II SECRET PER co mm 1130 925 f 1851 From Pam 51 to moo K 11 mm CONTENTS ENEMY ACTIVITY IN KOREA l ir Activity Page 1 2e Estimate of Air Capabilities 2 3 Flak activity Korean Operations 4 4 irfiold Study Sinuiju 5 OF UN IN KOREA 1 Air Operations 7 2 Ground Operations 11 3 Naval Operations 12 1 Salvage Operations of 14 2 ir Force PW Relates Air attack 18 OTHER FLR EAST JEREAS 21 ID 1 FEAF AG NO 28077 1 Seems Enamels SALVAGE OPERATIONS OF'MIstqs When the MIG-15 appeared in Korean skies the immediate need for knowv ledge of performance capabilities and characteristics of this enemy fighter became apparent The only known data concerning the swethWing jet was locked behind the iron Curtain pictures and appearances outside the USSR and satellites were practically nil The United Nations forces were alerted to report crash landings of aircraft in any vicinity hoping to be able to recover sufficient parts of a MIG for study On 17 April 1951 Fifth Air Force recovered a few components in a salvage operation and a great deal of ie information was gained but complete analysis was not possible In an aerial encounter on 9 July l951 involving a flight of the 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing an enemy pilot was observed landing in the water on the west coast of Korea northwest of Pyonggang after bailing out of a On 13 July British Naval aircraft sighted a sweptwwing aircraft crashed in shallow water in the vicinity where the bail out had occurred Pictures were taken by those aircraft from HMS GLORY and forwarded to Deputy for Intelligence Far East Air Forces These photographs_rovealed the crashed aircraft was in two segments on sand banks not far from shore This information was immediately passed to Fifth Air Force who dispatched on 80 to the scene and initiated action by their Special Activities Unit I 53% fun g m- The RFHSO was hampered by weather over the area and the boat dispatched to the area by S A Unit #1 was unable to locate the wreckage due to fog and tides High tide covered the aircraft completely and low tide made it im possible for surface craft to reach it Elements of weather and tides ham pared this salvage operation throughoutseam me-Mt G- Salvage Operations of Contfd The US Naval Liaison Officer JOO contacted HMS KENYA and arranged for representatives of South Korean Navy EUSAK and Fifth Air Force to eenfer with members of the Royal Navy aboard HMS CARDIGAN BAY Plans for Operation MIG were outlined when concluded Rear Admiral Scott-Moncrciff RN Commander Task Force 95 signalled Major General Everest Commanding General Fifth Air Force that salvage operations would commence as soon as practicable and the representatives would return to his headquarters to brief him concerning the details Brigadier General Whitty Commanding General 2d_Engineer Special Brigade had_informed Fifth Air Force that he would furnish special gear such as derrick equipment divers underwater demolition charges and personnel as was desired for this operation Fifth Air Force was requested to furnish high air CAP and HMS GLORY would furnish low air USS SIOILY would relieve HMS GLORY if the operation was of long duration HMS KENEA would rem main at sea northwest of the area as early radar warning during the period HMS BAY would remain in the area in charge of the operation while ROK Navy PML 302 would lead the special recovery LOU fitted with a low crane up the inner passage starting from Oho Do after dark 18 July 1951 Brigadier General Doyle Commanding General FEAMOOM would dispatch a processing team to Kmla with special handling and packaging equipment aboard two Cnll9 air craft to return recovered material to Japan fer tranushipment to Wright Patterson AFB Due to unforseen difficulties and hardships caused by shallow water Swift tides weather and mechanical troubles some delays were experienced However the splendid cooperation of all agencies engaged in Operation MIG l5 5 i II EE 1 qrx' Qaididd fnxlili' I I galvage beeratiens of i was meet eommendable exemplifies this_spirit of cooperau tien nae enideneed when forseeing a delaq anigadior General Whitty requested I assistance from navaieferees at USN immediately furnished LSD 27 Wto transpert to the area anoiding a delay that would have - eansed all forces to be subjected to danger exposure and hazards in enemy waters easily in range of his guns and hostile aircraft The task force moved to the rendeenensipeint en 18 July 1951 and pro to Gho Do Island At 1951 it departed from Ghe De and arrived a short distanee from the target area_by l245 Fifth Air Force fight ere arrived and continued top eaver during daylight hours throughout the operation Two fighters_and the helicopter from HMS GLORY arrived about 1500 searched the area and_finally after the high tide removed the muddy water covering the wreckage marked the tWe segments nith buoys Small arms fire was heard on shore during this search but no flak was noticed Although the enemy troops had attempted to remove the wreckage b _means of cables from the _ehore only the night before no farther attempts were made and only small arms and fiftywealiber fire were directed at the task force during the Opera tions Royal Navy low cover aircraft dimenished this hazard by harassing these-shore positions with periodie strafing occasionally receiving bursts of an in return but with no damage to friendly aircraft At low tide the wreckage was plainly visiblo _misoellaneeus debris and small parts were recovered in_the intervening distance between segments and a thorough search was_made of-the surrounding area k81ings were placed around the tail assembly the wing assemblies the engine and the larger components to facilitiate hoisting aboard as seen as high tide allowed ISU 960 to move 16 I - I Operation of Cont d H Tn ffi w1thin few feet of the wracngQ L All part9 -th 0 win as mebiy Were on 2Q July The SWift c rrent wept this component under Qert deupito strenuous effort Qf twe Britjsh and two American to replace slings and bring it Qbowrd final recovgry was not I 0745 21 July BY 0 900 all salvage craft had erurned to the HHS BQY 'Qt time _th0 task force anQrted for and Inchon I'i arbqr where the MIG- 15 mg airlifted to FEAMGOM and eventually to 46 1 ZI QQS parting gesture HMS CQRDIGAN Buy bombarded the enemy shore in with air by the CAP firinp rounds Of A and hito I The personnel to UElto Qn listed do erve pQrticg' Qerib- for the SUCCOQS Qf HMS KENYA 13 HHS BAY HHS GLORY USS SIGILY 960 SouLh KorQQn Minesweeper 302 South Korean Air Force STQ 1132 3 mm 13 1 and rm 3 A Unit #1 - FEQMGOM opecnal ProceQanE Team Q1 f 532nd EB SR Qnd 50th Port GengtructLon GD aboard - The member of Task Force 95 hove right tQ bQ proud Qf succeqr jS If - Operations of Cont d - Ui'fUUful Uof Opor tion MIG Their -tQthich their untlring I MMUefforts than determination to ovoroomo Q11 Qthnolos contributed materially Uiigto thiQ splendid Qohiovomont wh'1QhU furnishod the Unith NQtionQ Forces withI UU most valuable information vUitQ 1n accompliohinp 1tQ miQQIiQn againg IU spoilers of world UIU 1 IU ThiQ mQqugo Q1 General UEas tTGn miUUGd COMNAVFE oonQidore most appropriate UU proud pass thQ _following rocolvod from ICG FEAF Please extend my heartioQt QQnQeruthlonQ well done forI rcoovory operation 20 U21 22 July under_ CTF 95 on west Please pas 1Q RQQFI Admiral DYOT and UCTE 95 19 Admiral Scotthonorifo RN my UQdeierion and doturmlned QpiritU with whi oh difoiQQlt and operation oxoothQ My thanQ IUQ3QQ to all personnel involved UU Ufor their ro uth whioh IU Qm Quro willI perQ UQFI greatest Signed O U P WEYLAND Lieutenant General ForQGQing from Historical of Operation in the Recovery of Durinp Period 13' to 24 July EEAF Additional inform tion QQ recovered MIGU anrcr ft maYU b0 from report No 30 July 1951 published My Air                     National Security Archive    Suite 701  Gelman Library  The George Washington University    2130 H Street  NW  Washington  D C  20037    Phone  202 994‐7000  Fax  202 994‐7005  nsarchiv@gwu edu