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I think the flyable Yak was captured at Kimpo when the Marines took it in
Sep 1950. Numerous other planes and wrecks were found at Pyongyang and Wonsan in
Oct. 2 Il-10's were also restored to flying condition besides the Yak-9P.
It's not completely clear to me where the idea of a large variety of KPAFAC
combat types came from. The US thought the best source on early KPAFAC
strength was the defector Lee Kun-Soon who flew an Il-10 to SK in April 1950.
His strength estimate was similar to, a little lower than, those
quoted in the "Peace and Labor" article previously referred to, and
he mentioned only Yak fighters, Il-10's, Po-2's and Yak-18
trainers (though it's clear from wrecks on NK fields seized later in 1950, and
not surprising, that other misc. types, including ex-Japanese, also
served). One of the KPAFAC Yak pilots downed and captured in the early combats
over Kimpo and Suwon in the first few days gave the same types but somewhat
lower numbers, perhaps serviceable v. total planes or the issue of trained
pilots v. planes as Cookie mentioned; US intel stuck to Lee's numbers as the
total of machines.
One minor point either Lee or other informants told the US the KPAFAC
received mostly Yak-7B's at first, in the late 40's. The US seemed to
assume some -7B's remained in 1950 vice all -9P's in the Russian article.
But the idea of many other combat types must come from id's of US pilots in
combat or ground observers early in in the war and it seems it can be
discounted in general. Though later as mentioned the KPAFAC certainly also
received Lavochkin radial fighter types also. And again other minor types
reflecting some of the US id's can't be ruled out.
Joe
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