First U.N. Counter-Offensive

 

 

 
 
First U.N. Counter-Offensive
 

MAY 1--  In the first and only use of aerial torpedoes in Korean combat, eight Skyraiders and 12 Corsairs from Princeton made an attack on the Hwachon Dam. Destruction and damage to the flood gates released the waters of the reservoir into the Pukhan River and prevented Communist forces from making an easy crossing.First U.N. Counter-Offensive 1951 B-29s Hit MiG Bases A peculiar situation existed during the Korean Conflict with respect to the air war.

Not only were U.N. aircraft prohibited from attacking MiG bases across the Yalu in Manchuria, but MiG-15 pilots were prohibited from attacking U.N. positions from their Manchurian bases. However, there was no such restriction on MiG pilots if they took off from airfields in North Korea. 

  
 
Consequently, the Communists decided to repair damaged airstrips in North Korea in addition to building new ones in order to take advantage of this situation. As the MiG airfields neared completion in April and May 1951, B-29s carried out an intensive bombing campaign and destroyed them. During the same period, AF B-29s cut most of the bridges across the Yalu. However, these WWII propeller-driven bombers became so vulnerable to the modern MiG-15 jet fighters during daylight missions, even with area cover provided by USAF jet fighters.
 
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