The only remaining aircraft from the operation that airdropped mobile bridge sections to Marines during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir is C-119B Flying Boxcar #48-0352
According to Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia of the 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs, who wrote the article AMC Museum rescues historic airlifter, a true piece of American history that had been abandoned in the Mojave Desert for years and was about to be scrapped has found a new home at the AMC Museum.
From December 16 to December 19, 2016, a team from the AMC Museum and a C-5M Super Galaxy operated by the 709th Airlift Squadron traveled to Edwards Air Force Base, California, to transport pieces of the Fairchild C-119B Flying Boxcar #48-0352 “Am Can Co Special” to the AMC Museum at Dover AFB for restoration and display.
The C-119 was a military transport plane primarily used for transporting cargo, personnel, and equipment. It can also airdrop things and the United States flew them from 1947 through 1974,
When this C-119 arrived at the AMC Museum, it was undoubtedly the most historic aircraft in the museum’s collection, says John Taylor, director of the AMC Museum.
“It’s the second-oldest C-119 in existence,” said Taylor, “and the only surviving aircraft from the operation that air-dropped mobile bridge sections to Marines during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.”
The Battle of Chosin Reservoir, which took place from November 27 to December 13, 1950, is remembered for its fierce combat and cold weather. It was fought in the early phases of the Korean War. The North Korean Army had recently been driven out of South Korea and retreated north of the 38th parallel by United Nations forces, the majority of which were made up of South Korean, American, and British troops. The UN soldiers didn’t stop at the border; they kept moving north to eliminate any North Korean Army remnants that still existed. They quickly approached the China-North Korea border. As a result, China, a communist country and ally of North Korea, was prompted to engage in the conflict by sending hundreds of thousands of troops to the south to halt the UN forces’ advance.
“During the battle, the Chinese blew the bridge up,” said Jon Andrews, AMC Museum board member. “This trapped all the United Nations forces.”
The blocked evacuation route was between Koto-ri and Hungnam.
The 30,000 UN soldiers who were besieged and surrounded by more than 120,000 Chinese soldiers were at a loss on what to do. Airdropping mobile bridge sections to these soldiers was decided upon in the hopes that they may be used to repair the bridge, thereby providing them with a means of escape. To perform this mission, eight C-119s from the 314th Troop Carrier Group stationed at Ashiya Air Base in Japan came together. Four of the eight bridge pieces that were dropped by the parachute were used to construct a functional bridge. UN forces were then able to retreat thanks to this.
On the crew that went to Edwards AFB to take up the C-119 was Les Polley, the chief of the AMC Museum’s aircraft restoration department. He was delighted that the plane arrived at the museum.
“It would have been sold for scrap metal,” he said. “A big piece of history would have been lost.”
Even if the C-5M and 709th AS’s work may be finished, Polley and his restoration team’s work has just begun.
“We are going to go through a complete restoration on the airplane from the ground up,” said Polley.“ There’s a lot of corrosion, a lot of holes, and a lot of missing parts. We will be scrounging all over the country looking for parts.”
After the Korean War, this C-119 continued to be used. The 911th TCG at the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport in 1966 marked the end of its 17-year run.
“We are going to restore it to what it looked like during the Korean War,” said Polley. “They had done a lot of modifications and upgrades after the war. We want it to look like it did back then, complete with nose art and everything.”
Until the C-119 is ready for exhibition, according to Polley’s estimation, the entire repair procedure may take at least two years.
Photo by Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia and Ken LaRock / U.S. Air Force