United Nations Partisan Infantry Korea
United Nations Partisan Infantry Korea UNPIK | |
---|---|
Active | Feb 1951-Feb 1954[citation needed] |
Country | ![]() ![]() |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Type | Guerrilla force Special operations |
Part of | 8th US Army |
Nickname(s) | The White Tigers |
The United Nations Partisan Infantry Korea (UNPIK), also known as the White Tigers, was a unit during the Korean War that was consolidated under the control of Eighth United States Army, Korea's 8th Army G-3 Miscellaneous Group, 8086th and 8240th Army Unit. The details of the undercover operation were made public by the US Army in 1990. The unit worked deep inside North Korea to gather intelligence, conduct raids and sabotage, rescue POWs, recruit and lead guerrilla armies and create confusion in the enemy's rear.
Operations
The island Wollaedo in the Yellow Sea was used as a base by pro-Southern partisans during the war. This position was regularly bombarded by Northern artillery on the mainland of Cape Changsan. In 1952, a group of partisans working together with UNPIK landed on the cape. They successfully took control of and destroyed the artillery site, escaping with small losses.[1][2]
UNPIK was disbanded in 1954.
Legacy and commemoration
A documentary about the unit has been produced by the History Channel as part of their Heroes under fire series.[3]
The unit is widely seen as the second steppingstone towards the setting up of a permanent special forces doctrine in the US Army.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ Malcom, Ben S. (2003). White Tigers: My Secret War in North Korea. Brassey's. ISBN 1-57488-605-3.
- ^ Kipler, Richard L. (August 2003). "Unconventional Warfare in Korea: Forgotten aspect of the 'Forgotten War'" (PDF). Special Warfare. 16 (2). John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School: 26–37. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
- ^ "The White Tigers" The History Channel DVD series Archived December 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
External links
- The White Tigers Veterans of Foreign Wars Magazine
- 8240th Army Unit Association page on the United Nations Partisan Forces Korea (UNPFK)
- Organigramme
- List of medals and patches
- My Secret War in North Korea, book review
- http://www.korean-war.com/specops.html The Korean War, United Nations Special Operations in Korea DEAD LINK
- United States Army units and formations in the Korean War
- Special Operations Forces of the United States
- International special forces
- United Nations operations in Asia
- Military units and formations established in 1951
- Military units and formations disestablished in 1954
- 1951 establishments in South Korea
- Military unit and formation stubs
- United Nations stubs
- Asian military stubs
- South Korea stubs