Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Korea and China, Volume VII, Part 1

Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 9: Telegram

The Commander in Chief, Far East (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff

secret   priority

Tokyo, 13 October 1951—1:21 p. m.

C–52845. Further mymsg C–52809.¹ Ln party met Communist In party at Pan Mun Jom at approx 1221151. Communists stated that UN planes had strafed Kaesong neutral zone at two pts, BT 941037 and approx BT 803075, at about 1735 hrs 12 Oct. Ln officers then moved to BT 941037, approx one km Northwest of Pan Mun Jom on Kaesong-Pan Mun Jom hwy. Witnesses stated three jet type acft with wing tip tanks, traveling from Northwest to Southeast, strafed the hwy at BT 941037. Party was shown many pts of impact of bullets on road and a few 50 cal armor piercing bullets. Furrows in ground and on hwy indicated bullets came from Northwest. A 12 year old boy sitting on side of road was killed, his two year old brother, whom witnesses state he was hiding, was shot in the left arm. Ln party interviewed 15 year old boy who was with other children and who stated that he ran under bridge when strafing began. Other persons interviewed and alleged to have witnessed the strafing were father of children, another older brother, and a North Korean soldier who was walking patrol on the hwy. Testimony indicated that two planes were in advance of the third and had fired first, thus alarming the witnesses. The third was the one whose bullets were alleged to have killed the child. Planes were reported as continuing Southeast after the strafing.

No investigation was made at BT 803075. Communists had no details on that incident except that they had received a report of strafing at that pt, but had not yet verified it. Since planes were reported to have been flying from Northwest to Southeast, they might well have been the same acft.

UN ln officers agreed to meet Communists at 130900I at Pan Mun Jom to continue investigations in daylight. Upon conclusions of investigation 12 Oct the Chinese Communist liaison officer, Col Tsai, stated that upon instructions from his senior delegate he was making a strong verbal protest and reserved the right to make further demands.

The preliminary views of Cols Darrow and Edwards, investigating officers, are that the incident appears to be bonafide. Information from Fifth AF is not suf to permit complete evaluation at this time.

Full investigation is in progress.

1. The text of this message, dated October 12, read as follows:

   “1. At 1915 hours this date the following radio telephone message was received from Col Chang, Communists Liaison Officer. ‘At 1735 hours this afternoon the Kaesong neutral zone was violated by one of your planes attacking. It is requested that your Liaison Officer meet me at Panmunjom immediately to investigate’.

   “2. The following message was transmitted to the Communists by radio telephone at 1930 hours: ‘A UNC Liaison Officer accompanied by investigating officers and interpreters will depart the UNC camp at 1945 hours and meet your Liaison Officers for the purpose of initiating an investigation’.” (Black Book, Tab 8)