U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 5 (of 5): Operations in West KoreaUnited States. Marine Corps
History
U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 5 (of 5): Operations in West Korea
United States. Marine Corps
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Campaigns; United States. Marine Corps -- History -- Korean War, 1950-1953
Some of the enemy ground pressure against the outposts in September
and October had been relieved by the increase in the number of air
strikes received by the 1st Marine Division. De-emphasis of the Air
Force interdiction strategy in favor of striking the enemy wherever
(and whenever) it hurt him most had made available more aircraft for
close support of ground operations.[233] The UN commander, General
Clark, who had given the green light to the shift in USAF policy and
targets, followed the giant hydroelectric strike in June with a mass
attack the next month on 30 military targets located near the North
Korean Capital. During a year’s freedom from air attack (July 1951-July
1952) Pyongyang had become not only the major logistics center for
combat equipment and personnel but also the focal point for command and
control of Communist ground and air defense efforts.
[233] The 1st MAW chief of staff during this period, then
Colonel Samuel S. Jack, offered the opinion that “the
Fifth Air Force was most sympathetic to Division
requirements for close air support from Wing sources. The
Eighth Army in the Joint Operations Center proved to be
the principal limiting factor in the assignment of air
in accordance with these requests. Also, requirements
that Division CAS requests filter through I Corps and JOC
constituted a major factor in Wing response.” _Jack ltr._
Designated Operation PRESSURE PUMP, the 11 July strike against
Pyongyang called for three separate attacks during daylight and a
fourth at night. This extended time over the target would give enemy
fighters more than ample time to take to the skies in defense of the
Capital. Because Pyongyang “was defended by 48 guns and more than
100 automatic weapons, making it one of the worst ‘flak traps’ in
Korea,”[234] there was considerable hazard in the operation. Added
danger to the pilots resulted from the decision to forewarn the North
Korean civilian population of the air assault. General Clark explained
the reason for dropping warning leaflets prior to the attack on
Pyongyang:
[234] Futrell, _USAF, Korea_, p. 482.
The objective was in part humanitarian and in part practical. We
had to hit Pyongyang because the Communists had made it a major
military headquarters and stockpile area. We wanted to warn the
people away from danger areas. By warning them away we disrupted
their daily lives and made it difficult for the Communists to
maintain any kind of schedules in their work in the city.[235]
[235] Clark, _Danube to Yalu_, pp. 208–209.
Results indicated that both the destructive and the psychological
aspects of the mission were successful. American, British, and ROK
planes completely destroyed 3 of the 30 military targets attacked. Of
the rest, only two escaped major damage:
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