Battle of Inchon
On the 25th of June 1950, North Korean forces invaded South Korea and pushed United Nations troops southward. By August, the KPA had surrounded UN units near the city of Pusan. The defenders held a continuous line that stretched across the southern tip of the peninsula. North Korean tanks and infantry attacked from multiple directions to break this defensive perimeter. Fighting intensified during the Battle of Masan and the Battle of Taegu throughout August. Despite heavy losses, UN forces managed to stop the advance by early September. The situation remained precarious as North Korean morale stayed high while their supply lines grew thin.
General Douglas MacArthur envisioned an amphibious assault at Incheon despite strong opposition from other military leaders. He chose this location because its difficult tides and seawalls made it seem impossible for an attack. On the 23rd of July 1950, he formulated Operation Chromite using the US Army's 7th Infantry Division. MacArthur convinced Admiral Forrest Sherman by recalling how the Navy saved him during World War II. The Joint Chiefs of Staff approved his plan on the 28th of August after intense debate. President Harry S. Truman also gave final approval for the risky operation. Many generals feared the narrow channels would trap ships under fire from coastal artillery.
Lieutenant Eugene F. Clark led a team of spies onto Yonghung-do island in late August 1950. They gathered intelligence about tidal patterns and mine locations near Incheon harbor. Clark discovered that American charts were inaccurate but Japanese records provided reliable data. His team removed some mines while avoiding detection by North Korean patrols. When KPA forces attacked the spy group, they sank six junks with machine gun fire. The North Koreans retaliated by killing approximately fifty civilians who had helped Clark. This covert mission provided crucial details about enemy fortifications before the main landing.
At 06:30 on the 15th of September 1950, UN forces landed on Green Beach at Wolmi-do island. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Taplett commanded the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines alongside nine M26 Pershing tanks. The entire island was captured by noon with only fourteen casualties. North Korean defenders numbered over two hundred killed and one hundred thirty-six captured. The capture of Wolmi-do gave UN troops control over the harbor entrance for subsequent landings. A separate reconnaissance team activated the lighthouse on Palmido island to guide ships through Flying Fish Channel. Destroyers bombarded KPA positions on the island for three hours prior to the assault.
The first wave of the 5th Marines crossed the line of departure at 1724 on the 15th of September 1950. They faced high seawalls that required ladders to scale under heavy mortar fire. Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez scaled a wall but was killed minutes later after covering a grenade with his body. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions. Three LSTs took hits from machine gun fire while unloading vital equipment. Despite concentrated resistance, the beachhead was secured by evening. The 1st Battalion and 2nd Battalion advanced toward Cemetery Hill and Observatory Hill respectively.
UN forces moved slowly eastward along the Incheon-Seoul road during late September 1950. On the 18th of September, the 5th Marines reached Kimpo airfield and seized it within two hours. North Korean defenders fled without mining the runway or destroying aircraft. By the 21st of September, X Corps commander Major General Edward Almond declared an enormous hurry to capture Seoul. House-to-house fighting continued through the 28th of September despite early claims of liberation. Six T-34 tanks were destroyed near Kansong-ni village by Marine Corsair fighters. Engineers removed mines from highways to allow tank spearheads to advance further north.
Walton H. Walker's Eighth Army began its breakout from Pusan Perimeter on the 16th of September 1950. This coordinated attack joined with X Corps to trap KPA forces in southern South Korea. By the 22nd of September, remaining North Korean troops retreated northward in disarray. Approximately thirty thousand KPA soldiers escaped to reconstitute new divisions later equipped by Soviet Union. The UN assault continued into North Korea on the 30th of September after securing Seoul. Military historians describe the operation as a decisive strategic reversal favoring United Nations Command. Over one hundred thirty-five thousand KPA troops became prisoners within a month of landing.
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Common questions
When did the Battle of Inchon take place?
The UN forces landed on Green Beach at Wolmi-do island at 06:30 on the 15th of September 1950. The first wave of the 5th Marines crossed the line of departure at 1724 on the same day.
Who planned and executed the amphibious assault at Incheon during the Korean War?
General Douglas MacArthur envisioned an amphibious assault at Incheon despite strong opposition from other military leaders. He chose this location because its difficult tides and seawalls made it seem impossible for an attack.
What intelligence operation supported the landing at Incheon in late August 1950?
Lieutenant Eugene F. Clark led a team of spies onto Yonghung-do island to gather intelligence about tidal patterns and mine locations near Incheon harbor. His team removed some mines while avoiding detection by North Korean patrols before KPA forces attacked the spy group.
How many casualties occurred during the capture of Wolmi-do island on the 15th of September 1950?
The entire island was captured by noon with only fourteen casualties. North Korean defenders numbered over two hundred killed and one hundred thirty-six captured.
Why did General Douglas MacArthur choose Incheon as the site for Operation Chromite?
He chose this location because its difficult tides and seawalls made it seem impossible for an attack. Many generals feared the narrow channels would trap ships under fire from coastal artillery.