific Ocean

Having led the Task Group 214.1 for two days, Minotaur-class light cruiser HMCS Ontario (C53) reversed course to return to Vancouver Island, now organized as Task Group 214.4, the V-class destroyer HMCS Sioux (R64), Tribal-class destroyers HMCS Athabaskan (G07) and HMCS Cayuga (RO4) with Cayuga as senior ship, sailed on.