Unit Overview

Original message from COL John McGee, Commander, 8086th AU guerrilla command to Kirkland rear 1951. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Korean made Task Force Kirkland Patch attributed to SFC John Roy. Prior to his assignment with the 8240, SFC Roy served with the an Airborne Ranger Infantry Company, serving with the Unit during their year in combat until the deactivation of all Airborne Ranger Infantry Companies in August 1951.

Original bullion Task Force Kirkland Patch with bullion Guerrillas scroll attributed to CPT Shelby Minton CPT Minton arrived on the island on Nan-do (Kirkland Forward) March 1952.

Bullion Task Force Kirkland Patch with bullion Guerrillas scroll. Attributed to 1LT James Hendry

Original WWII German Waffen SS "44 Dot" Tunic brought back by 1LT Kingston Winget, XO of Task Force Kirkland. These "44 Dot" uniforms were worn by 8086th AU Guerrillas during combat operations on the East (TF Kirkland) and West coast (TF Wolfpack). From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Original colored slides showing the WWII German Waffen SS "44 Dot" camouflage tunic being worn by Task Force Kirkland Partisan. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Original colored slides showing the WWII German Waffen SS "44 Dot" camouflage tunic being worn by Task Force Kirkland Partisan. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

1LT Kingston Winget and a young Task Force Kirkland guerrilla. Notice that the young guerrilla is wearing a Waffen SS "44 Dot" Tunic. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Kirkland Guerrillas wearing a Mix of blue and SS "44 Dot". 1LT Kingston Winget with arms crossed. Circa May 1951. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Kirkland Guerrillas. The blue uniforms appear to be WWII US Army 4 pocket blouse that have been dyed. Notice the German WWII national SS eagle emblem worn on the breast and oversized US Enlisted style rank worn on the sleeves. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Task Force Kirkland guerrilla formation. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Task Force Kirkland guerrillas. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

1LT Kingston Winget and Task Force Kirkland guerrillas. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

1LT Kingston Winget and Task Force Kirkland guerrillas. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

1LT Kingston Winget and Task Force Kirkland guerrillas. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

1LT Kingston Winget and Task Force Kirkland guerrillas on a Sampan off the Island of Nan-do during a coastal insurgent meeting 1951. Nan-do was the home of Kirkland North, just south of the 39th Parallel and roughly 10 miles off the North Korean coast. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

1st LT Willam Harrison, Commanding Officer Task Force Kirkland and MSG Carmack. Circa May 1951 Chumunjin From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Master Sergeant Carmack, In charge of the communication section Task Force Kirkland, which was set up on a 2 ½ ton GMC with an RC 399 radio as well as ANGRC 8s. Circa May 1951. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

MAJ Stanfield was a decorated Army Officer who served with the 101st Airborne Division during WWII. During the Korean War MAJ Stanfield served with the 8086th AU, Task Force Kirkland and various assignments with the 8240th AU.

Original SPOOK badge, Airborne Infantry Badge and Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to MAJ Frank Stanfield - Task Force Kirkland.

A once secret, now unclassified report of Guerrilla Operations - Task Force Kirkland. This details a Kirkland raid lead by MAJ Stanfield.

CPT Shelby Minton and his interpreter Pak Chang Un. CPT Minton took command of Task Force Kirkland during the winter of 1952. He wears a set of US Jump Wings and a Salamander badge on his pile cap.

Lieutenant David Hallock Task Force Kirkland Communications Officer. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Task Force Kirkland guerilla S2 GM Dajobi. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Group photo of Task Force Kirkland partisans. This is not the greatest of pictures but you can clearly see the Task Force Kirkland shoulder sleeve insignia being worn by several partisans.

SGT Ed Evanhoe served with Task Force Kirkland, 3rd Partisan Infantry Regiment, 8th Army G3 Misc Boat section and the 8157AU. Ed is the author of Darkmoon Eighth Army Special Operations in the Korea War. Courtesy of Chuck Evanhoe

Task Force Kirkland Operations Conference with Guerrilla Commanders. 17 April 1951 From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Task Force Kirkland Operation Plan 1 24 April 1951 From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Task Force Kirkland Operations Order 1 24 April 1951 From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Task Force Kirkland Operations Order 2 6 May 1951 From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Task Force Kirkland Operational Plan 1 24 April 1951 From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

Task Force Kirkland Stamp, translates as follows: Commander, Kirkland, US Eighth Army. It is a stamp that the Commander used to sign official papers. Stamps are used in China, Korea and Japan to sign/approve official papers vice a hand signature. First line: 사령관 인. Or it could read 사령관 청 ( Office of the Commander)The stylized characters on official stamps are hard to read. From the Col Kingston Winget Collection.

TF KIRKLAND commander CPT Joseph Ulatoski addresses a formation of recent airborne graduates on Nan-do, 1952. CPT Ulatoski and SGT Curtis D. Terry conducted the majority of training on the island before the guerrillas made qualification jumps at Sockch’o-ri.

CPT Joseph Ulatoski pins the UNPFK Airborne Infantry Badge on a recent guerrilla airborne graduate, 1952.

LTC Anthony Scannon's Original Task Force Scannon Patch. In early October 1952 LTC Anthony J Scannon assumed command of Task Force Kirkland. Task Force Kirkland briefly changed designation to Task Force Scannon before finally becoming the 3rd Partisan Infantry Regiment. The 3rd PIR was located at Sokcho-ri and consisted of 4 companies named STORM, KIRKLAND, TORCHLIGHT and AVANLEE.

CPT Shelby Minton’s Task Force Scannon patch. Minton’s patch has been enhanced with a quilted diagonal stripe like LTC Anthony Scannon's TFS patch. CPT Shelby Minton arrived on the island on Nan-do (Kirkland Forward) March 1952 and took command of Task Force Kirkland during the winter of 1952.

MSG Charles Lamb's Hand embroidered Task Force Scannon patch

Hand embroidered Task Force Scannon patch.

Hand embroidered Task Force Scannon patch

NCO's of Task Force Scannon taken in front of the BOQ/BEQ at Task Force Scannon base camp, near Sok Cho Ri, spring of 1953. Rear Row: Left to right - SFC Butler, SFC Williamson, SGT Cooke Front row: Left to right - SGT Lane, MSG Fowler, SFC Sink Center front - CPT James "Bull" Hendry dog Kimchi

A rare original photo of the Task Force Scannon Command Post with the UNPFK Task Force Scannon flag on the wall.

US and Korean Officers, NCO's and interpreters of Task Force Scannon, New Year's Day party 1953. LTC Anthony Scannon is seated center front. Task Force Scannon headquarters Sokch'o-ri

CPT Edward Morris inspects the Task Force Scannon Honor Guard. Notice that the Honor Guard is wearing painted Task Force Scannon helmet liners. Courtesy of CPT Edward Morris collection, USAHEC.

"Rocker Hall" - NCO living accommodations. Notice the Task Force Scannon patch on the field jacket to the left.

Task Force Kirkland briefly changed designation to Task Force Scannon before finally becoming the 3rd Partisan Infantry Regiment. The 3rd PIR was located at Sokcho-ri and consisted of 4 companies named STORM, KIRKLAND, TORCHLIGHT and AVANLEE.

PFC Nelson's 3rd Partisan Infantry Regiment Identification card. The 3rd PIR was located at Sokcho-Ri in the spring of 1953 and trained/led 4 East Coast partisan units coded AVANLEE, KIRKLAND, STORM and TORCHLIGHT.

This is an interesting 8240th document and the first of its type that I have encountered. It's a Prop Blast certificate to PFC Latta Nelson who served as an adviser to the 3rd Partisan Infantry Regiment. What makes this document more interesting is that traditionally the "Prop Blast", which dates back to WWII, is a hazing, right of passage/acceptance that newly assigned Paratrooper Officers go through when they are assigned to there first Airborne unit.

Original shoulder sleeve insignia of STORM attributed to SFC Frank Forbes. This insignia was locally made and only worn by the US Advisors and senior Guerrilla leadership of STORM. As of this date this is the only original STORM patch known.

Task Force STORM - This photograph taken on 2 May 1953 shows the STORM Battalion leadership team. Seated center bottom row from left to right is SFC Miller, SFC Frankie Forbes (US Commander of STORM Battalion), SFC Boyd, STORM Guerrilla Battalion Commander (arms crossed wearing a sidearm) and Frankie Forbes interpreter. The Guerrilla wearing the multi colored sash (far left) is a Senior Guerrilla Non Commissioned Officer. You will notice a variety of 8240th insignia being worn in this photo.

Several Partisan's of Task Force STORM wearing the Airborne Infantry Badge above their left breast pocket and the STORM guerrilla battalion commander wearing the STORM shoulder sleeve insignia.

SFC Frank Forbes TF STORM Commander wearing a theater made jacket with Airborne Ranger Company scroll. Forbes was an original member of the 4th Airborne Ranger Infantry Company, serving with the Unit during their year in combat until the deactivation of all Airborne Ranger Infantry Companies in August 1951. SFC Forbes was wounded on 11 April 1951 during the Hwachon Reservoir Operation. SFC Forbes would spend the next 3 years assigned to the 8240th Army Unit.

Studio portrait of Ranger Ko Chong Yong who served with the 4th Airborne Ranger Infantry Company (DEC 50 - AUG 51). One of the very few Koreans to qualify and be awarded US Jump Wings. Ranger Ko made the Combat Jump with the 4th Airborne Ranger Infantry Company at Musan-Ni on 23 March 1951. He served from 1951 - 1954 - 8086 AU, CCRAK, 8240th AU on both coasts of Korea. SFC Frank Forbes said of Ko Chong Yong "As good as the best and better than the rest"

Original Japanese made, hand embroidered quilted silk Blueboy patch attributed to CPL James W Sanderson. As of this date this is the only original Blueboy patch known.

Small landing strip on Yo-do, guerrilla base off the east coast of North Korea. AVIARY made resupply drops when landings were not possible. Courtesy of Les Hughes

Partisans from the 3rd Partisan Infantry Regiment conducting parachute training, Sokcho-ri. Courtesy of CPT Edward Morris collection, USAHEC.

Partisans from the 3rd Partisan Infantry Regiment conducting parachute training, Sokcho-ri. Courtesy of CPT Edward Morris collection, USAHEC.

LCM & YAK used to transport troops and supplies from base to islands off of Wonsan. Courtesy of CPT Edward Morris collection, USAHEC.