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Aerial standoff on February 9, 1952
In the early morning of February 9, 1952, the Samdong-ri area in Yangdeok-gun was unusually quiet. As the sky grew brighter, the distant mountains loomed in the morning mist. The weather on this day, despite the bitterly cold, was unusually clear, with the silhouettes of the peaks and forests in the distance clearly visible, providing excellent conditions for observation and positioning at high altitudes.
The U.S. Navy's carrier-based aircraft fleet took off from a distant aircraft carrier in the morning, aiming directly at the Sandongli area. These carrier-based aircraft are mainly AD-2 attack aircraft, which are designed to support ground forces and destroy enemy installations, and are equipped with powerful firepower. The fleet maintained a tight formation in flight, crossing the skies over the Korean Peninsula at high speed, and their goal was to destroy the region's rail transport system, especially those railway bridges hidden in the valley. These bridges are key to the enemy's supply lines, and their destruction can significantly weaken the enemy's logistical support capabilities.
On that cold and clear morning, the soldiers of the 612th Regiment of the 64th Antiaircraft Artillery Division of the Chinese People's Volunteers were silently busy in the valley of Sandongli. These fighters belonged to three different 37mm anti-aircraft artillery batteries, and they were responsible for establishing a strong line of anti-aircraft fire at strategic points. Concealment was the first principle in which they laid out their positions, so they chose positions on the ridgeline, which not only had a good view, but also could be camouflaged using natural terrain and dense vegetation.
Each anti-aircraft artillery battery had its own unique firing zones, which were calculated and demarcated in advance according to the possible flight routes and angles of attack of enemy aircraft. Firing instructions and firing parameters were controlled by the company commander, who maintained contact with the gun positions through the use of ground observation posts and improvised communication equipment. The artillerymen of these anti-aircraft batteries, under the command of their commanders, were ready to fire accurately at enemy aircraft that came into range at any time.
In order to increase the hit rate, coordination was also carried out between the various anti-aircraft artillery batteries to achieve effective coverage and cross-support of fire. This coordination ensures that once an enemy aircraft enters the firing range of one company, the other companies can quickly adjust their firepower, forming a crossfire network and maximizing the likelihood of enemy aircraft being shot down.
The raid and downing of the US carrier-based aircraft
When the formation of US carrier-based aircraft flew over the target with unerring accuracy, the anti-aircraft guns of the Chinese Volunteers who were waiting in the concealed positions connected to the command to open fire. These anti-aircraft artillery batteries belonged to the 64th Regiment of the 612th Division and were armed with 37-mm anti-aircraft guns, designed to combat air targets. The commander quickly communicated the order to fire by radio, and the various gun emplacements immediately adjusted their aiming, locking on to a moving target in the air.
At this moment, the US AD-2 attack aircraft at high altitude was carrying out a bombing mission on the railway bridge. The planes carried a large number of bombs and rockets, ready to deliver pinpoint strikes on ground targets. However, just as they were preparing to drop their bombs, the anti-aircraft guns on the ground began their artillery display. The barrage cut through the clear sky like thunder, and a dense group of anti-aircraft shells fired at the flying carrier-based aircraft group.
When firing, the anti-aircraft artillerymen accurately calculated the flight speed and altitude of the aircraft, and the shells were set to explode over the optimal detonation point, designed to inflict a fatal blow on the aircraft through the fragments produced by the shells. Just as the AD-2 attack aircraft formation was passing through the intended bombing area, one of the aircraft was suddenly hit by a barrage of shells. Although the AD-2 attack aircraft was known for its sturdy fuselage and excellent survivability, the attack was clearly beyond the aircraft's endurance.
The airframe of the AD-2 that was hit quickly rose with smoke and, apparently, received serious damage. Despite the severe damage, the plane did not explode in the air, but the fuselage began to lose control, and the flight path gradually deviated. The pilots did their best to maintain control, but the aircraft's power system was severely damaged and the control surfaces became unresponsive. In an emergency, the pilot decided to implement a forced landing.
The plane flew about 15 kilometers in a southeasterly direction with thick smoke. This flight was extremely difficult, and the pilots had to overcome the difficulty of maneuvering the damaged aircraft to find a suitable location for the forced landing. In the end, he chose a relatively open hillside, although the terrain is complicated, there are no major obstacles, and it is relatively suitable as a location for emergency landing.
When the plane touched the ground on the hillside, the speed had slowed down considerably, but due to the terrain, the plane had a violent jolt as soon as it touched the ground, and then the side of the fuselage hit a small hill, and the plane finally stopped. Despite the severe damage to the aircraft, the sturdy fuselage protected the pilot from immediate death, but the pilot received certain injuries. The urgency of the situation was further exacerbated by the injuries caused by the rollover and impact after the aircraft made a forced landing.
After the enemy plane made a forced landing, the US military reacted quickly and orderly. According to their standard rescue procedures, the remaining carrier-based aircraft immediately circled over the site of the forced landing, forming a temporary air surveillance and protection network. At the same time, the pilots of these aircraft urgently contacted their command center by radio, reported in detail about the situation of the forced landing and requested that rescue forces be dispatched as soon as possible.
The rescue operation of the US military and the interception of the volunteers
Everything that happened at the place of the forced landing was within the defense zone of the 27th Division of the 80th Army of the Volunteer Army. The volunteer soldiers of this division received orders from their superiors, and a unit consisting of a company quickly dispatched to the scene of the incident. Passing through rough terrain, they quickly and orderly approached the position of the enemy aircraft that had made a forced landing.
This force consisted of experienced commanders and fighters who were on alert during the approach of enemy aircraft in case of a possible ambush or a sudden counterattack by the enemy. Although the US carrier-based aircraft in the air began to withdraw after the incident, the ground forces still maintained a high degree of combat readiness.
When the soldiers of the 80th Division arrived at the forced landing site, they immediately conducted a quick assessment of the environment and confirmed that there were no other American troops in the vicinity. At this time, from the damaged cockpit of the aircraft, the pilot of the enemy plane was clearly aware of his situation, and when he saw the volunteer soldiers rushing towards him, he almost subconsciously raised his hands, indicating that he had no intention of resisting. Although his expression revealed nervousness and uneasiness, at this critical moment, he involuntarily muttered: "God, the rescue team will be here in a few minutes!" This sentence reveals a glimmer of hope for the upcoming rescue, as well as a frustration with the current situation.
Soon after, eight US carrier-based aircraft, led by a rescue helicopter, quickly arrived at the location of the forced landing aircraft. These carrier-based aircraft formed a convoy formation around the rescue helicopter to protect the helicopter from a possible ground attack. The helicopter operator precisely adjusts the fuselage to a relatively low altitude and begins to hover.
Within the helicopter's safety net, rescuers moved quickly, and a special forces member fastened a safety rope and slowly landed from the helicopter. His mission was to contact and stabilize the injured pilot as quickly as possible in preparation for his safe ascension into the helicopter. As the rescuer approached, the volunteer machine gunners on the ground were already closely watching every movement.
These machine gunners belonged to an elite unit of the Chinese People's Volunteers, and after the anti-aircraft artillery shot down the enemy aircraft, they quickly occupied a favorable position in the terrain and mastered a comprehensive view of the rescue operation. Their machine-gun emplacements were cleverly set up in the surrounding rocks and vegetation to maintain concealment. When rescuers began to approach the pilots for the forced landing, the machine gunners received an order to open fire.
Four light machine guns opened fire almost at the same moment, and a dense stream of bullets swept like a storm towards the hovering helicopter. The bullets hit the fuselage and rotors of the helicopter, causing numerous bullet holes to be punched in the helicopter and damage to some critical systems. While trying to maintain the stability of the airframe, the pilots of the helicopter sensed that the situation was extremely critical and had no choice but to increase altitude in an attempt to break away from this deadly network of fire.
Post-war prisoner handling and tactical summary
Under intensive machine-gun fire, the rescue helicopter was forced to make a sharp descent, eventually making a forced landing in an open area not far away. The helicopter was badly damaged when it landed, but thanks to the professional operation of the crew, the helicopter did not explode and the crew survived, although they all suffered some injuries.
The volunteers on the ground reacted quickly to the situation. Several volunteer fighters, while maintaining a high level of vigilance, quickly advanced towards the helicopter forced landing site. Swift and orderly, they quickly took control of the scene and managed to capture alive two U.S. troops, including rescuers who crawled out of the helicopter. At the same time, the AD-2 pilot, who made a forced landing, was also safely detained.
At this time, the US carrier-based aircraft in the air were still hovering overhead, but they were unable to immediately send additional support or carry out further rescue operations because they observed what happened to the helicopter and what appeared to be a forced landing caused by a mechanical failure. The pilots of the U.S. carrier-based aircraft were relaying confusing information over the radio, trying to parse what was happening, while also awaiting further instructions from higher commands.
Due to the urgency of the situation and the uncertainty of the scene, the US carrier-based aircraft could only begin to withdraw from the airspace of the theater one by one after confirming that they could not intervene effectively. After several fruitless circles, they had to accept the failure of the operation and retreat in the direction of their mothership.
On the ground, the soldiers of the Volunteer Army provided the necessary medical assistance to the captured American troops, while strictly monitoring the prisoners of war. Although these US military personnel are in the hands of the enemy, they are treated humanely as necessary. The reason why the volunteers were able to deal with such unexpected situations quickly and effectively was due to their rapid response to the battlefield situation and their strict tactical arrangement.
After ensuring the safety of the prisoners of war and completing the initial processing of the scene, the volunteers left the battlefield with three prisoners. They carefully traversed the complex terrain, avoiding possible enemy observation or the threat of another air strike, and finally succeeded in bringing the captives back to their headquarters. This operation not only demonstrated the precise execution of the Chinese Volunteers' tactics and strategies, but also demonstrated their ability to effectively strike at the enemy in actual combat. The result of this "buy one get one free, catch one and arrest the other" has undoubtedly added valuable experience to the Chinese Volunteers in this local conflict.
Reference: From Li Baochun and Yang Mailong, editor-in-chief. The baptism of blood and fire: a memoir of a young soldier in the Volunteer Army[M]. 2002