[citation needed] During the Korean War, the USAF designated the airfield as K-54, but it was often listed as incomplete or not built.

[3]: 18–19  On 4 April 1953, an H-19 rescued Captain Joseph C. McConnell the future top-scoring US ace in Korea after he ejected from his F-86 just north of Chodo.

[4] On 30 April 1953 an H-19 rescued future double-ace Captain Lonnie R. Moore after his F-86F crashed at sea north of Cho-do.

[3]: 16 In mid-February 1952 the USAF installed early-warning radar on Cho-do which could detect aircraft taking off and landing at Chinese airfields along the Yalu River.

In May a tactical control center was added and this was used vector F-86s against MiG-15s[4]: 104  The base was later used for communications interception duties[4]: 106  including providing advance warning of an air attack on Taehwa-do on 30 November leading to a USAF ambush that resulted in the destruction of 12 communist aircraft.