Re: P39 in Korea from Joe Baugher site

[Ed Evanhoe <evanhoe1@korean-war.com>]

Dan,

>>At 02:39 PM 12/22/2003, you wrote:
> How much older stuff did the NK start with?
> What Japanese equippment did the NK have?<<

A lot of WWII & pre-WWII Japanese weapons.  When we took over the Partisans 
in Feb 1951, most of them were equipped with Japanese and Soviet rifles, 
MG's, etc, taken off the NK's.  There was even an Su-76 they had somehow 
managed to get from the mainland to Ch'o-do as well as some smaller (76mm) 
artillery pieces.

> >>If the NK had Japanese equipment did the SK have some too.
> It would seem to me they should have had access to leftover military
> hardware as well.<<

The SK military was well stocked with WWII Japanese infantry weapons before 
the war. We were in the process of replacing these weapons with U.S. 
infantry weapons when the war started.  At that time all National Police 
combat battalions were equipped with Japanese weapons.  However, SK did not 
have any Japanese artillery as NK did.

> >>From other posts and  collection of information.
> Most aircraft hanging around regardless Russian or Japanese
> were in poor repair.  Did SK have any airforce at all before
> the first clashes?<<

Only some light liaison AC (L-4 & L-5) plus a number of pilots in training 
in the U.S. who were learning to fly the F-51.  I also think there were a 
few SK pilots learning to fly C-46 & 47 AC.  Maybe Cookie has more input.

> Ed

Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, OK, 74523
Life member: Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
Author: DARKMOON: Eighth Army Special Operations in the Korean War
Web site:  http://www.korean-war.com