Report, Joint Daily Situation Report Number 20

The President NLT (PSF-Intell.)142 TOP Washington, D.C. SECRET 17 July 1950 JOINT DAILY SITREP NO. 20 (maps attached) 1 1. Weather: Inland areas clear. Broken stratocumulus at 3,000 feet, visibility unrestricted along coastal areas. Forecast: Scattered stratocumulus at night becoming broken cumulus at 3,000 feet after 1200/18 (KT). Visibili- ty 10 miles except in scattered thubderstorms. 2. Soviet participation: An unevaluated report from EUSAK states that unidentified jet type aircraft were observed in the vicinity of Chongju on 16 July. The air- craft appeared to be smaller than F-80's, with swept-back wings, blunt noses, stubby fuselages, and silver in color. This description closely fits the MIG-15 (Soviet type 14), several of which have been previously ob- served in the Far East. (FECOM) (SECRET) 3. Operations: ENEMY SITUATION a. Enemy units opposing U.S. forces in the Kongju-Taejon-Nonsan triangle appear to be elements of the 1st and 4th North Korean Divisions but positive identifications are not obtainable. The possibility that elements of the 3d North Korean division may also have been employed in this area has not been discarded. The infiltration tactics of infantry elements have been a major factor in the sustained enemy action within the area. Only two tanks have thus far been reported south of the Kum River and these were reported destroyed. Nevertheless the enemy movement which yester- day threatened the U.S. left flank above Nonsan combined with heavy pres- sure and infiltration from the north forced the withdrawal of U.S. forces to a position west of Taejon. (FECOM) (SECRET) b. Heavy enemy concentrations have been reported in the general area of Chochiwon. There are reports of heavy enemy infiltrations, pre- sumably by the 2d North Korean division, between the north flank of the 24th U.S. Infantry Division and south flank of the 1st ROK Corps. While this infiltration appears to be primarily aimed at the north flank of U.S. forces in the vicinity of Taejon, nonetheless its effect would be that of driving a salient between the 24th Division and the 1st ROK Corps. (FECOM) (SECRET) 1 DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 TOP SECRET DOD Directive 5100.30, June 18, 1979 By NLT- He NARS, Date 2/14/81