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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- The Korean War, 1950-1953 --

Inchon Assault Landings, 15 September 1950

Marines first went ashore at Inchon just after 0630 on 15 September, landing on "Green" Beach on Wolmi-Do island's northwestern face. The island, which commanded the other Inchon invasion beaches, was secured by noon at a cost of less than a score of wounded Marines.

Further landings had to wait until Inchon's high-ranging tide came back in during the afternoon, so the hours between were occupied by a continuing bombardment from carrier planes and ships' guns. At 1750, after the rising waters had recovered Inchon's extensive mud flats, "Blue" Beach on the south side of the city received the First Marine Regimental Combat Team. The Fifth Marines went in past Wolmi-Do's north side to land on "Red" Beach, the waterfront near Inchon's industrial area.

North Korean preparations to defend Inchon had been grossly inadequate, and the Marines secured the city by D+1, the 16th. Inchon, no longer an assault target, was now the staging area for further advances toward Seoul.

This page features views of the landings at Inchon on 15 September 1950, including landing vessels offshore and the landings on "Green" and "Blue" Beaches. The "Red" Beach assault is presented in Landings on "Red" Beach.

For a special image selection on the Inchon Invasion, plus links to additional pictures of that Operation, see:

  • The Inchon Invasion, September 1950.

    For views of other aspects of the September-November United Nations' offensive in Korea, see:

  • The UN Offensive, 15 September -- 25 November 1950

    For a precis of our Korean War images, and links to more comprehensive pictorial coverage of that conflict, see:

  • The Korean War, June 1950 - July 1953 -- Introductory Overview and Special Image Selection.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 80-G-423206

    Inchon Invasion, September 1950


    An LST slips into Inchon harbor in the early hours of 15 September 1950, just prior to the landings there.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 103KB; 610 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 97153

    Inchon Invasion, September 1950


    First wave of U.S. Marines head for the landing beach in LCVPs, 15 September 1950.
    Lighting in sky indicates that these Marines may be bound for the "Green" Beach landings on Wolmi-Do island.
    Photographer: Kircher.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97154

    Inchon Invasion, September 1950


    First wave of U.S. Marines head for the landing beach in LVTs, 15 September 1950. Island in the background is Wolmi-Do
    This may show the landings on Wolmi-Do's "Green" Beach in the morning of 15 September. Control ship in the right center background is a PCE.
    Photographer: Kircher.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-420005

    Inchon Invasion, September 1950


    LCVPs from USS Noble (APA-218) wait their turn to go up to the Inchon pontoon docks to unload troops and supplies, on the first day of the landings, 15 September 1950.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-423215

    Inchon Invasion, September 1950


    LCVPs from USS Union (AKA-106) circle in the transport area off Inchon, prior to going to the line of departure on the first day of landings, 15 September 1950.
    An LST, wearing the side number QO-12, is in the center background.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-421141

    Inchon Invasion, September 1950


    LCVPs prepare to land troops and equipment on Green Beach, Wolmi-Do island, during the first day of landings at Inchon, 15 September 1950.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-420024

    Inchon Invasion, September 1950


    A LSMR fires rockets as LVTs cross the line of departure to take Marines to Blue Beach on the first day of landings, 15 September 1950.
    Wolmi-Do island is in the left center background. The Inchon waterfront is in the right center distance, with heavy smoke rising from pre-invasion bombardment.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     


    This page features views of the landings at Inchon on 15 September 1950, including landing vessels offshore and the landings on "Green" and "Blue" Beaches. The "Red" Beach assault is presented in Landings on "Red" Beach.

    For a special image selection on the Inchon Invasion, plus links to additional pictures of that Operation, see:

  • The Inchon Invasion, September 1950.

    For views of other aspects of the September-November United Nations' offensive in Korea, see:

  • The UN Offensive, 15 September -- 25 November 1950

    For a precis of our Korean War images, and links to more comprehensive pictorial coverage of that conflict, see:

  • The Korean War, June 1950 - July 1953 -- Introductory Overview and Special Image Selection.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Images added 23 January 2000