Report, Joint Daily Situation Report Number 115

The President Washington, D.C. 20 October 1950 1 JOINT DAILY SITREP NO. 115 (maps attached) From 0700/19 (EST) to 0700/20 (EST) From 2100/19 (Korea) to 2100/20 (Korea) 1. Situation in Brief: The 187th Airborne RCT airdropped in the Sukchon-Sunchon area at 1400/20 (KT), with the RCT, less one battalion, dropping at Sunchon, and one reinforced battalion dropping at Sukchon, In the largest daily haul of PW's to date, the 24th U.S. Infantry Division captured 5,605 North Korean troops on 19 October. All organized resistance east and south of the Taedong River in Pyongyang has been eliminated, as elements of the 7th ROK Division joined the 1st U.S. Cavalry and 1st ROK Divisions in throwing bridgeheads across the river into the city. Elements of the 2d U.S. Infantry Division are committed to secure the 2 airfields captured by ROK troops east of Pyongyang. The U.S. X Corps opened at Wonsan, and assumed command of the ROK I Corps. The ROK Capitol Division fanned out from Hamhung in 3 different directions: 25 miles northeast to Hongwon, north to within 5 miles of Sinhung, and 20 miles northwest to Tokhung. Minesweeping continued in the Wonsan area with COLLETT directing operations. ROCHESTER and 3 destroyers supported the mine- sweepers, while MISSOURI plus cruisers and destroyers acted as a block- ade force. Carrier planes continue to strike transportation and communi- cation targets on the northeast coast. THESEUS, plus cruisers and des- troyers, maintained the air blockade against possible escape routes in the Chinnampo area. Naval air flew 266 sorties on 19 October, and U.N. aircraft under FEAF control flew 318 sorties, including 171 combat. On 20 October, 21 B-29's, visually and by radar, attacked interdiction targets and the dock and warehouse area in Songjin (40=40N/129=12E) with unob- served to excellent results. (FECOM)(SECRET) 2. Weather: Cold front moving across Korea, with northeast-southwest orien- tation and lying across Wonsan-Kimpo area by 1800/20 (KT). South of the front, low overcast with visibility 6 miles, lowering to 1 mile in rain and fog. Weather behind frontal zone, low scattered clouds with visibility 10 miles. Forecast: Cold front to continue movement through Korea, and to be located south of Kyushu by 2100/21 (KT). Weather along frontal zone low overcast with visibility 6 miles, lowering to 1 to 3 miles in rain and fog. (FEAF) (SECRET) DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec DOD Directive 5100.30, SECRET By NLT-NL NARS 2/14/81