Gimhae Air Base

Gimhae Air Base 김해 Gimhae Gonggun Kige Kimhae Konggun Kige
IATA: PUS ICAO: RKPK
Summary
Airport type	Military/Public
Operator	Republic of Korea Air Force
Location	Busan
Elevation AMSL	6 ft / 2 m
Coordinates	35°10′46″N 128°56′18″E / 35.17944°N 128.93833°E / 35.17944; 128.93833
Website	[1]
Map
PUS Location of air base in South Korea
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 18L/36R 2,745 9,007 Asphalt 18R/36L 3,200 10,499 Concrete
Source: Korea Airports Corporation

Gimhae Air Base (IATA: PUS, ICAO: RKPK) is a Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) base adjacent to Gimhae International Airport. Runway 18L/36R is used for military purposes only.

The base is home to the ROKAF's 5th Tactical Airlift Wing (제5전술공수비행단), comprising:

The ROKAF's 4 Boeing 737 AEW&C Peace Eye aircraft were all delivered to the base which is to be the home base for the aircraft.

Until September 2010 a contingent of United States Air Force personnel of the 607th Materiel Maintenance Squadron served in a co-located operating base on Gimhae Air Base.

The base was originally established during the Korean War as Pusan West (K-1) Air Base and hosted United States Air Force and United States Marine Corps units.

On 25 June 1950, 10 divisions of the North Korean People's Army attacked the Republic of Korea. The North Koreans quickly overwhelmed the South Korean Army and moved south. Following the passing of United Nations Security Council Resolution 83 on 27 June 1950, President Truman ordered US forces to defend the Republic of Korea. On 30 June 1950 C-54s of the Fifth Air Force began transporting a battalion of the 24th Infantry Division from Itazuke Air Base to K-1, however the weight of the C-54s damaged the runway and later flights were made using C-47s. On 2 July the Battalion, known as Task Force Smith, boarded trains to Taejon and was destroyed on 4 July in the Battle of Osan.