Military Mail: Korean War (Frame 7)
This web page, published by the Military Postal History Society, contains the text of Frame 7 of the Korean War exhibit pages created by Bob Collins. They are reproduced and distributed to the public with his permission.
To see exhibit frame images, click on Frame 7 exhibit frame images.
Updated 1/22/2018
Prisoner of War Camp 4
Very scarce S/L North Korean marking (upper right) 'Prisoner of War Mail'
Located at Wiwon—ni, North Korea, northeast of Sinuiju; most sergeants were moved here August 1952. Large Dove letter sheet with North Korean handstamp and US. APO #100 (Yokohama) handstamp. Writer member of Korean Military Advisory Group attached to 9th Republic of Korea Division. Captured on May 18, 1951, and released August 6, 1953.
Note: For Christmas day in 1952 the prisoners in Camp #4 were told there would be no restrictions on outgoing mail. This writer wrote 27 letters - one reached the United States.
Prisoner of War Camp 4
Small Dove lettersheet with North Korean and U.S. APO #100 (Yokohama) handstamps.
Member of B Company, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, captured December 1, 1950, released September 5, 1953. He was moved to Camp #4 in August 1952.
Prisoner of War Camp #5
Located at Pyoktong, North Korea, on the Yalu River, 70 miles northeast of Sinuiju, was established in early January of 1951. Large Dove lettersheet with North Korean handstamp and U.S. APO #100 (Yokohama) handstamp, Writer was a member of K Co., 8th Cavalry Regiment, lst Cavalry Division, captured November 2, 1950, and released August 7, 1953. (Lipstick marks from his sister.)
Prisoner of War Camp #5
Latest reported use of Addressograph machine 'FREE VIA AIR MAIL (PL. 609)'
Plain cover with North Korean and U.S. APO #100 (Yokohama) handstamps. Member of B Co., 8th Cav. Rgmt., 2nd Inf. Div.; captured November 2, 1950, released August 6, 1953.
Plain cover; North Korean & United States APO #100 (Yokohama) handstamps. K Co., 8th Cavalry Rgmt., 1st Cav. Div.; captured November 2, 1950, released September 1, 1953.
Prisoner of War Camp #5
Turned Cover (only reported example). Made by refolding an incoming cover inside out.
Incoming cover was posted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 19, 1952. Sent as 'Prisoner of War Mail' (postage free) arriving at APO #100 (Yokohama, Japan) on February 27, 1952, D/C receiving mark. Marked 'OK Camp 5'; sent to Panmunjom to be turned over to North Korean and Chinese authorities for distribution at POW Camp #5.
Plain cover with North Korean handstamp and United States APO #100 (Yokohama) handstamp. Letter writer was a member of K Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division; he was captured on November 2, 1950, and released on August 11, 1953.
Photocopy - Interior
Prisoner of War Camp #5
Plain cover with a North Korean handstamp, routed to Great Britain through Hong Kong.
The letter writer was a member of the King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB) Regiment. He was captured on the night of November 4-5, 1951, and was released on August 6, 1953.
Prisoner of War Camp #5
Small Dove lettersheet with North Korean handstamp and U.S. APO #100 (Yokohama) handstamp. Letter writer was a member of B Company, 3lst Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division; he was captured at the Chosin Reservoir on November 30, 1950, was released on August 11, 1953. At age 16, he was one of the youngest, if not the youngest, of the United States POWs. He spent his 17th, 18th, and 19th birthdays at POW Camp #5.
Prisoner of War Camp #5
Special design preprinted on plain cover with North Korean handstamp - and U.S. APO #100 (Yokohama) handstamp on back with return address. Member of B Company, 24th Infantry Rgmt., 25th Infantry Division; captured March 18, 1951, released August 6, 1953.
Some POW families received these printed Mother's Day covers as propaganda letters.
Prisoner of War Camp #6
Located at Pyongyang, North Korea, opening date unknown since camp changed locations several times. North Korean & United States APO #100 (Yokohama) handstamps applied.
Major General William F. Dean was the Division Commander of the 24th Infantry Division, and was captured on August 25, 1950, and released September 4, 1953. General Dean was the highest ranking United States/United Nations prisoner of war. He was held in solitary confinement, and he was the only POW held in what was called POW Camp #6.
While Camps #1 to #5 were run by the Chinese, Camp #6 was run by the North Koreans, who captured General Dean and didn't want to turn over this high ranking POW to the Chinese. One way the North Koreans accomplished this was to move General Dean constantly to new locations, resulting in the general's letters bearing several different camp numbers. Whatever the number, the general was the only one in that camp at that time.
Prisoners of War - People's Republic of China
A small group of prisoners being held in the People's Republic of China were not included in 'Operation Big Switch,' the main United Nations Prisoner of War release in August 1953. These prisoners, consisting of a B-29 crew along with four fighter pilots, were held in secret for a time, but their names were released at a later date and they were allowed to receive and send mail after they were moved to Peking, China. Eventually, these two groups of prisoners were placed on trial, several weeks apart, in a Chinese court on espionage charges. The court's decision was the same in both cases: The captured airmen were to be expelled from China. The last of these prisoners being held in China (the B-29 crew) were released through Hong Kong, August 3, 1955, long after the end of the conflict.
Peking, China, September 15, 1954
Backstamp: Canton, China, September 20, 1954
Lieutenant Colonel Heller, a World War II fighter ace, was one of the fighter pilots held in secret in Mukden, China, having been captured on January 23, 1953. He was later joined with Lieutenant Parks, Captain Fisher, and Lieutenant Cameron, who were also held in secret. All four were moved to Peking, China, put on trial, and released on May 31, 1955.
The prisoners' letters were written; then they were turned over to the Chinese military security section with the covers unsealed. Sometimes their letters were rewritten in their entirety on different paper by Chinese security. After the covers and enclosures had been censored, the stamps were applied by the Chinese security section. The covers were then routed from Peking, China, to Canton, China, to Hong Kong, and on to the United States.
Prisoners of War — People's Republic of China
Peking, China, November 19, 1954
Backstamp: Canton, China, November 23, 1954
Captain Fischer was a Jet Ace with 10 MIGs to his credit when he himself went down on April 7, 1953, his 175th mission. During combat, while downing his 11th and 12th MiGs, debris from number 12 struck Fischer's Sabre and it lost all power. Fischer was captured on April 7, 1953, held in secret in Mukden, China. He was held with Lieutenant Parks and Lieutenant Cameron and they were later joined with Lieutenant Colonel Heller prior to being transferred to Peking, China. They were put on trial and released on May 31, 1955.
Prisoners of War - People's Republic of China
Peking, China, April 8, 1955
Lieutenant Parks was one of the fighter pilots held in secret in Mukden, China. Transferred to Peking, China, along with Lieutenant Colonel Heller, Captain Fischer, and Lieutenant Cameron. He was captured September 4, 1952, and was held in secret in Mukden, China. After the court trial, he was released, with the others, on May 31, 1955.
Note; Only reported use of any colorful commemorative-type stamps from the POWs in Peking, China. And remember, the stamps were supplied by the Chinese security section.
Prisoners of War - People's Republic of China
Peking, China, May 13, 1955
Lieutenant Cameron was one of the United States fighter pilots held in secret in Mukden, China, along with Lieutenant Parks and Captain Fischer. These three were held separately, but were later joined by Lieutenant Colonel Heller. All four of these fighter pilots were transferred to Peking, China. He and the other three fighter pilots were put on trial. Letter writer was captured January 26, 1953, and was finally released on May 31, 1955.
Prisoners of War - People's Republic of China
Backstamps: Peking, China, January 2, 1955, and Canton, China, January 8, 1955
A1c Steve Kiba, B-29 crewman, 581st ARCWing. He was captured on January 13, 1953, dropping propaganda leaflets when his plane was shot down, and released August 3, 1955.
As were the letters of the fighter pilots, the B-29 crewmen's letters were also turned over to the Chinese security section with the covers unsealed. After the covers and enclosures had been censored, the postage stamps were applied by the Chinese security section. Covers were sent via the same route - from Peking to Canton, China, to Hong Kong and the U.S.
Prisoners of War - People's Republic of China
Backstamps: Peking, China, June 4, 1955, and Canton, China, June 16, 1955
A2c Daniel Schmidt, B-29 crewman, 581st ARCWing. He was captured on January 13, 1953, dropping leaflets when his plane was shot down. He was released on August 3, 1955.
Prisoners of War - People's Republic of China
Cover sent to A1c Steve Kiba, a B-29 crewman being held in China.
The brown paper sticker in the upper right corner bears the markings of the Chinese Red Cross Society. Several RETOUR (return to sender) handstamps appear in red, and the penciled notation across the front points out the address of the Chinese Red Cross Society.
Note: Cover was posted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 9, 1955; was held and not delivered by the Chinese, marked for return; after addressee was released, it was returned.