Japan left a lot of material. So did the Russians after WW2.
Did the NK use any leftover Japanese and Russian weaponry.
Russia captured a lot in Manchuria and gave it to Mao.
For some reason Mao never got any of the aircraft.
But suspect that NK received a bunch of War Material too.
Plus the 150 so aircraft from Stalin.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2003 2:00
PM
Subject: Re: P39 in Korea from Joe
Baugher site
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
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2003 3:40
PM
Subject: Re: P39 in Korea from Joe
Baugher site
BTW Cookie:
We captured a Yak9U.
What was the story on getting it intact?
Dan
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2003 1:42
PM
Subject: Re: P39 in Korea from Joe
Baugher site
Ed,
Probably the aircraft you found was the Yak-9P, which looked sort of
like a P-39 and was all metal construction.
Cookie Sewell
AMPS