Yonpo Airfield

Yonpo Airfield
F9F-2 of VF-721 about to attack Yonpo in 1951
Yonpo Show map of North Korea Yonpo Show map of Asia Yonpo Show map of North Pacific Yonpo Show map of Earth
Coordinates	39°47′26″N 127°32′7″E
Type	Military airfield
Site information
Owner	Korean People's Air Force
Controlled by	Imperial Japanese Army Air Service Korean People's Air Force United States Air Force
Site history
Built	1940s
Built by	Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
In use	1940s-2021
Materials	concrete
Battles/wars	Battle of Chosin Reservoir

Yonpo Airfield (Korean: 련포비행장), also known as Yonpo Air Base or K-27 Air Base, was an airport near Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province, North Korea.

History

Korean War

C-119s preparing to drop supplies to Marines in the Chosin Reservoir

Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 1 radar site located at Yonpo Airfield in December 1950.

On 2 July 1950, the 19th Bombardment Group launched a strike on Yonpo Airfield based on faulty intelligence there were 65 Korean People's Air Force (KPAF) aircraft there, but only 16 KPAF aircraft were in the field, none of which were damaged by the airstrike.[1] On 19 July carrier aircraft of Task Force 77 attacked Yonpo destroying 15 aircraft.[1]: 99 

The Yonpo area was captured by the 5th and 7th Marine Regiments advancing from Wonsan on 30 October 1950[2] and the airfield was put into service by the UN forces. The USAF designated the base K-27.[3] The 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group[4] moved to the base on 18 November and was joined by the Marine Aircraft Group 12[2]: 283–4  on 1 December, both provided close air support to the U. S. Army X Corps and the 1st U.S. Marine Division surrounded at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. X Corps established a casualty clearing and evacuation station at Yonpo for casualties evacuated from the Chosin.[2]: 286 

USAF units based there included:

• 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group from 18 November-7 December 1950, units attached included:
  • 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron operating F-51Ds
  • 40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron operating F-51Ds
  • 339th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron operating F-82Gs
• 437th Troop Carrier Wing operating C-46s
• 6150th Tactical Support Wing from 27 November-1 December 1950

USMC units based there included:

• Marine Aircraft Group 12 from 1–17 December 1950,[2]: 283–4  units attached included:
  • VMF-212 operating F4Us until 7 December 1950
  • VMF-311 operating F-9Fs from 10 to 14 December 1950[2]: 327 
  • VMO-6 operating OYs and HO3S'[2]: 634 

UN units based there included:

• No. 77 Squadron RAAF operating F-51Ds attached to the 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group

Following the successful retreat from the Chosin Reservoir, US Marines of Regimental Combat Teams 5 and 7 prepared a defensive line around Yonpo on 9 December, however General Douglas MacArthur ordered the withdrawal of X Corps to South Korea.[2]: 320  MacArthur met with General Edward Almond at Yonpo on 11 December and approved the X Corps' evacuation plan.[2]: 321  From 14 to 17 December USAF Combat Cargo Command moved 228 patients, 3,891 passengers, and 20,088 tons of cargo from Yonpo.[4] The aerial evacuation from Yonpo continued until 17 December when the field was closed and operations were moved to a temporary field at Hungnam harbour.[2]: 331 

Incidents

• On 8 December 1950, a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando of Civil Air Transport (XT-44) was damaged beyond repair on landing here, killing one passenger of the 10 occupants.[5]

Current usage

Yonpo Airfield was demolished in 2021. A new greenhouse farm was built on the old airfield, named Ryonpho Greenhouse Farm.[6][7][8]

See also

• Battle of the Chosin Reservoir
• Pyongyang Air Base
• Pyongyang East Air Base (K-24)

References

1. Futrell, Frank (1983). The United States Air Force in Korea, 1950-1953 (PDF). Air Force History & Museums Program. p. 98. ISBN 9780912799711. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. Smith, Charles (2007). U.S. Marines in the Korean War (PDF). Government Printing Office. p. 203. ISBN 9780160872518. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. Y'Blood, William (2002). Down in the weeds: Close air support in Korea (PDF). Air Force Historical Studies Office. p. 21. ISBN 9781428990173. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
4. "History Milestones Sunday, January 01, 1950 - Thursday, December 31, 1959". Archived from the original on 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
5. "ASN Aircraft accident Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando XT-44 Yonpo Airfield". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
6. "Airfields are disappearing, suggesting a shift to drones". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
7. "Conversion of Yonpo Airbase to the Yonpo Vegetable Greenhouse Farm". Beyond Parallel - CSIS. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
8. "Ryonpho Greenhouse Farm". Naenara. Retrieved 2025-01-12.

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force
•  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.