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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 --

The War Stabilizes, 25 January - 30 June 1951 --
Carrier Air Strikes -- The "Carlson's Canyon" Campaign, March-April 1951

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Princeton, an early December arrival; and a very tired

This page features images of the March-April 1951 campaign to close the Carlson's Canyon railway bridges in North Korea.

For further pictorial coverage of carrier air attacks during January-June 1951, see:

  • Carrier Air Strikes.


    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-687594

    "Carlson's Canyon" Bridge Attacks, March-April 1951


    Photograph "Carlson's Canyon # 3", showing the railway bridge-tunnel complex south of Kilchu, in northeastern Korea, on 2 March 1951, before much damage had been done.
    This high bridge was the focus of a heavy Navy and Air Force air attack effort in March and April 1951, along with an equally heavy effort by the enemy to repair the bridge in order to keep his vital rail communications functioning.

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

    Online Image: 140KB; 740 x 535 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-687600

    "Carlson's Canyon" Bridge Attacks, March-April 1951


    Photograph "Carlson's Canyon # 4", showing the railway bridge-tunnel complex south of Kilchu, in northeastern Korea, on 3 March 1951, just after the second strike on it by planes from USS Princeton (CV-37). This strike dropped one span, damaged a second and moved two others out of line.
    Note that a second set of piers had been constructed to allow eventual erection of a double track on this line.
    The six-span bridge was 600 feet long and about 60 feet high.

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

    Online Image: 143KB; 740 x 535 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-687603

    "Carlson's Canyon" Bridge Attacks, March-April 1951


    Photograph "Carlson's Canyon # 8", showing the situation on 17 March 1951, with a new stock of wooden ties collected in the ravine for reconstruction of the bridge. It had been hit by a 4th set of carrier air strikes on 15 March, destroying reconstruction work done after the bridge was originally knocked out by strikes on 3 March.
    This railway bridge-tunnel complex was located south of Kilchu, in northeastern Korea.

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

    Online Image: 157KB; 740 x 535 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-687597

    "Carlson's Canyon" Bridge Attacks, March-April 1951


    Photograph "Carlson's Canyon # 10", taken on 20 March 1951, showing the growth of the stockpile of wooden ties being accumulated for reconstruction of the bridge. It had been hit by a 4th set of carrier air strikes on 15 March, destroying reconstruction work done following Navy air attacks on 3 March.
    This railway bridge-tunnel complex was located south of Kilchu, in northeastern Korea.

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

    Online Image: 171KB; 740 x 535 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-687595

    "Carlson's Canyon" Bridge Attacks, March-April 1951


    Photograph "Carlson's Canyon # 11", taken on 30 March 1951, showing the bridge repaired with wooden cribbing. It lacks only rails to be ready for service again.
    The bridge was originally knocked out by Navy carrier planes on 3 March, was repaired and again put out of service by air strikes on 15 March and would be revisited and totally destroyed on 2 April.
    This railway bridge-tunnel complex was located south of Kilchu, in northeastern Korea.

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

    Online Image: 162KB; 740 x 535 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-687598

    "Carlson's Canyon" Bridge Attacks, March-April 1951


    Photograph "Carlson's Canyon # 12", taken 2 April 1951 showing the damage done by the 5th and 6th Navy carrier air strikes, flown on that day. All the laboriously-repaired bridge spans were destroyed and the concrete piers further damaged.
    The bridge was originally knocked out by Navy carrier planes on 3 March, was repaired and destroyed by air strikes on 15 March, repaired again and totally wrecked on 2 April. After that, it was abandoned and a bypass constructed.
    This railway bridge-tunnel complex was located south of Kilchu, in northeastern Korea.
    Note numerous bomb craters in the vicinity.

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

    Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 585 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-437274

    "Carlson's Canyon" Bridge Attacks, March-April 1951


    Photograph "Carlson's Canyon # 13", showing the bypass route established by the enemy following the destruction of the railway bridge in left center. The bypass, represented by dotted lines, was necessary to avoid the bridge and tunnels, which could be easily closed by air strikes. Though it included several small bridges, the bypass was not so easily knocked out and was more readily repaired. Task Force 77 carrier planes were therefore diverted southward in search of another vital "choke point". Text below the image provides additional information.
    The "Carlson's Canyon" bridge was located on the rail line south of Kilchu, in northeastern Korea.

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

    Online Image: 139KB; 740 x 570 pixels

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

     


    For further pictorial coverage of carrier air attacks during January-June 1951, see:

  • Carrier Air Strikes.


    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.

    29 September 2000