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

Carrier Air Strikes, 15 September - 25 November 1950

For the most part, carrier strikes during the United Nations' offensive followed the pattern established during the first part of the Korean War, a mixture of close air support to assist ground forces directly engaged with the enemy, and attacks on troops, infrastructure and transportation targets deeper in the territory held by the North Koreans. As the enemy retreated following the Inchon Invasion and the Eighth Army's drive out of the Pusan Perimeter, Navy aircraft increasingly concentrated their efforts in the eastern part of North Korea, while land-based Air Force planes took care of the western areas. In early November, as it became apparent that the Chinese Communists were up to something serious, General MacArthur ordered the Air Force and Navy to greatly intensify the attentions their aircraft were applying to "enemy communications, assembly areas and troop columns".

One new target category was bridges over the Yalu River, the border between Korea and Manchuria. Previously "off limits" to air attack due to their politically sensitive location, MacArthur argued successfully that these bridges were vitally important to whatever the Chinese were preparing to do in northern Korea. However, approval was obtained to hit only the Korean side of the bridges. Aerial penetration into Manchurian airspace was strickly prohibited, creating a very difficult attack problem for the aviators, who not only had to tailor their approaches to avoid going beyond the middle of the Yalu, but were obliged to endure without reply anti-aircraft fire from the "forbidden" side of the river.

The great potential accuracy of their dive bombing brought Navy planes back to western Korea for the Yalu bridges missions. These strikes were flown from 9 November through the 21st, with AD "Skyraiders" delivering heavy bombs, supported by F4U "Corsairs" with lighter ordnance. F9F "Panther" jet fighters covered against aerial interference, an important matter, as high-performance MiG-15s were beginning to make their appearance. The Navy planes cut three bridges and damaged four others. Air Force planes hit others. However, the Yalu attacks, and those made elsewhere, were not enough to stop the Chinese buildup.

This page features pictures of and related to carrier air attacks on enemy targets during the U.N. offensive period of the Korean War, from 15 September to 25 November 1950.

For views of air-to-air combat during this period, see: Navy Planes in action with MiG-15s, November 1950.

For visual coverage 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-422387

    Douglas AD "Skyraider" attack planes


    From USS Valley Forge (CV-45), fire 5-inch rockets at a North Korean field position.
    Photo is dated 24 October 1950.

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

    Online Image: 153KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-439862

    USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)


    Ensign Edward D. Jackson, of Fighter Squadron 112, is helped from his F9F-2 "Panther" fighter, after making a blind landing on board the carrier, 17 September 1950.
    He had suffered severe facial lacerations when his plane flew through high-tension lines west of Seoul, Korea, while attacking targets on the Han River.
    For the text of an "All Hands" magazine article on this incident, see: Photo # 80-G-439862 (Extended Caption).

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

    Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 620 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-421972

    Attacks on Yalu River Bridges, November 1950


    A highway bridge over the Yalu River, between North Korea and Manchuria, showing the effects of strikes by Navy carrier-based AD "Skyraider" planes. Note bomb hole in, and craters around, the Korean side of the bridge, in upper left center. There are ferry approaches on both sides of the river in the lower part of the photo.
    Photograph is dated 10 November 1950.

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

    Online Image: 158KB; 650 x 675 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-422112

    Attacks on Yalu River Bridges, November 1950


    A Navy AD-3 "Skyraider" attack plane pulls out of its dive (top center) after dropping a 2000-pound bomb on the Korean side of a bridge over the Yalu River, at Sinuiju, North Korea. Note bomb craters in the vicinity of the bridges.
    Photograph is dated 15 November 1950, but may have been taken a few days earlier.

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

    Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 480 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-422115

    Attacks on Yalu River Bridges, November 1950


    Navy carrier-based planes attack bridges over the Yalu River, at Sinuiju, North Korea. Note anti-aircraft emplacements along the river embankment in right center and at left, and bomb craters closer to the bridges.
    Photograph is dated 15 November 1950, but may have been taken a few days earlier.
    Compare bomb damage in this photo with that in Photo # 80-G-423495, which was taken later.

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

    Online Image: 202KB; 740 x 670 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-423492

    Attacks on Yalu River Bridges, November 1950


    Bridges at Sinuiju, North Korea, under attack by planes from USS Leyte (CV-32).
    The built-up area in the background is the Manchurian city of Antung. Bomb explosions in the lower part of the photo are on the Korean side of the Yalu River.
    Photograph is dated 22 November 1950, but may have been taken on 14 November.
    See Photo # 80-G-423495, which was taken at the same time.

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

    Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 620 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-423495

    Attacks on Yalu River Bridges, November 1950


    Yalu River bridges at Sinuiju, North Korea, under attack by planes from USS Leyte (CV-32). Three spans have been dropped on the highway bridge, but the railway bridge (lower bridge) appears to be intact.
    The Manchurian city of Antung is across the river, in upper right.
    Photograph is dated 18 November 1950, but may have been taken on 14 November.
    Compare bomb damage on and around the river embankment, in the lower part of this photo, with that in Photo # 80-G-422115, which was taken earlier.

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

    Online Image: 140KB; 740 x 620 pixels

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

     


    For views of air-to-air combat during this period, see: Navy Planes in action with MiG-15s, November 1950.

    For visual coverage 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.

    19 December 1999