Sinmak Airfield (K-20) is a former Korean People's Army Air Force airfield which was operational during the Korean War. It was located in Sinmak, North Hwanghae Province, North Korea.
Sinmak Airfield (K-20).svg) | |
|---|---|
| Sinmak, North Hwanghae Province in North Korea | |
  Sinmak Airfield (K-20) Shown within North Korea | |
| Coordinates | 38°26′00″N 126°14′00″E / 38.43333°N 126.23333°E |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Korean People's Army |
| Operator | Korean People's Army Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1949 |
| In use | 1949 - 1946 |
History
editIt was reported that the airfield was originally built by the USSR during the Soviet Occupation of Northern Korea before being abandoned in 1945.
Head of the Sinmak Labor Party Chong Un-kyong was in charge in the reconstruction of Sinmak Airfield. In order to make way for the airfield, many farmland were taken and that the owners would be given other pieces of land as compensation. This however never materialised and that most of the owners were sent to coal mining.
Construction
editOn 1 November, 1949, construction work began on the Sinmak Airfield with a compulsory amount of one hundred labourers from each province expected to serve 10 days each in order to complete the airfield. These workers had to house and feed themselves during their service. People who had opposed to the Labor were given severe punishments. Constant air-raids by the United Nations affected the construction and operations in which several tunnel-like shelters made of sandbags and camouflage were used to conceal aircraft.[1]
Due to the insufficient amount of workers because of the availability of people, the airfield faced a lot of delays and did not meet the expected completion date.[2] Finally, by 1950, the airfield was constructed using Pierced Steel Planking, and opened as an advanced airfield. It was protected by Soviet MiG units.[3]
Korean War
editOn the morning of June 25, 1950, the NKPAF deployed 10 Yakovlev Yak-9s from their operational fighter squadron, to expand their short ranged interceptor’s coverage of South Korea. An additional 2 I1-10s were also deployed at the airfield.[4] On 17 July, Sinmak Airfield received raids by B-26 Invader light bombers, and kept them “post-holed” to prevent further operations.[5]
On October 1950, Sinmak served as a northern advancement point for the Eighth Army during the Korean War.[6] By October 16 1951, UN forces captured Sinmak. A day later, the airfield was opened by the Far East Air Force. The 8055th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital was stationed at the airfield, and it’s 200 doctors took care of patients taken from Kimpo.[7] The FEAF Combat Cargo Command was also stationed, airlifting fuel and rations to support UN offensive operations in Pyongyang. Shortly afterwards, Sinmak Airfield designated as K-20 Airdrome. On March 11, 1952, the Fifth Air Force dropped 150 tons of bombs onto a troop training area near the airfield. Operations officers reported that this was the most intense napalm attack on a single area.[8]
Incidents
editOn May 7, 1951, a Douglas A-26B-61-DL Invader operated by the United States Air Force was shot down by anti-aircraft fire during a bombing mission over Pyongyang, North Korea. The aircraft crashed near Sinmak after losing its right engine. Unfortunately, captain was killed in a successful attempt to pilot the aircraft out of the combat zone in order for the other two crew members to bail out and survive. [9]
References
edit- ^ "Internet Archive - CIA Information Report | Yongyang-ni and Sinmak airfields". archive.org. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ "Central Intelligence Agency Information Report | New Airfield at Sinmak". cia.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ "China, the Soviet Union, and the Korean War: From an Abortive Air War Plan to a Wartime Relationship". journals.lib.unb.ca. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Air Power History 2012, Page 36" (PDF). afhistory.org. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Headquarters Far East Air Force APO 925" (PDF). www.jacar.archives.go.jp. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "The Korean War Fiftieth Anniversary Information Report | Anything Anytime Anywhere, Combat Cargo in the Korean War" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ "Analysis of Aeromedical Evacuation in the Korean War and Vietnam War, Page 55" (PDF). Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "The USAF In Korea - A Chronology 1950-1953" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Sinmak". www.baaa-acro.com. Retrieved 10 September 2024.