Kanaka Hale in Korea KUNSAN INDEX

Korea Weather

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Kunsan City

• Welcome to Kunsan City -- Brief History and Facts about the city. Filled with photos, maps and information. Traces the growth of the city in pictures from the early days of a poor country town to the present industrialized port city. Information on the "Kunjang" (Kunsan-Changhang) Tidal Reclamation Project and future expansion of the industrial areas.
  
  • Kunsan's Ancient History
  • Events that Shaped Kunsan's Destiny (1894)
  • Opening of Kunsan Port (1899)
  • Constructing the Harbor (1906)
  • Post-WWII Period (Allied Occupation: 1945-1949)
    • How it was: 1947 -- Pictures of the city taken by members of the 63rd Infantry stationed at Camp Hillenmeyer (now Kunsan AB). Pictures show a poor country town with dirt roads, thatch-roofed houses and no sanitation facilities. Pictures graphically depict the abject poverty of the post-war years.
      
  • Korean War Period (1951-1954)
    • How it was: 1952 -- Pictures of the city by the members of the 3rd Bomb Group stationed at Kunsan AB. Pictures depict a poor country town with dirt roads, thatch-roofed homes, and street vendors.
      
  • After the Korean Conflict (1960s)
    • How it was: 1960s -- Black-and-white panoramic views of the city from the top of Wolmyong Mountain give you a comprehensive idea of Kunsan at the time. The photos graphically shows a town with few trees on the hills and a landscape dominated by clusters of thatch-roofed homes. The small country town's activities were still centered around the port. Picture of the port showing the smoke stack at Changhang across the river.
      
  • Beginnings of Change (1970s-1980s)
  • 1990s: An International Port
    • How it is: 1995-Present -- A large group of amateur photos by various photographers depicting the various activities and sites in the Kunsan City area. Beautiful photos by amateur Korean photographers capture the city's changes from a small country town to a bustling city of over 300,000 people. From scenic shots; to farmers & fishermen at work; to people at play, the photos cover the gamut of activities of the area.
      
    • Typical scenes: 1960s~1990s (Cheol-Kyun Shin) -- Photos by award-winning photographer Cheol-Kyun Shin capturing people's daily activities in the Cholla area over a thirty year period. The black-and-white photos are powerful and stunning as they capture scenes of children at play, street vendors at work, farmers in their fields, or fisherman hauling their catch.
      
  • Introduction to Kunsan City -- Useful information on Kunsan activities and agencies.
    • People (1995-Present) -- Candid shots of the people of Kunsan
    • Places in Kunsan (1995-Present) -- Lake Eunpa, Farming, Tidal Reclamation
    • Places in Kunsan (1995-Present) -- Kumgang Estuary, Fishing, Kunsan Air Base

Kunsan Airbase:

• Kunsan Aerodrome (1938-1945) -- Description of the Japanese aerodrome with its sod runway. Tells how the base was originally built by the Japanese on a reclaimed islandand description of buildings.
  
  
  
• Camp Hillenmeyer (1945-1949) -- History and descriptions of the base in the post-war years. Pictures by members of the 63rd Infantry depict the stark conditions of the base. Acknowledgement: Dr. Fred Ottoboni of Reno, Nevada and Robert Grenig (Lt. Col., USA, Ret) and Betty Grenig for their information.
  
  
  • 63rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion (1945-1949) --Thanks to Dr. Fred Ottoboni. Describes Mission of the 63d Regiment and the impossible conditions in Korea at the time.
    
  • 63rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion: A Soldier's Story (1947-1948) -- Thanks to Dr. Fred Ottoboni. Describes the living conditions and life of a soldier at K-8.
    
  • Service Company, 63d Infantry Regiment: (1946-1947) -- Thanks to Al Vidal for his photos and narrative. Describes the living conditions at Kunsan Harbor.
    
  • Photos of Camp Hillenmeyer & Kunsan City (1947) -- Thanks to Mr. James Witt
    
  • Officer's family tour (1946 - 1947) -- Thanks to Robert Grenig (Lt. Col., USA, Ret) and Betty Grenig
    
  • Information for Dependents (11 September 1946): -- Thanks to Robert Grenig (Lt. Col., USA, Ret). Provides historical background of the harsh conditions in Post-WWII Korea.
    
  
  
  
• Kunsan Aerodrome (1949-1951) -- Descriptions of the base being turned over to the Korean Constabulary (ROK Army) as the Americans leave Korea.
  • Cholla Province (1951): Details of Pusan Breakout in Cholla Region -- Historical account of the outbreak of the Korean War to the take over of Kunsan, the diversionary moves at Kunsan prior to the Inchon Invasion, the outbreak from the Pusan perimeter and the recapture of Kunsan in 1951.
  
  
  
• Kunsan Airbase (K-8) (1951-1954) -- Descriptions of the 3rd Bomb Group units with their B-26s with links to photos of the base and aircraft. Descriptions of other units stationed at Kunsan during this period. Acknowledgement: Mr. Marv Wiedner of Narrows, Virginia for his information that started this section's explosion.
  
  
  
  • How it was: Then (1954) and Now
  • 3rd Bombardment Wing -- Extensive coverage of the unit history from WWI through the Pacific in WWII and through Korea and up to the present.
    • 731st Bombardment Squadron (L-NA) (USAF Reserves)
    • 90th Bombardment Squadron (L-NI) -- Extensive coverage of the unit, its history and men in the Korean War. Acknowledgment: Special thanks to Hans Petermann of San Diego, California for his technical notes on the B-26, photos and narratives used throughout the site. In addition, thanks to Jack Barclay of Bohemia, New York for his photos, maps and other invaluable reference materials. Also thanks to Jack Boyer of Santa Clarita, California for his narratives to this section. Also thanks to Dave Bradburn for his narratives.
    • 13th Bombardment Squadron (L-NI) -- Acknowledgment: Thank you to the 13th Bombardment Squadron (L-NI) Homepage for allowing the use of their photos on this page.
      • The Unofficial 13th Bomb Squadron Homepage -- Mr. Walter Campbell has assembled terrific color photos of the 13th BS B-26s on the Kunsan (K8) flightline.
      • Clippings of the 13th Bombardment Squadron's Reunion Return to Kunsan AB in September 1998
    • 8th Bombardment Squadron (L-NI) -- Extensive coverage of the unit, its history and men in the Korean War. Acknowledgment: Many thanks to Mr. Marv G. Weidner of Narrows, Virginia for his information and inspiration. Thanks to Roderick W. Clarke of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia for his narratives of 1951. Thanks to Roy MacPherson of Lincolnville, Maine for his narratives and photos.
    
    
    
  • 474th Fighter Bomber Group (1952-1953) -- The F-84 Thunderjet fighter-bomber unit on base. The unit that left in April 1953 IN NAME ONLY with one squadron for Taegu -- leaving two squadrons behind at Kunsan to become the 49th FBG Acknowledgment: Special thanks to Ken Mendell of Bluford, Illinois for his invaluable narratives of life at K-8 with the 474th FBW. Grateful thanks to Dave Day of Shreveport, Louisiana for his historical information and assistance in gathering information on the unit. Special thanks to Randy Presley of Mt. Pleasant, Texas for his narratives, historical information and photos from his Presley site. Thanks to Bill Oliphant of Knoxville, TN for his narratives of flying the F-84s. Special thanks to Wes Jacobson for his narratives and exceptional photos. Lowell K. Masley of Prescott Valley, Arizona for his photos and narratives of his mishap. Thanks also to Larry Wertz of Warren, PA for his narratives of life at Taegu with the 474th after the switch.
  • 49th Fighter Bomber Group (1953) -- The in-name only unit that switched to Kunsan.
  • Marine Squadron VMF(N)-513 (1952-1953): "The Flying Nightmares" -- A historic unit of Marine aviators. Acknowledgment: Special thanks to Paul Noel of Oak Harbor, Washington for his invaluable assistance in providing information, proofing the text, providing guidance in assembling the materials and contributing his narratives. Special thanks to Ron Stout of Burien, Washington for his narratives and invaluable technical information. Special thanks to Jack Kio of Oswego, New York for his narratives, photos, and invaluable technical information. Thanks also to Ken Gates for his research materials and photos.
    
    
  • Other Units at Kunsan Airbase (1951-1954)
    • 3rd Air Base Group, Headquarters
    • 3rd AIO Ground Support -- The folks that laid out the basic infrastructure for the base that still exists today. Acknowledgement: Thanks to Jim Farr for his narratives and photos.
    • 3rd Communications Squadron -- Acknowledgement: Thanks to Gerry Newman for his narratives and photos.
    • 3rd Maintenance Squadron -- Acknowledgement: Thanks to Paul T. Ono for his narratives.
    • 3rd Motor Vehicle Squadron
    • 3rd Supply Squadron
    • 5th Motor Transport Squadron
    • Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron No. 1/Marine Air Control Squadron No.1 -- Acknowledgement: Thanks to Bobby Clark for his information on the MGCIS-1. Special thanks to Joe Smuts for his in-depth narratives and photos of the MACS-1.
    • 1973rd AACS (Aircraft and Airways Communications Service)
    • 808th, 809th, and 841st Engineering Aviation Battalions -- The folks who built the runways under the most horrific conditions imaginable. Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Arthur Aseltine, Ted Tollin, Rolland Reed, Walter Bienicki, Jim Heath and Ellie Price for their narratives and photos.
    • 76th Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion / 30th AAA Battalion -- Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Jack Haynes for his indepth narratives of the early days of the 76th AAA.
    • 2157th Air Rescue Squadron
    • 77 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force -- Acknowledgement: Thanks to Doug Hutchison for his narratives.
    • ROK Air Force Detachment (1950-Present)
    • 22nd Crash Rescue Boat Squadron -- The deployed unit that handled the sea rescue operations at Kunsan. Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Les Adams and Robert Frankovich for their narratives and photos.
    • 21st Transportation Port com B/14th Transportation Port com -- Indepth look at the harbor operations at Kunsan Harbor. Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Travis Hughlett for his exhaustive narratives and photos.
  • Caretaker Units (1954-1974) -- Descriptions of the draw-down period of the base where the 6170th Air Base Group took over care-taker duties of the base. Groups started standing nuclear alert at Kunsan starting in 1958. The base would continue this The 354th TFW arrived in 1968 during a period of increased tensions, but left in 1970. The 3rd TFW moved to the base in 1972, but was replaced by the 8th TFW in 1974.
    • 6170th Air Base Group (1954-1958) - Thanks to Don Hill for supplying the 1954 K-8 Christmas menu.
    • 6175th Air Base Group (1959-1971) -- Special thanks to Larry Doyle of San Pablo, California for his narratives and photos of K8 in 1959. Special thanks to James G. Mitchell (MSgt, USAF, Ret) of North Carolina for his narrative account and photos of Kunsan in 1964.
      
  • Deployed Units (1958-1971)
    • 3rd Bomb Group (Yokota AB, Japan) -- Nuclear alert (Aug 58 - Apr 64) -- Special thanks to Bob Koester for his narratives and photos.
    • 4th Tactical Fighter Wing (Jan 1968 - Jul 1968) -- Special thanks to Dan Decker (TSgt, USAF Retired) of Alpine, Texas for his narrative account of the 4th TFW deployment.
    • 354th Tactical Fighter Wing (Jul 1968 - Jun 1970)
      
    • 54th Tactical Fighter Wing (Jul 1970 - Oct 1970)
      
    • Detachment 1, 475th Tactical Fighter Wing (Jul 1968 - Mar 1971)
    • 347th Tactical Fighter Wing (Feb 1971-Mar 1971)
      
  
  
  
• 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing (Caretaker Unit) (Mar 1971 - Sep 1974)
  • 3rd TFW (1971-1974)
    
  
  
  
• Kunsan Airbase (1974-Present) -- The 8th Fighter Wing moved to the base from Thailand in 1974. Brief history of the wing and sections on its two flying units: the 80th FS and 35th FS.
  
  
  • 8th TFW (1974-1988)
    
    • An F-4D crew chief in 1978 -- Special thanks to Bruce W. Ebert (MSgt, USAF, Ret.) of Tacoma, Washington for his narrative and photos of the base in 1978.
      
    • Detachment #1, 554CESHR "Red Horse" -- Special thanks to Robert "Andy" Anderson (SMSgt, USAF, Ret.) of Panama City, Florida for his narrative and photos of the men of "Red Horse" in action.
      
    • 8th EMS Phase Dock in 1983 & 1986 -- Special thanks to Paul McLauren of Southhampton, New Jersey for his narrative and photos.
      
    • Exercise in 1984 -- Special thanks to John Botner (TSgt, USAF, Ret) of Raleigh, North Carolina for his narrative and photo.
      
    • Farewell to Kunsan in 1988 -- Special thanks to Wally Bacio for his farewell to Kunsan photo.
      
  • 8th TFW (1990-1999)
    
    • Exercise in 1998 -- Special thanks to MSgt Larry Settle for his narrative and photos.
      
    • ECM Shop in 1999 -- Special thanks to MSgt John Jones for his narrative and photos. We are extremely grateful for the use of his photos depicting the Kunsan Air Base.
      
    • An F-16 Incentive flight in 1999 -- Special thanks to Mike Gambill of Barkersfield, California for his photos.
      
  • 8th FW (2000-Present)
    
  
  
  
  • Historical Background of 8th TFW -- Heraldry and history
    
    • Heraldry of the 8th FW
    • History of the 8th TFW
      • The 8th Pursuit Group Activated
      • The 8th Pursuit Group in World War II
      • The Aces of the 8th Fighter Group
        • Major Jay T. Robbins - 8th Ftr Group/80th Ftr Squadron
        • Dan Roberts
        • George Welch - 8th Fighter Group
      • Creation of the 8th Fighter Wing
      • 8th Fighter Bomber Group in Itazuke, Japan
      • First Days of the Korean War
      • 68th All-Weather Fighter Squadron
      • 8th Fighter Bomber Wing from Pyongyang to Itazuke to Kimpo -- Acknowledgement: Thanks to John Glassford, Sr. for his narratives.
      • 8th Fighter Bomber Wing ("Hoboes") at K-13 (Suwon Air Base) -- Acknowledgement: Thanks to Jim James for his photos of the Hoboes. Special thanks to Ken Creasy for his photos and narratives.
      • Lessons Learned from Korea
      • Reunion of the 475th/8th Fighter Bomber Wing (Korea) -- Attention all members who served with the 475th FBW and the 8th FBW during the Korean War.
      • 8th Fighter Bomber Wing after the Korean War
      • 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at George AFB, California
      • 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand
        • 16th Special Operations Squadron (AC-130E/H) -- Top truck killers in Laos
        • 13th Bomb Squadron (B-57G) -- Night air interdiction
      • 8th Tactical Fighter Wing moves to Kunsan AB, South Korea
      • 8th Fighter Wing ("Wolfpack")
        • 80th Fighter Squadron -- History and links
          
        • 35th Fighter Squadron -- History and links
          

Korean War Reference:

Korean War Reference -- Special thanks to Jack Barclay of Bohemia, New York for his maps and Hans Petermann of San Diego, California for his photos.

• Korean War Vets: Medals You're Entitled to. -- Ribbons, Medals, Foreign Medals, Commemorative Medals and links.
• Hans Petermann's Kunsan Photo Album -- Special thanks to Hans Petermann of San Diego, California for his photos.
  
• Kunsan Airbase Maps (1951-1952 & 1952-1953) -- Thanks to all the vets who made inputs to help draw these maps.
  
• Airfield Location and Designator Map
  
• North Korean Main Supply Routes Map (Spring 1953)
  
• North Korean Railways Map (Spring 1953)
  
• Warning Leaflets to North Korean Civilians
  
• Korean Airfield Identification Codes (Korean War)
  
• Additional Links about the Korean War
  
• Armistice Agreement, Volume I -- U.S. (as head of UN Forces), North Korea and China signed, but South Korea refused to sign this document.
  
• Mutual Defense Treaty Between the Republic of Korea and U.S. -- 1953 document
  
• Korean War Songs and Poems:
  • Christmas in Korea (from Pacific Stars & Stripes 1951/1952: Author unknown): Thanks to Ted Tollin.

19 June 2001 Links Purged: June 5, 2000 HTML Toolbox