U.S. National Archives photos from the 1950s
117 photos, in date order; 1–60 on this page. Photos taken by federal employees as part of their duties are US government works and not under copyright. About the collection
Bob Hope, radio and screen star, sits with men of X Corps, as members of his troupe entertain at Wonsan, Korea.
1950-10-26
USS Missouri at Hungman
1950-12-26
Loading of USMC tanks at Naval Suppy Center Oakland 1950
1950
U.S. Marines move forward after effective close-air support flushes out the enemy from their hillside entrenchments. Billows of smoke rise skyward from the target area. Hagaru-ri.
1950-12
Almost 100 locomotives--vital to the North Korean transportation system--were destroyed when B-29 Superforts blasted the Northwest Pyongyang marshalling yard and repair center with a 356 ton attack. The maintenance center formerly was one of Korea's largest, handling more than 40 trains a day and wi
1950-11-09
Crossing the 38th parallel. United Nations forces withdraw from Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. They recrossed the 38th parallel.
1950
Navy AD-3 dive bomber pulls out of dive after dropping a 2000 pound bomb on Korean side of a bridge crossing the Yalu River at Sinuiju, into Manchuria. Note: anti-aircraft gun emplacement on both sides of the river.
1950-11-15
Yalu bridges AD-3 Nov1950
1950-11-15
Railroad cars loaded with barbed wire at Taegu RTO Railway Transportation Office, Korea.
1950-07-24
African American soldiers on 18 July 1950, 24th Infantry in Korea (cropped)
1950-07-18
Wreckage of big transport which North Koreans hit while it was on Kimpo Airfield, is again in friendly hands, upon recapture of field.
1950-09-18
SFC Al Chang, combat photographer of Company A, 71st Signal Service Battalion rests against an M4 tank
1950-09-07
R-3350 maintenance at Kadena 1950
1950-09-12
The USS Missouri fires 16-inch shell into enemy lines at Hungnam. A 16-inch 3-gun salvo is on its way to commies.
1950-12-26
Men of the 24th Infantry Regiment move up to the firing line in Korea.
1950-07-18
A refugee family from Ching Pung Men near Masan, now living in a refugee camp at Changseung-po, Korea. United Nations.
1950-10
B-29s 92nd Bomb Group bombing Korea 1950
1950-09-13
One of four Americans of the 21st Infantry Regiment found between the forward observation post and the front line. The men were probably captured the night of July 9th, and shot thru the head with their hands tied behind their backs.
1950-07-10
A far cry from the brutal treatment given American prisoners of war by the Communist North Korean forces, is the humane consideration shown captured North Koreans by American and South Korean Armed Forces
1950-08-10
Two Probables. These railroad bridges cross Kum River about 10 miles north of Taejon. On near bridge: left approach out; right line out; direct hit on bridge structure. On far bridge, direct hit.
1950-08-06
BITTER COLD, BITTER FIGHT
c. 1950
Supplies and equipment are also evacuated from the onslaught of the Communist Forces bearing down on Hungnam, Korea HD-SN-99-03064
1950
Fresh and eager U.S. Marine troops, newly-arrived at the vital southern supply port of Pusan, are shown prior to moving up to the front lines. International News Photos.
1950-08
During South Korean evacuation of Suwon Airfield, a 37mm anti-tank gun is hauled out of the area for repairs, by a weapons carrier. International News Photos.
1950
Republic of Korea military police pose before the ruins of a devastated building in Pohang. Most buildings that housed red troops were destroyed.
1950-10-17
Wounded American soldiers are given medical treatment at a first aid station, somewhere in Korea HD-SN-99-03109
1950
Allison J33 maintenance Korean War 1950
1950-08
Pakchon railroad bridges attacked 1950
1950-07-27
Private First Class, Orvin L. Morris, 27th Regiment, takes a much deserved rest during his evacuation to Pusan, Korea, on a hospital train. He was wounded by enemy mortar fire on front lines.
1950-07-29
A grief stricken American infantryman whose buddy has been killed in action is comforted by another soldier. In the background a corpsman methodically fills out casualty tags, Haktong-ni area, Korea.
1950-08-28
Leatherneck machine gun crew dug in for the night in Korea.
c. 1950
BOMBS TAKE A BACK SEAT -- MECHANICS COME FIRST. The No. 1 job of the Superfort units in the Far East Air Forces, is to put bombs on North Korean targets, but before that can be done the mechanics must have the B-29's in top mechanical condition. That's why these bombs at Okinawa wait on the work of
1950-10-05
U.S AIR FORCE B-26 GETS NEW ENGINE. This B-26 receives a new engine to put it in top shape for further missions against the North Korean Communists. Sgt. Paul Cable (standing) from Gastonio, North Carolina, and Corporal Arthur Beauregard, from Danoby (Danby?), Vermont, recondition this U.S. Air Forc
1950-09-06
AERIAL BROWNIE. Gun cameras are synchronized with the.50 calibre machine gun fire on U.S. Air Force F-80 jet fighters and record every strike against the North Korean aggressors. Here, Cpl. Harvey Davis, 19, of Redfield, Kansas, inspects one of the gun cameras after an F-80 close support mission.
c. 1950
Corporal. Charles Price sounds "Taps" over the graves of fallen Leathernecks during memorial services at the First Marine Division cemetery at Hungnam, following the division's heroic break-out from Chosin Reservoir.
1950-12-13
Douglas AD-4N Skyraider of VC-3 at Yonpo Airfield, Korea, 22 November 1950
1950-11-22
B-26B Invader engine change 1950
1950-06-09
A Korean family mourns their murdered father, victim of the wholesale murder at Chonju by North Koreans.
1950-09-27
One-quarter left front view of a North American Mustang Mk. IVA 'Miss Marunouchi' (s/n KM361) parked beside the runway, somewhere in Korea. In the background, two more Mustang Mk. IVs are visible. Each aircraft bear the markings of the 2nd Squadron of the South African Air Force, and is armed with t
1950–1953
Astonished Marines of the 5th and 7th Regiments, who hurled back a surprise onslaught by three Chinese communist divisions, hear that they are to withdraw! Ca HD-SN-99-03051
1950-12
Administration Building, Balboa, El Prado Avenue, Balboa - DPLA - 9a3fda135eec2367dbd214b9dd78d404
1950
Returning from his 2nd combat mission over Korea, Capt. Donald R. DeFoe, pilot from 21519 Kingsville, Detroit, Mich., climbs down from his B-26 night intruder bomber. Capt. DeFoe is assigned to the night flying Fifth Air Force 3rd Bombardment Wing in Korea, a veteran U.S. Air Force outfit with over
c. 1951
Korean War bombing Wonsan
c. 1951
F4U's (Corsairs) returning from a combat mission over North Korea circle the USS Boxer as they wait for planes in the next strike to be launched from her flight deck-a helicopter hovers above the ship.
1951-09-04
Long trek southward: Seemingly endless file of Korean refugees slogs through snow outside of Kangnung, blocking withdrawal of Republic of Korea I Corps.
1951-01-08
Korean War bombing Wonsan (cropped)
c. 1951
A young Marine finds a moment of quiet and solitude in which to offer up a prayer for the safety of himself and his comrades. Minutes later, the 1st Marine Division launched an offensive against entrenched communist troops.
c. 1951
Bombs Away-This Fifth Air Force B-26 Invader of the 452nd Bombardment Wing drops its load of general purpose bombs on a vital Communist target in North Korea. Continued interdiction bombing of enemy supply centers, troop concentrations and communication lines is depriving the Communist troops of sor
1951-05-29
A dramatic night photo caught the navigator and pilot of a Fifth Air Force B-26 "Invader" of the 3rd Bomb Wing preparing for a night-intruder mission over enemy territory in Korea. They are: 1st Lt. Ben Eubanks, 1619 Westwood Ave., Atlanta, Ga., left, and 1st Lt. Stanley Hyman, 18 Boulevard, New Roc
c. 1951
Chaplain Dennis Murphy celebrates mass for the men of 65th AAA Battalion, at Bolo Point, Okinawa.
1951-07-19
Bombs fall on Communist hordes in North Korea as mighty bombers of the U.S. Far East Air Forces Bomber Command unleash another of their concentrated attacks on the enemy's supply centers. These bombers are carrying the brunt of the strategic bombing offensive to the Communists. These are B-29 Superf
1951-01-30
B-29s of the U.S. Far East Air Forces speed to dump tons of bombs on the Chinese Red's military targets. In round-the-clock attacks, these bombers are carrying the bitter taste of war home to the Communist hordes.
c. 1951
A Mustang fighter aircraft releases two external fuel tanks. One is seen nearly vertical behind and below, the second one released has just separated from the aircraft.
c. 1951
The Rockets Red Glare - U.S. Marines launch a 4.5 rocket barrage against the Chinese Communists in the Korean fighting HD-SN-99-03096
1951
About to step into thin air, a paratrooper of the 187th Regimental Combat Team pauses momentarily while the man below clears the area
c. 1951
Two Pantherjets are refueling after rockets have been "hung" under the wings.
c. 1951
Crew members of Company D, 89th Tank Battalion, give first aid to wounded soldier, during action against the Chinese Communist forces north east of Seoul, Korea.
1951-05-01
A Korean orphan boy adopted by a motor pool battalion at Inchon, Korea and nursed back to health. He is called "Number One" by the boys of the motor pool.
1951-06-06
COMBAT CARGO, KOREA -- Paratroopers of the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, seated in the cargo compartment of 314th Troop Carrier Group C-119 "Flying Boxcar," "sweat out" the flight to the dropzone at Munsan-ni, Korea, in March, 1951
c. 1951
Korean War Peace talks. Kaesong, Korea
1951