오리무중

Amid five leagues of mist.

Sunan, May 27th, 1950

The military minds of the Korean People's Army only had a measure of patience for the needs of a modern air force. While Japanese air power had often been a devastating factor during encounters in Manchuria and it had proven its worth in the Worldwide Anti-Fascist War, nevertheless the expense of operating large numbers of aircraft, and their associated airfield, hangar, and maintenance needs, was a shock to Korean leadership.

Nevertheless, with the leadership of Wang Yong as head of the burgeoning People's Army Air Force, the following organization was created:

Order of Battle

Aviation

• 56th Fighter Aviation Regiment
• 57th Fighter Aviation Regiment
• 58th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Training)
• 68th Air Assault Regiment
• 69th Air Assault Regiment (Training)
• 91st Air Transport Regiment (KAO)
• 92nd Air Transport Regiment (KAO)
• 100th Air Bombardment Regiment
• 751st Glider Regiment

Anti-Air

• 331st Anti-Aircraft Regiment
• 332nd Anti-Aircraft Regiment
• 334th Anti-Aircraft Regiment

Aircraft

With organization based on the Soviet model, the Aviation Regiments of the Korean People's Army usually hosted two to three squadrons of aircraft. The availability of aircraft fluctuated greatly, however, resulting in understrength regiments.

The Fighter Aviation Regiments had a paper strength of 38 aircraft, split into three squadrons of twelve planes each. The main aircraft type for these is the Yak-9P of Soviet manufacture. 50 pilots staff a Fighter Aviation Regiment, to account for injuries and losses. The Air Assault Regiments also possess 38 aircraft, but with 54 crews due to their higher losses. The Air Assault Regiments fly the Il-2 / Il-10. The Air Transport Regiment are comprised of pilots who do double-duty with KAO, the Korean Airline, and also serves as an important crew and navigation training organ. It is expected these planes will be stripped of their civilian markings once war begins. The Air Transport Regiment possesses three squadrons of twelve planes each, for a total of 38 aircraft, as well as 50 crews, flying Li-2 aircraft. The Air Bombardment Regiment flies Tu-2 bombers, but only possesses two squadrons due to plane restrictions. Once up to full strength, it will possess four squadrons with 51 planes, and 56 crews. Finally, the Glider Regiment possesses six squadrons of twelve gliders each, and serves both as a basic training unit and an operational one.

Anti-Air

The Anti-Aircraft regiments possess 24 85mm anti-aircraft guns, and are generally assigned for static defense in 1950 but are intended to move along with their units when war starts. Each is also meant to possess 10 37mm anti-aircraft cannons, but due to shortages these are mainly diverted to infantry divisions and their attached anti-aircraft battalions. As such, shortages are made up by the provision of heavy machine guns of the Type 51 / DShK type, usually in double-mountings. The Anti-Aircraft Regiments use a significant amount of trucks and tractor-type prime movers.