Suwon Air Base

Suwon Air Base is a Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) installation located near Suwon. Established as Suwon (K-13) Air Base during the Korean War, it initially hosted United States Air Force (USAF) units. The base was evacuated on 30 June 1950 and occupied by the Korean People's Army (KPA) on 2 July 1950. It was recaptured on 24 September 1950 following the Inchon landings. In October 1950, the 811th Engineer Aviation Battalion repaired the airfield and installed pierced steel planking. The base was evacuated again on 5 January 1951 during the Chinese Third Phase Campaign and recaptured on 28 January 1951 during Operation Thunderbolt. By March 1951, it served as a staging point for F-86 patrols along the Yalu River. During the conflict, the base hosted the 4th, 8th, and 51st Fighter Wings, operating P-51, F-80, F-86, F-94, and F-86D aircraft. In June 1951, an attack by KPAF Polikarpov Po-2s destroyed one F-86A and damaged eight others.

Postwar USAF presence included rotations of F-102s between 1968 and 1971, F-4s in 1977, and a squadron of A-10s from 1981 to 1989. In 1984, a Northrop F-20 Tigershark crashed at the base during a demonstration flight. In May 1996, a KPAF pilot landed a Shenyang J-6 at the installation to defect.

The ROKAF 10th Fighter Wing currently operates the base, which functions as a military and public airport. Stationed units include the 101st and 201st Fighter Squadrons operating KF-5E, KF-5F, and F-5F aircraft. The 153rd Fighter Squadron formerly operated F-4Es at the site. The United States Army 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, is permanently stationed at the base and operates Patriot missiles. Recent operational history includes a January 2022 incident where a 10th Fighter Wing KF-5E crashed following an engine fire during a training mission.