03Fox2/1
31-12-06, 18:15
The first priority of the Inchon landing was to secure the small island of Wolmi-do, which was connected to the shore and city of Inchon proper, by a 600 yard causeway. This small island was essential to the success of the main landing in Inchon, to follow immediately after capture of Wolmi-do. Major General Oliver P. Smith, Commander of the 1st Marine Division, the assaulting troops, said, "This island was the key to the whole operation."
At the conference called for by General MacArthur before the landing, the Navy initially insisted on 3 to 4 days of air and naval gunfire, particularly to take out the shore batteries. MacArthur's staff disputed this on the basis of the loss of tactical surprise. General MacArthur said, "My confidence in the Navy is complete, and in fact I seem to have more confidence in the Navy than the Navy has in itself." As usual, General MacArthur got his way. His closing words to the assembled staff at the conference was, " We shall land at Inchon and I shall crush them." Thus was born the "Sitting Ducks Squadron."
As part of the pre-landing naval gunfire bombardment, six U.S. destroyers, backed up by cruisers, took up positions off the shore of Wolmi-do. A mine field was discovered on the approach in and the destroyer "Henderson"(DD785) stayed behind to fire on and destroy mines in the water. The destroyer "Gurke"(DD783) took up a position only 800 yards off shore and the other destroyers fell in behind her. The island had already been under attack from Marine and Naval aircraft. The naval bombardment began on the morning of September 13, 1950 and soon fire was returned from hidden North Korean shore batteries. The destroyer "Collett"(DD730) took five hits and the "Gurke" took two hits and the destroyer "DeHaven"(DD727) was slightly damaged also. The destroyer "Lyman K. Swenson"(DD729) felt a near miss that still caused two casualties. The other destroyer taking part in the bombardment was the "Mansfield"(DD728). After one hour of naval bombardment the destroyers withdrew, but returned the next day, September 14th, minus the damaged "Collett". Before final withdrawal of these ships, there was no return fire from shore batteries. On September 15, 1950, the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines landed on Wolmi-do and the Inchon landing was commenced successfully, thanks in large part to the "Sitting Ducks Squadron." Semper Fi
At the conference called for by General MacArthur before the landing, the Navy initially insisted on 3 to 4 days of air and naval gunfire, particularly to take out the shore batteries. MacArthur's staff disputed this on the basis of the loss of tactical surprise. General MacArthur said, "My confidence in the Navy is complete, and in fact I seem to have more confidence in the Navy than the Navy has in itself." As usual, General MacArthur got his way. His closing words to the assembled staff at the conference was, " We shall land at Inchon and I shall crush them." Thus was born the "Sitting Ducks Squadron."
As part of the pre-landing naval gunfire bombardment, six U.S. destroyers, backed up by cruisers, took up positions off the shore of Wolmi-do. A mine field was discovered on the approach in and the destroyer "Henderson"(DD785) stayed behind to fire on and destroy mines in the water. The destroyer "Gurke"(DD783) took up a position only 800 yards off shore and the other destroyers fell in behind her. The island had already been under attack from Marine and Naval aircraft. The naval bombardment began on the morning of September 13, 1950 and soon fire was returned from hidden North Korean shore batteries. The destroyer "Collett"(DD730) took five hits and the "Gurke" took two hits and the destroyer "DeHaven"(DD727) was slightly damaged also. The destroyer "Lyman K. Swenson"(DD729) felt a near miss that still caused two casualties. The other destroyer taking part in the bombardment was the "Mansfield"(DD728). After one hour of naval bombardment the destroyers withdrew, but returned the next day, September 14th, minus the damaged "Collett". Before final withdrawal of these ships, there was no return fire from shore batteries. On September 15, 1950, the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines landed on Wolmi-do and the Inchon landing was commenced successfully, thanks in large part to the "Sitting Ducks Squadron." Semper Fi