View source for Sinmak Airfield (K-20)

{{Short description|Airfield used in the Korean War}}
{{orphan|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Sinmak Airfield (K-20)
| ensign = File:Flag of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force (Obverse).svg
| ensign_size = 90px
| native_name =
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| location = Sinmak, [[North Hwanghae Province]]
| country = North Korea
| image = [[File:C-54 at Sinmak Airfield.jpg|250px]]
| caption = A [[Fifth Air Force]] [[Douglas C-54 Skymaster]] unloading drums of oil at Sinmak Airfield in preparation for the [[Eighth Army (United States)|Eighth Army]]’s advance, October 1950.
| image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields -->
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| type =
| coordinates = {{Coord|38|26|00|N|126|14|00|E|display=inline,title}}
| gridref =
| pushpin_map = North Korea
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within North Korea
| pushpin_label = Sinmak Airfield (K-20)
| pushpin_label_position =
| ownership = [[Korean People's Army]]
| operator = [[Korean People's Army Air Force]]
| controlledby = <!-- RAF Bomber Command, RAF Fighter Command, RAF Flying Training Command or the Eighth Air Force -->
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc -->
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| code = <!--facility/installation code -->
| built = {{Start date|1945}}
| used = 1945 - 1953, 1968 - {{End date|1970}}
| builder = [[USSR]]
| fate = Abandoned
| condition = Demolished
| battles = [[Korean War]]
| events =
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group -->
| occupants = <!-- squadrons only -->
| designations = K-20
| website =
| footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox -->
<!-- begin airfield information  -->
| IATA =
| ICAO =
| LID =
| GPS =
| WMO =
| elevation = <!-- {{Convert||m|0}} -->
| r1-number = NE/SW
| r1-length =  {{Convert|831|m|0}}
| r1-surface = Pierced Steel Planking
| r2-number =
| r2-length = <!-- {{Convert||m|0}} -->
| r2-surface =
| r3-number =
| r3-length = <!-- {{Convert||m|0}} -->
| r3-surface =
| h1-number =
| h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| h1-surface =
| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
<!--  end airfield information   -->
}}
'''Sinmak Airfield (K-20)''' is a former [[Korean People's Army Air Force]] airfield, which was mainly operational during the [[Korean War]]. It was located in Sinmak, [[North Hwanghae Province]], [[North Korea]].
== History ==
'''Sinmak Airfield''' was originally built by the [[Soviet Union]] during the [[Soviet Union in the Korean War|Soviet Occupation of Northern Korea]]. Following the end of [[World War II]], the airfield was abandoned in 1945 as Soviet forces were withdrawn.
Head of the Sinmak Labor Party, Chong Un-kyong, aged 36, was in charge in the reconstruction of Sinmak Airfield. In order to make way for the airfield, 98 acres of farmland were taken, and that the owners would be given other pieces of land as compensation. However, this never materialised, and most of the owners were sent to local [[coal mining]]. The airfield was expected to complete by December 1949.<ref name=“CIA1”>{{Cite web |title= Central Intelligence Agency Information Report {{!}} New Airfield at Sinmak |url= https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP82-00457R004600460003-2.pdf. |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=cia.gov}}</ref>
=== Construction ===
On November 1, 1949, construction work on Sinmak Airfield begun with a compulsory amount of one hundred laborers from each province, expected to serve 10 days each in order to complete the airfield. These workers were not payed, and had to house and feed themselves during their service. People who were against to the labor were given severe punishments, however, only a few amount of people had opposed. On December 1949, the 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment of the 1st Division was stationed at Sinmak.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP80-00809A000600270190-1.pdf |title=CIA-RDP80-00809A000600270190-1 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |date=1979}}</ref>
Due to the insufficient amount of workers caused by the unavailability of people, the airfield faced a lot of delays and did not meet the expected completion date.<ref name=“CIA1”/> Finally, by 1950, the airfield was constructed using [[Pierced Steel Planking]], and opened as an advanced airfield. It was protected by [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[MiG]] units.<ref>{{Cite web |title= China, the Soviet Union, and the Korean War: From an Abortive Air War Plan to a Wartime Relationship |url= https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/jcs/article/view/368/582 |access-date=25 November 2024|website= journals.lib.unb.ca}}</ref>
== Korean War ==
On the morning of June 25, 1950, the NKPAF deployed 10 [[Yakovlev Yak-9]]s from their operational fighter squadron, to expand their short ranged interceptor’s coverage of [[South Korea]]. An additional 2 [[Ilyushin Il-10]]s were also deployed at the airfield.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Power History 2012, Page 36 |url= https://www.afhistory.org/airpowerhistory/Air_Power_History_2012_fall.pdf |website=afhistory.org |access-date=25 November 2024}}</ref>
On 17 July, Sinmak Airfield received raids by [[B-26 Invader]] light bombers, and kept them “post-holed” to prevent further operations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Headquarters Far East Air Force APO 925 |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/acv/contents/pub/pdf/B17/B17070057300.BAdash_0002.RAdash-0051.0098.pdf |website= www.jacar.archives.go.jp |access-date=18 November 2024}}</ref> On October, Sinmak served as a northern advancement point for the [[Eighth Army (United States)|Eighth Army]] during the Korean War.<ref>{{Cite web |title= The Korean War Fiftieth Anniversary Information Report {{!}} Anything Anytime Anywhere, Combat Cargo in the Korean War |url= https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA439943.pdf |access-date=2024-08-26 |website= apps.dtic.mil}}</ref> In June 1951, the head of the Chinese Communist 41 Division and 4th Field Army was deployed at Sinmak.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP82-00457R007900720008-2.pdf |title=[Document Title] |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |date=1981 |accessdate=December 3, 2024}}</ref>
=== USAF Occupation ===
By October 16 1951, [[UN forces]] captured Sinmak. A day later, the airfield was opened by the [[Far East Air Force (United States)|Far East Air Force]]. The 8055th [[Mobile Army Surgical Hospital]] was stationed at the airfield, and it’s 200 doctors took care of patients taken from [[Kimpo]].<ref>{{Cite web |title= Analysis of Aeromedical Evacuation in the Korean War and Vietnam War, Page 55|url= https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA214994.pdf|access-date=18 November 2024}}</ref> The FEAF Combat Cargo Command was also stationed, airlifting fuel and rations to support UN offensive operations in [[Pyongyang]]. Shortly afterwards, Sinmak Airfield was designated as K-20 Airdrome. On March 11, 1952, the [[Fifth Air Force]] dropped 150 tons of  bombs onto a troop training area near the airfield. Operations officers reported that this was the most intense [[napalm]] attack on a single area.<ref>{{cite web |title=The USAF In Korea - A Chronology 1950-1953 |url= https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA433340.pdf |website=apps.dtic.mil |access-date=25 November 2024}}</ref>
Sinmak Airfield also saw the last [[Royal Australian Air Force]] combat in the Korean War, on March 27, 1950, the [[No. 77 Squadron RAAF]] deployed two [[Gloster Meteor]]s operated by Sergeants George Hale and David Irlam to conduct road reconnaissance missions. The two pilots saw what appeared to be a lone MiG-15, and Hales dived in to attack, however, was opposed by three other enemy aircraft. Hales cannon fired several of these aircraft, before returning to base after running out of ammunition. This event acted as the last aerial combat action for the RAAF ever since.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/history/our-journey/last-air-air-combat-involving-raaf |title=Last Air-to-Air Combat Involving the RAAF |website=Royal Australian Air Force |access-date=November 27, 2024}}</ref>
On May 1953, the Far East Air Force left Sinmak, and reconstruction soon begun with 3000 villagers recruited from surrounding areas. Constant air-raids by the [[United Nations]] affected construction operations, in which several tunnel-like shelters made of [[Sandbag|sandbags]] and [[camouflage]] were used to conceal aircraft. There were no aircraft assigned to the airfield, however, 20 North Korean troops were stationed.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Internet Archive - CIA Information Report {{!}} Yongyang-ni and Sinmak airfields |url= https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp80-00810a002300700003-6 |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=archive.org}}</ref>
=== Post-war ===
In 1968, Sinmak Airfield appeared to begin reconstruction with three caves connected to the northern end of the runway, ten barracks, and a runway.
On March 1970, Sinmak Airfield was reported with 943 meter-long grading, and a 831 meter-long runway. The dispersal site consisted of three revetments located west south-end of the runway, and no support facilities were observed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP78B03824A000300010004-9.pdf |title=CIA-RDP78B03824A000300010004-9 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |date=1978}}</ref>
== Incidents ==
On May 7, 1951, a [[Douglas A-26 Invader|Douglas A-26B-61-DL Invader]] operated by the [[United States Air Force]] was shot down by anti-aircraft fire during a bombing mission over Pyongyang, North Korea. The aircraft crashed near Sinmak after losing its right engine. Unfortunately, the captain was killed while maneuvering the aircraft out of the combat zone, where two other crew members successfully bailed out and survived.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sinmak |url=https://www.baaa-acro.com/city/sinmak |website=www.baaa-acro.com |access-date=10 September 2024}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Korean War air bases]]
[[Category:Military installations of North Korea]]