![]() A 1968 CORONA spy satellite photo of the area around Incheon, before the surrounding islands were reclaimed from the sea. Koch'ungdo (Koch'umdo) is circled.(View a detailed map from 1945, and a modern aerial view.)
|
This radio communique from January 2, 1948 gives notice to units of the XXIV Corps of air to ground firing taking place at the Kimpo Air Base Air to Ground Gunnery Range at the island of "Kochung-do (Kokyo-to)[sic]" at 37° 32'N, 126° 36'E.
In this radio message, the commander of Kimpo Air Base announces that, as a result of an investigation citing saftey concerns, he is asking that the Kimpo Air Base Range be deleted from the 5th Air Force list of bombing and gunnery ranges. What precipitated an investigation of the safety of this range is unknown. What is important to note here is that the Air Force was responsive to safety concerns in this case. Was the Air Force similarly aware and/or concerned of the safety of gunnery and bombing practice at Dokdo?
This letter from the CO of Kimpo Air Base to the XXIV Corps requests that the gunnery range on Koch´umdo (the Kimpo Air Base Air-to-Ground Range) be relocated to a "more suitable location". The reason for abandoning the Koch´umdo range is because of the "location of the island in relation to nearby land and commercial fishing lanes". If occupation authorities were aware of land and sea-space uses on the West coast of Korea, were they not also aware of the use of Dokdo and its surrounding sea space by Korean fishermen?
This radio message is the first indication that a new aerial gunnery range, known as the Korea Aerial Gunnery Range, had been established further out to sea. The location of the corners of the new rectangular range are cited clearly here in latitude and longitude (see map above for the location of the range in relation to the coast of Korea).
This document is a June 14, 1948 update on the bombing ranges available to units of the U.S. Fifth Air Force in and around both Korea and Japan. This document was found in USAFIK files, and therefore the occupation authorities in Korea were evidently informed of Dokdo´s use as a bombing range. The "Liancourt Rocks Air to Ground Range" (Dokdo) and the "Korea Aerial Gunnery Range" are listed on this page.
This letter from General Hodge orders USAMGIK to abandon the Korea Aerial Gunnery Range. Written one month after the June 8th bombing incident at Dokdo, the abandonment of this newly-established range was most likely an effort to avoid a repeat incident involving civillian shipping. Hodge also orders that "No publicity will be given this matter".
This radio message is another notice that the Korea Aerial Gunnery Range is to be "abolished". It adds that "All references to this range as a danger area will be deleted".