HOW IT WAS! KUNSAN AIRBASE: 1954 and NOW Page 1 of 4

Acknowledgement: Thank you for all the veterans who have contributed their photos. Special thanks to Hans Peterman (8th BS) of San Diego; Charles Hinton (8th BS) of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Al Gould (429th FBS); and Wes Jacobson (430th FBS).

Welcome to King Eight -- on the Rivera of Korea (1954)

• Slide Show of Welcome Brochure -- 1954 Map of K8 - Welcome Brochure pages (Thanks to Marv Wiedner of Narrows, Virginia)
  
• Aerial view of Camp Hillenmeyer (1946): -- The general layout of roads remains until today, though the rice paddies became the runway. (Thanks to Robert and Betty Grenig of Tucson, Arizona)
  
• Aerial view of Camp Hillenmeyer (1946): -- Aerial view of Signal Hill (Gunsmoke Hill) and dependent housing that became the BOQs of 1951. (Thanks to Robert and Betty Grenig of Tucson, Arizona)
  
• Hand-drawing of Kunsan Air Base in 1952 -- Based on 1932 Map of Kunsan and 1952 photos of Hans Petermann with the 1954 Map of K-8 superimposed
• Current Map of Kunsan AB (1999) -- Map of Kunsan AB (Updated AAFES Map)
  
• Current Map of Kunsan AB Runway and Aircraft Parking areas (1999) -- Also current Airfield Diagram

• Thanksgiving Dinner Menu (1952): -- Message from 3d Bomb Group Commander and Menu (Thanks to James F. Farr of Farmington, Connecticut)
  

• BOQ Billeting 1952: -- These BOQ quarters were left from the Occupation forces (Thanks to Hans Petermann of San Diego, California)
  
• Picture of Dependents Quarters (1947): -- These quarters became the BOQs of 1954 (Thanks to Robert and Betty Grenig of Tucson, Arizona)
  
• Senior Officer Quarters 1952: -- These quarters remain today though the exterior and roof has been modified (Thanks to Hans Petermann of San Diego, California)
  
• Signal Hill 1952: -- Photo of Signal Hill (Gunsmoke Hill) without the trees (Thanks to Hans Petermann of San Diego, California)
  

• Air mens Billeting area (1952): -- Thanks to James F. Farr of Farmington, Connecticut
  
• Enlisted Barracks (1954): -- Thanks to The Unofficial Homepage of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association.
  

• Pumping Station at Okku Reservoir (1952): --Thanks to James F. Farr of Farmington, Connecticut
  
• Okku Reservoir (1992): -- Thanks to Yeon-Kil Kim of Chollabuk-do, Korea.
  

• Base Theater 1952: -- The Base Theater 1952: (Thanks to Hans Petermann of San Diego, California)
  

• Base Chapel 1952: -- The Base Chapel near Signal Hill (Gunsmoke Hill) (Thanks to Hans Petermann of San Diego, California)
  
• Kunsan Orphanage 1951: -- 1951 Photos of the Orphanage and Kids at the Garbage Dump (Thanks to Jack Boyer of San Clarita, California)
  

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS:

Time Line of Korean War -- Tanner Publication Co.

Welcome to Kunsan City -- Extensive section with Photos, Maps, narratives tracing the history of the city from a poor fishing village to a bustling international port city with a major industrial zone.
Korean War Reference

• Airfield Location and Designator Map
  
• North Korean Main Supply Routes Map (Spring 1953)
  
• North Korean Railways Map (Spring 1953)
  
• Korean Airfield Identification Codes (Korean War)
  
• Additional Links about the Korean War
  

Minuteman Award of Excellence: Waves

Albritton Family Unique Website Award: Albritton Family Homepage

Acknowledgment: Many thanks to Mr. Marv G. Weidner of Narrows, Virginia
for providing the 1954 Welcome Brochure.

1954 Kunsan Air Base Map	Dining facilities	Dining facilities
NCO/Airman Quarters & Base Exchange	Currency, Off Limits area & Sick Call	Athletic Programs & Gym
Service Club & Hobby Shops	Base Library	NCO Club & Airmen's Club

Officer's Club, Mercury Radio & Red Cross

ROKAF

For the current Kunsan AB Welcome Brochure, click on Wolf Pack Webpage.

Camp Hillenmeyer 1947: The original American occupants of the base was the 63rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion who arrived from the Philippines at the end of the war. The base was originally called Camp Iri, but was renamed for an officer who died in an explosion at the Japanese Ammo dump in 1945. The picture above is an aerial view of the base in 1946 taken above the dependent housing area. In the lower left-hand corner is Signal Hill (Gunsmoke Hill). The road leading from the dependent housing area (center towards the upper right) is Avenue "C". The buildings at the bottom of the picture are the Dependent housing that became the BOQs in 1953. To the left you will see three rows of five houses each. These became the Senior Officer quarters in 1953 -- and are still existing today (200 area).

The conditions were horrid. In 1947, there was a "mutiny" in order for the troops to get fed properly. The troops clothing was in a patched state of disrepair and living conditions were harsh. (Go to A Soldier's Story and Officer's Tour for details of life at Camp Hillenmeyer. Go to 63d Service Company for life at Kunsan Harbor.)

(Click on map and photo to enlarge) Hand-drawn map of K-8 Air Base is a composite using a 1932 Kunsan Map, 1952 aerial photos, and the 1954 K-8 Map. Aerial photo of Kunsan AB (1953) (Courtesy Roy MacPherson)

429th FBS parking ramp (1953) (Courtesy Harold Locke) (Click on photo to enlarge)	429th FBS parking ramp (1953) (Courtesy Harold Locke) (Click on photo to enlarge)
Aerial view of Flightline (1952) (Courtesy Hans Petermann) (Click on photo to enlarge)	Aerial view (20 Sep 52) (Courtesy Wes Jacobson) (Click on photo to enlarge)

The map shows the 6,300-foot NE-SW runway that was in use between 1951-1953. The concrete runway is now known as "Taxiway Charlie" or "642" and leads into the Whiskey Arch area that shelters the F-16s. The PSP (perforated steel planking) and tarmac taxiway is now called "Taxiway Fox".

In 1952, the base was home to three squadrons of B-26s of the 3rd Bomb Wing; three squadrons of F-84s of the 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing; and F-7F-3Ns and F4U-5Ns of the Marine VMF(N)-513. In 1953, the Marine unit moved to Pyongtaek (K-6) and one squadron of F-84s moved to Taegu (K-2). This left the 3rd Bomb Wing and two squadrons of F-84s that were redesignated as the 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing.

The north-south runway (not shown on map) was started under construction by the 808th Engineering Aviation Battalion (EAB) in Fall 1952 and completed by the 841st EAB in spring 1953.

CURRENT BASE MAP

AAFES Facilities: 1.Main Store (BX) 2. Barber Shop (Moved to Seabreeze) 3. Beauty Shop (Moved to Seabreeze) 4. Bicycle Shop 5. Cafeteria (1004) 6. Concession Arcade 7. Food Court (1004) 8. Garage/Filling Station 9. AT&T Internet Surf Shop 10. Laundry Cleaning 11. Taxi Maintenance Garage 12. MCSS 13. Photo Shop 14. Theater 15. Taxi Service Non AAFES: a. Billeting b. Yellow Sea Bowling Center c. Chapel d. Community Support Center e. O'Malley's Dining Hall f. Seabreeze Mini-Mart g. Gym - Swimming Pool h. Hospital i. Post Office j. MPF k. West Winds Golf Course Club House -- Oriental Garden l. Falcon Rec. Center -- Loring Club

1999 AIRFIELD MAPS

Airfield Diagram (2000) (Courtesy Kunsan Airfield Manager) (Click on map to enlarge)

Aerial View of Kunsan (1999) (Click on photo to enlarge)

The information below is segregated into the "NOW" information on the left; and the "THEN" information on the right. In the "NOW" column, click on the blue button ("brochure page") to view the pertinent 1954 brochure page. Click on the "Air Force" logo button to link to the site with current information. Click on "Back" to return to this page.

OVERVIEW:

Kunsan AB map (circa 1954): Kunsan AB map (circa 1998): (This map is out of date) About Kunsan (circa 2000): Newcomers Information (circa 2000): Getting to Kunsan (circa 2000): Customs Laws (circa 2000): Chapel Services (circa 2000): Ration Control (circa 2000): Housing (circa 2000): Shopping (circa 2000): Kunsan Facilities (circa 2000): Thumbnails of all major facilities on base. Wolf Pack Warrior Base Newspaper: On-line News Welcome to Kunsan City: Kunsan City from ancient times to the present. 1951 Photos of Kunsan 1953 Photos of Kunsan Kunsan City and Kunsan Airport (Click on map to enlarge) Kunjang Tidal Reclamation Project The opaque areas are being reclaimed now. Note how Kunsan AB area will be landlocked in the future. (Click on map to enlarge) Kunsan Harbor (Click on map to enlarge) Kunsan Harbor (Click on map to enlarge) Kunsan Outer Port (Click on map to enlarge) Tidal Flats Reclaimed (Click on map to enlarge) Tidal Flats Reclamation Project (Click on map to enlarge)

Kunsan Airbase Now: Many things have changed. Upon the 13th Bomb Squadron's "Return Reunion" to Kunsan in September 1998, Michael King, a former B-26 pilot at Kunsan from 1952~1953 said, "The only thing familiar is that smokestack in Kunsan City. We used it as a navigational aide when returning from night missions in the North." The smokestack is still a landmark, but sits across the Kumgang river in Changhang. It was originally part of the Japanese iron foundry operated there, but it is now operated by Lucky Metals (LG Group) as a copper smelter. For those who were at the base between 1952- early 1953, they may not recognize the runway. The old runway ran east-west on a 9,000 foot concrete runway. This is now what is called "Taxiway Charlie" (or "642") and leads into the Whiskey arch area. The north-south runway now in use was built on the rice paddies next to the sea. It was started by the 808th Engineering Aviation Battalion in late 1953 and finished by the 841st EAB in early 1954. The picture below of the control tower was when the runway ran east-west. The apron area facing the new runway were all built after the Korean War. Base Ops, along with the Fire Department, has moved to the southern side of the taxiway. (Go to How It Was (1954-Present) to learn more of the current base history starting with the Caretaker Period of the 6170th ABG in 1954. Go to the Main Index for the units that have served at the base over the past 50 years.) Kunsan's Control Tower (operated by the 1973d ACCS) with B-26 Invaders. Courtesy The Unofficial Homepage of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association The major changes in Kunsan occurred during the years following the Pueblo Crisis (1968). Before this time, Korea was strictly a TDY/Deployed location with the units stationed in Japan. An active nuclear alert was maintained at Kunsan from 1968 through 1971 by various units deployed to Kunsan. After the Pueblo Crisis, it was decided that an American presence was required in Korea. In 1969, the construction of the Arches and major construction projects were undertaken throughout the base. Most of the facilities were modular structures -- most of which remain today. 80th TFS Modular Building (1978) (Courtesy Ken Wisz) Since 1974, Kunsan Air Base has been the home to the 8th Fighter Wing ("The Wolfpack"). The 8th TFW arrived here from Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand without its F4s or personnel and took over the equipment of the 3rd TFW who moved to Clark AB, Philippines. Starting with F4s, it became the first unit in Korea to transition to F-16s in 1981. There are now two F-16 squadrons -- the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadrons. The flightline operations are in a secured area. The NCO Club used to sit where AAFES Manager's office and Mini-mall used to be -- being demolished in 2002. Though the building was never classified as a Korean War structure, the shape of the building (on the 1954 map) and its existence in the same location from the Korean War through the mid-1970s makes it appear that this was INDEED the same building. The building was situated in the same location during 3rd Bomb Wing (1954) through the 6175th ABG caretaker years through the 3rd TFW years (1971-1974) into the early period of the 8th TFW. The NCO Club moved to the Sea Breeze NCO Club and later to the Loring Collocated (Officers/NCO) Club. The NCO Messhall sat where the Base Laundry Exchange is. The old Messhall #4 is now the Commissary. Though some old-timers recollect that it was still serving meals there until the late-70s, it has been modified and upgraded so much that it has lost all resemblance to the old structure. Along the way, the nuclear alert on C-pad -- starting in 1958 -- required a mess-facility to be constructed in that area. The C-pad mess facility still operates today. The main mess hall moved to the O'Malley's Dining Facility in the 1980s. A new Wing Headquarters was constructed in the late-80s with an underground WOC (War Operations Center). The area where the 3rd Bomb Wing held its parades (and was also used as a helicopter pad) is now the base golf course that was built in the early 1960s. The 30th AAA (Anti-Aircraft Artillery) area has become the gym, swimming pool, bowling alley and Service Club area. The Loring "Collocated" club (Officers and NCO Clubs together in the same building) was also recently built in this area. However, many other things have remained the same. The locations for the water tower, the dispensary, Mercury Radio (AFKN) and ROKAF Headquarters haven't moved. The Base Theater, and Post Office are also in the same locations. (The Barber Shop -- though modified with a cinderblock front -- was demolished in 2002.) However, even though the structures have remained, the buildings and structures have long disappeared -- or been modified so extensively that they are unrecognizable. For example, the old PX is now the Food Court housing Burger King and Taco Bells. It first added the snack bar in 1971 with the other half remaining as the BX. The BX moved to its new facilities in the mid-1980s. Most of the roads and the basic bus routes are still running in the same routes -- though the north-south road to the south end of the base has been cut by the addition of new barracks. Kunsan Airport: But the biggest change came about when then Korean President Roh Tae-Woo declared that Kunsan Air Base would become a civilian airport in 1989. Near the north gate, the Kunsan Airport terminal adjoins Kunsan Air Base and is located on the opposite side of the runway from the Main Base. However, this has not been without turmoil and frequent protests as the base recently increased the landing fees -- due to the increased costs in repair/maintenance of the runways with the added traffic. Remember that the Korean commercial airlines use US equipment and controllers to land...and the increased commercial traffic costs were not negotiated under the SOFA agreement. There was a Seoul-Kunsan airline route that ran from August 1970-March 1974. (NOTE: The route was stopped supposedly due to the cost of oil, but notice that March 1974 was when the 8th TFW arrived to take over the base.) Roh Tae-Woo announced the opening of this facility during his tenure. On Dec. 7, 1991, they commenced construction of civil aviation facilities for the Kunsan Airport and on Dec. 12, 1992 the airport was opened. Soon afterwards Korean Airlines and Asean Airlines started domestic flights into Kunsan. Kunsan to Seoul is now only 20 minutes by plane -- compared to a 3-1/2 hour bus ride. This has been a great blessing to frequent travelers and businessmen. Its popularity has also increased as it started as once-a-day for one airline; then once-a-day for two airlines; then twice a day for two; then three times a day for two. However, the opening has also brought about new friction -- with protests forcing main gate closures every Friday. The protests center around the argument that "THIS IS KOREA. KUNSAN IS OURS. GIVE US BACK OUR LAND." A little simplistic perhaps, but Kunsan AB will not disappear as long as the Korean reunification is not in place. But perhaps these patriotic protests may mask a more mercenary motive. If you note who the protestors are, you will find that they are the land owners around the base. If the base reverted to full Korean control, the 3-mile exclusionary zone would disappear and they would all be instant millionaires. The protests have caused gate closures on a regular basis -- usually every Wednesday starting at 1300. Kunsan City: Kunsan City is no longer a poor country town of 1954. The city officially has a population of about 350,000 people. However, most people agree that the population is significantly higher with people working and residing in Kunsan, but having their official residences elsewhere. (Go to Kunsan City Now for photos, maps and indepth information on Kunsan City as it is today.) Up until the mid-1980s, Kunsan City basically a poor country town. By the late-1980s, the Kunsan area started to see the benefits of the "Miracle of the Han River" trickling down to the Cholla area. More and more small businesses appeared. The older sections of town underwent "renovations" as old store fronts were upgraded. The Korean economy was on a roll and a new phenomena appeared in Korea -- a middle-class. The spendable incomes of most Koreans was increasing rapidly. The first of the "high-rise" 14-story apartment buildings was built in Kunsan in 1989. Then like a wave, the high-rise apartments went up in Naun-dong one after another. Ten years later, the building mania is still going on. The population center of the city has moved to the south and the administrative center has shifted to the south-east. In 1995, Kunsan city and Okku County combined to form the present Kunsan City. Probably the most notable changes in the 1980s were in the infrastructure. The dirt country roads were being paved with concrete -- though they still were only big enough for one car. City streets were widened and new roads built to accommodate a new phenomena of the 1980s -- personal cars. With the increased spendable incomes, the average Korean could now afford a car. Parking became a nightmare. During the rush hour, the roads were clogged leaving Kunsan in the morning and returning at night. Again more roads were built...almost overnight. The big changes are the roads which have been improved over the past ten years at a phenomenal rate. This construction was partially due to the building of the East Coast Highway -- which is now open with a two hour ride to Inchon versus the old expressway route which took three-four hours. The freeway from Chonju to the Kunjang Industrial Area -- and connections to the East Coast Highway -- is under construction. The portion between Kunsan City and the Kunjang Industrial Area has been completed. Thus one can drive from Kunsan City to the main gate of Kunsan AB in ten minutes. Leading to the Airport, the old two-lane road has given way to a six-lane highway. The Kunjang (Kunsan-Changhang) industrial complex was initiated and the grand tidal reclamation projects began. New jobs were created in the area. The Imhae industrial complex of 42,000,000 pyong and the Saemangum development project of 120,000,000 pyong are being developed around the Kunsan region. Facing the West sea area, this area is expected to grow into a major trading center. Kunsan is now poised to become the nerve center of the up-and-coming west coast area, slated for another international harbor and industrial complex. Another major change was that the Kunsan Air Base influence on the economy had been reduced greatly as the dollar-won rates plummeted in the 1980s. By the mid-1990s, most of the downtown "American" clubs had converted to Korean bars and the "American" shopping areas had disappeared. In addition, Kunsan Air Base was scaling down its operations and "retiring" older Korean workers. (Go to Welcome to Kunsan to learn more about Kunsan City from ancient times as a poor fishing village to the present day as an international port city with a bustling industrial complex.) Saemangum Project: The base signed off on the Saemangum Project in 1999. The impact is that the base is currently has an over-water landing pattern. However, when the project is completed the tidal flats surrounding the base will have been reclaimed. At some future time, the base will be relocated to the new Kunsan airport that is still in the drawing board stages. Currently, large-scale construction projects are underway to expand the land areas of the Kunsan and Janghang (Changhang) areas for industrial complexes. The first phase of the Kunjang (Kunsan-Janghang) Industrial Complex will be completed around 2001. Upgrading access roads, railroad connections and expanding harbor facilities to accommodate the industrial estates are on-going. The Daewoo automobile plant in Kunsan was the first plant on the reclaimed tideland area to go into full operation in 1995. These projects are all part of a massive 14-year tideland reclamation project called the "Saemangum Project". Part of this project is the construction of a 33km dike connecting the Pyonsan Peninsula, Kokunsan Islands and the seaside of Kunsan. It is currently projected for completion in 2004. Included in this project is the first phase of the West Coast Highway -- a 22km stretch of road from Sochon to Okku. The West Coast Highway will eventually link Inchon to Mokpo. In addition to the West Coast Highway, other transportation projects in work are the Kunsan-Taegu Expressway, the Chonju-Kunsan Industrial Road, and a railway connecting Changhang, Kunsan and Kokunsan.

Mistake about Japanese Buildings: Bruce Verhaaren of the Argonne National Laboratory, University of Chicago, writes, "There are no formal real estate documents predating 4 April 1955, and the first building inventory was completed in 1957. At that time all structures that were recorded as found on base in 1951 were assigned the date of 1950, which they still have in the official database. The report states "it would be safe to assume that these buildings are of Japanese construction" Japanese style and construction materials were also cited as evidence of Japanese construction. Not a bad guess really, but we now know that the housing was built with Japanese reparation materials, and was indeed Japanese. According to your site a standard style was used in Japan and Korea for housing construction by US troops. A Japanese style is likely to have been chosen, since Korea seems to have been pretty much an afterthought at the time. From the photos in Moench's book, Taking Command, they seem similar to the Japanese kirizuma-yane style, a gabled roof with a tile coping along the ridge. It seems Camp Hillenmeyer was pretty much forgotten by 1957."

The 1999 USAF real-property records still indicated some buildings as "Japanese buildings." These were:

(1). Officer Quarters (200: Gunsmoke Hill & 300 area) The Officer Quarters existing structures are NOT Japanese. The structures seen in the Korean War were built by the 3d Battalion, 63d Infantry Regiment as dependent quarters. (See the 1947 photo below.) Some of the BOQs (300 area) are extensively-modified 1947 BOQ structures. The Senior Officer quarters (200 area) appear to be upgraded versions of the original ones built in 1947. (See How it Was (1954-Present) building photos under the 6175th ABG.)

(2). Small buildings (1001/1002 Photo Lab/Telecommunications).Bldg 1001/1002 have 1950s-style interior framing. The slab foundations may have been laid in the 1947 for latrine facilities (without underground plumbing or drains). Bldg 1002 was most likely the Legal Office in the Korean War. Currently used as Korea Telecom and Base Photo Processing facilities.

(3). Water treatment (Bldg 101) Bldg 101 at the water treatment plant is most likely from the Korean War as it is a "1940s water system." The Occupation forces used to pump their water from a pond behind the Dependent area and then filter and chlorinate it. The water was not fed to any settling tanks. The settling tanks first appear in the Korean War. This is substantiated by James F. Farr's statements below (under "Water") stating that the water was drawn from the Okku Reservoir and pumped up to this water treatment area. In 1954, the area was known as "Water Point."

Original Japanese structures at Kunsan Air Base: According to Dr. Fred Ottoboni, author of the book Korea Between the Wars -- A Soldier's Story, the Japanese buildings that still existed when the 3d Battalion 63d Infantry Division came to Kunsan consisted of three aircraft hangars and a 500-man structure near the sod flightline area. In addition, there were ten 24-bunk Japanese barracks at the southern "toe" near Water Point (Gunsmoke Hill). Fred states that these structures were prone to burning. Russell E. McLogan mentions these structures in his book Boy Soldier -- Coming of Age During World War II (p.303) as 250-300 ft long with rooms on either side holding 6-8 persons. These structures were all gone by the time the 3d Bomb Group arrived at Kunsan in 1951. (Go to Kunsan aerodrome - Japanese for description of Japanese buildings at Kunsan existing when the Occupation forces arrived.)

---

Korean War Buildings: Most of the Korean-war era buildings are long gone. They were Jamesway huts which were basically flimsy temporary buildings. The roof had to be sandbagged or nailed down to prevent it from blowing away. Many of these buildings continued to be used into the 1960s to house transient aircrews and personnel. However, these buildings slowly deteriorated to a state where they were demolished. By the late 1970s, most of these plywood/corrugated iron construction buildings still existed.

The 1999 real-property records listed the following buildings as 1951 vintage buildings. These are:

(1). Old officer's club (387) -- The Club was closed in 1995 after a fire in the kitchen and stood vacant for about five years. Renovated in 2000 and reopened as the "Korean Gardens" (Officer's Club Annex) and replaced the old "Oriental House" serving Korean and American food. It soon became the West Winds Golf Course Club House. Its primary attraction for Koreans is its slot machine operations. The food in its restaurant is passable, but nothing to write home about.
(2). Sonlight Inn (510) -- Now used as the Chapel Annex. This was the Hobby Sales Store and Photo Shop. (NOTE: Bldg 511 was the Hobbycrafts Shop and Bldg 512 the Woodworking Shop. These three buildings (510/511/512) were side-by-side -- and still are -- but only Bldg 510 is listed as Korean War-era.) The chapel staff does an exemplary job of ministering to the needs of their parishioners and providing a "home-away-from-home" atmosphere.
(3). Casa del Lobo (566) -- This was part of the old Personnel Services Offices (Bldg 567) where the folks would make arrangements for R&R and where the Air Force Aid Society was located.
(4). Bldg 567 -- Though listed as a Korean War structure, Bldg 567 is a new prefab building. Bldg 565 was the old Oriental House restaurant (O-Club Annex).
(5). Taxi Maintenance Garage (712) -- This building has not had many upgrades to it and appears to be in a run-down condition. This is the only one that vaguely resembling a 1950s structure.
(6). Food Court (1004) -- This was the old PX (Post Exchange). However, so many upgrades and renovations have made it indiscernable from the original building. It remained the main BX until 1971 when part of it was converted into a snack bar. After the new BX was built in the mid-1980s, it became a mini-mall and snack bar. Later it was converted into only a Food Court.

Recently Demolished

(1). Beauty Shop (1008) -- Upgraded with cinderblock fronts. Previously the infamous Massage/Steam Room. It was converted in 1987 to the beauty parlor. Demolished in 2002.
(2). Barber Shop (1009) -- Upgraded with cinderblock fronts. Demolished in 2002.
(3). Old dispensary (403) -- This was the old Dental Clinic. Located directly across from the Wing Commanders billets, it demolished in 2001. A proposal was made for this to be turned into a museum for Kunsan and many vet organizations supported the idea with offers to contribute materials. However, no decision was made. The building was demolished as part of the new expansion of the hospital in 2002.
(4). AAFES Manager/Mini-Mart Building (1100) -- Though not officially listed as a Korean War building, it was in the same location as the NCO Club in 1954 -- the NCO Club during the 6175th ABG days (1955-1971) -- the NCO Club (with its "Snake Pit") under the 3rd TFW -- and NCO Club during the early days of the 8th TFW. It was demolished in 2002. Its structure was 1950s construction and it was most certainly one of the original structures as it is below the ground level of the surrounding structures...like the Food Court. This means that the other areas were built-up and leveled while the structure remained at its original location. Demolished in 2002.


It's rather sad that the work done by the 3rd Battalion 63d Infantry Division (especially the 508th Engineer Utility Company) in the Occupation Years (1946-1949), the 808th & 841st Engineering Aviation Battalions (Korean War: 1951-1954) and 3d Air Installation Operations (AIO) (1951-1954) has been all but forgotten. Dr. Fred Ottoboni's book, Korea Between the Wars -- A Soldier's Story, tells the story of the Occupation forces' years at then Camp Hillenmeyer.

I suspect that there are more Korean War era buildings around, but they all have been so extensively modified that they have lost their identity. The Base Theater is in the exact same location as the old Invader theater -- and looks like it too. A covered entry way has been added for the small snack bar. A upgrade in 2001 brought the bare wall structure up to the standards of a modern theater.


Invader Base Theater (1953)
(Courtesy Harold Locke)

Kunsan Base Theater (2001)
(USAF Photo)
Though the Commissary is in the same location as Mess No. 4. -- and some old timers remember meals being served there into the late-1970s -- its cinderblock/prefab additions have expanded it and changed it beyond recognition.


8th Bomb Squadron Mail Room (1953)
(Courtesy Harold Locke)
The Post Office is in the same location as the old Post Office, but the all cinderblock construction would indicate this is a new structure. In the Korean War, the mail was received in a central location and distributed to the squadrons. This same system of mail distribution was in operation through the 1960s.

---

Go to Kunsan Airbase Now:

• Slide Show of 1954 Welcome Brochure
  
• Aerial view of Camp Hillenmeyer (1946):
  
• Aerial view of Camp Hillenmeyer (1946):
  
• Hand-drawing of Kunsan Air Base in 1952
  
• Current Map of Kunsan AB (1999)
  
• Current Map of Kunsan AB Runway and Aircraft Parking areas (1999)

Go to Enlisted Dining Hall/Officers' Open Mess (1954):

• Thanksgiving Dinner Menu (1952):
  

Go to Airman/NCO Mess -- Officers' Quarters (1954):

• BOQ Billeting 1952:
  
• Picture of Dependents Quarters (1947):
  
• Senior Officer Quarters 1952:
  
• Signal Hill 1952:
  

Go to NCO/Airman Quarters/BX (1954):

• Air mens Billeting area (1952):
  
• Enlisted Barracks (1954):
  
• Currency/Off-Limits/Water (1954):
  
  • Pumping Station at Okku Reservoir (1952):
    
  • Okku Reservoir (1992):
    

Go to Athletic Programs (1954):
Go to Service Club (1954):

• Base Theater 1952:
  

Go to The Base Library (1954) / Chapel (1953):

• Base Chapel 1952:
  
• Kunsan Orphanage 1951:
  

Go to The NCO/Airman's Club (1954):
Go to Mercury Radio and Officers' Club (1954):
Go to ROKAF (1954):

RETURN TO MAIN TABLE OF CONTENTS

Return to Top

---

For inputs or comments, contact Kalani O'Sullivan.

NOTICE/DISCLAIMER: The content of this page is unofficial and the views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of anyone associated with this page or any of those linked from this site. All opinions are those of the writer and are intended for entertainment purposes only. Links to other web pages are provided for convenience and do not, in any way, constitute an endorsement of the linked pages or any commercial or private issues or products presented there. None of this site has been endorsed by the DOD, the Air Force, the 8th Fighter Wing or Mickey Mouse. All Air Force links are publicly accessible through the world-wide web. When eye-witness accounts conflict with OFFICIAL DOD materials, this website opts to lend credence to the people who were there.

---

Return to Top

Links Purged: June 5, 2000 HTML Toolbox