Bombing of Pyongyang

The bombing of Pyongyang was conducted as part of a gradual and sustained U.S. aerial bombardment campaign conducted against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) during the Korean War.

Air raids
After North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, which sparked the conflict, General Douglas MacArthur, Commander in Chief of the Far East Command, ordered the FEAF to carry out air raids on South Korea to prevent North Korean forces from overrunning the nation. Bad weather delayed further air actions until June 29 when MacArthur authorized FEAF attacks on airfields in North Korea. For the first time, B-26s of the 3rd Bombardment Group attacked Heijo airfield near Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, claiming up to 25 enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground, and the fate of the North Korean Air Force has begun to be evident.

Onjong-Ni Airfield shooting down two Yak-3s and damaging a further 10 aircraft on the ground. On 18 July 1950 aircraft from Task Force 77 attacked the Pyongyang airfields again destroying 14 aircraft and damaging 13.

Following the capture of Pyongyang on 19 October 1950 the air base was put into service by the UN forces. The USAF designated the base K-23.

UN forces abandoned the base on 5 December 1950 as part of the evacuation of Pyongyang in the face of the Chinese intervention. On 10 December 1950 B-29s bombed the airfield with high-explosive bombs.

On 23 January 1951, 46 F-80s of the 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing attacked anti-aircraft positions around Pyongyang and once this was completed 21 B-29s of the 19th and 307th Bombardment Groups from Okinawa bombed the airfield.