WW2 Air Raids over Hong Kong & South China: View pages

OBJECTIVE: Fly post-sundown sea sweep mission to detect and sink Japanese ships in the South China Sea.

RESULTS: A lone B-24 makes a radar-guided nocturnal bomb run on ships 40 miles to the north of Hong Kong, which are later determined to be islands.  The aircraft commander then opts to bomb the Kowloon docks (the designated secondary target) on the return flight with his remaining bombs.  Damage is unknown.

TIME OVER TARGET: Late evening over Kowloon docks

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One B-24 from the 308th Heavy Bomb Group

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Beadle in plane #267

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: 12 x 500-pound bombs (six on the islands and six on the Kowloon docks)

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None

AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None

SOURCES: Original mission reports and other documents in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).


OBJECTIVE: Fly nocturnal sea sweep mission to detect and sink Japanese ships in the South China Sea.

RESULTS: The radar-equipped B-24 fails to locate any Japanese ships.  The aircraft commander then opts to bomb the Kowloon docks (the designated secondary target) on the return flight.  Damage is unknown.

TIME OVER TARGET: Late evening

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One B-24 from the 308th Heavy Bomb Group

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Captain Armstrong in plane #823

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: 12 x 500-pound bombs

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None

AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None

SOURCES: Original mission reports and other documents in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).


OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton, Hong Kong, and Sanchau Island

RESULTS: Pilot takes a series of recon photos.  Pilot reports 15 ships in the 200 to 400-foot range in Victoria Harbor and a large 400-foot tanker in a bay on the south side of Hong Kong Island.  Engine failure prevents coverage of Sanchau Island.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~1:00 p.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One F-5E from Flight B, 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Snyder in aircraft #305

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None

AIRCRAFT LOSSES: Right engine fails over Hong Kong, but Lt. Snyder returns safely to base on left engine.

SOURCES: Original mission reports and other documents in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).


OBJECTIVE: Fighter sweep over the Canton airfields

RESULTS: No enemy aircraft are encountered in the air or observed on the ground.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~12:45 p.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT:

  • Eight P-40s and six P-51s from the 76th Fighter Squadron
  • Nine P-51s and three P-40s from the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS)

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:

  • 76th FS: Lt. Perkins, Lt. Anderson, Lt. Thompson, 2nd Lt. Jerome F. Eisenman, Lt. Newsome, Lt. Baker, Lt. Joyner (5th FG CACW), Lt. Wheeler (74th FS), Major Slocumb (23rd FG), 2nd Lt. Robert L. Schaeffer, Lt. Dahlberg, Lt. Raymond, Lt. Moore, Lt. Policarpo
  • 118th TRS: Major Edward O. McComas, Lt. Smith, Lt. Wegman, Lt. Miehe, 1st Lt. Everson F. Pearsall, Lt. Greene, Lt. Murray, Lt. Denton, Lt. Williams, Lt. Robbins (74th FS), Lt. Wells (23rd FG), Lt. Long (23rd FG)

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None

AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None

SOURCES: Original mission reports and other documents in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).


OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton and Hong Kong

RESULTS: Cloud cover obscures Canton and Hong Kong from view, but recon photos are taken of Samshui.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~4:00 p.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One F-5E (#287) from Flight B, 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Campbell

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None

AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None

SOURCES: Original mission reports and other documents in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).


OBJECTIVE: Destroy radar station near White Cloud airbase at Canton

RESULTS: Pilots bomb and strafe the radar installation, causing substantial damage.  The pilots also strafe and set alight two fighter aircraft (or dummy aircraft) on the ground at White Cloud.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~6:30 a.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-51s of the 76th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Major Slocumb (23rd FG) and Lt. Oran S. Watts (118th TRS)

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: 4 x 500-pound bombs and 1,100 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: No Japanese planes are encountered in the air.

AIRCRAFT LOSSES: Two fighter aircraft (or aircraft dummies) burned on the ground (see above).

SOURCES: Original mission reports and other documents in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).


OBJECTIVE: Bomb aircraft revetments at White Cloud airbase in Canton

RESULTS: Bombers claim to destroy six to seven enemy aircraft in revetments and inflict additional damage on buildings and other installations at the airbase

TIME OVER TARGET: ~2:50 p.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Twenty-eight B-24s from all four squadrons (373rd, 374th, 375th, and 425th) of the 308th Heavy Bomb Group escorted by 50 fighter aircraft from the following squadrons:

  • 26th Fighter Squadron: Fourteen P-51s
  • 76th Fighter Squadron: Eight P-51s and fifteen P-40s
  • 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: Ten P-51s and three P-40s

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:

  • 26th FS: Major Holman, Lt. Blankenship, Lt. Ashmore, Lt. Porter, Lt. Kramer, Lt. Spainhour, Lt. Barr, Lt. Hamilton, Lt. Machim, Lt. Gamble, Lt. Duffy, Lt. Wilson, Lt. Scearcy
  • 76th FS: Major Slocumb, 2nd Lt. Jerome F. Eisenman, Lt. Trecartin, Lt. Eldridge, Lt. Thompson, Lt. Baker, Lt. Moore, Lt. Anderson, all in P-51s; Lt. La Tourelle, Lt. Wheeler, Lt. Rust, Lt. Kirkpatrick, Lt. Ward, Lt. Riley, Lt. Taylor, Lt. Joyner, Capt. Craig, Lt. Li, Lt. Siefer, Lt. Johnson, Lt. Krywy, Lt. Kitterman, Lt. McCarter, all in P-40s.  Though flying with the 76th FS on this mission, the pilots belong to the 16th FS, 75th FS, 76th FS of the 23rd Fighter Group and the 5th Fighter Group of the CACW.
  • 118th FS: Major Edward O. McComas, Lt. Crowell, Lt. Wegman, Lt. Murray, Lt. Denton, Lt. Miehe, Lt. Smith, Lt. Bushong, Lt. Pearsall, Lt. Greene, Lt. Colleps, Lt. Martinez, Lt. Griswald
  • 308th BG: Formation is led by Major James S. “Jack” Edney; pilots include 2nd Lt. Elmer E. Haynes

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: 850 x M1A1 100-pound fragmentation cluster bombs (25 of the 28 B-24s release their bombs over the target)

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: A small number of 85th Sentai pilots flying Ki-44s and Ki-84s attempt to intercept the B-24s, but are intercepted by P-51s escorting the bombers.

AIRCRAFT LOSSES:

  • Sgt. Major Hiroji Shimoda and Sgt. Tatsuji Uebo are killed when they are shot down by American fighter aircraft. 
  • Warrant Office Akiyoshi Nomura in a Ki-84 bails out after getting shot up, but he is rescued by friendly Chinese and returns to his unit. 
  • A P-51 flown by 2nd Lt. Jerome F. Eisenman of the 76th FS is shot down by Japanese pilots, though Eisenman bails out and eventually returns to his unit, also with the help of friendly Chinese.

SOURCES:

  • Original mission reports and other documents in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. 
  • Japanese Army Fighter Aces, 1931-45, by Ikuhiko Hata, Yasuho Izawa, and Christopher Shores

Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).


OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton and Hong Kong

RESULTS: Numerous reconnaissance photos taken of Tien Ho airbase in Canton and Kai Tak airbase and Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong.  Pilot observes thirteen large ships in Victoria Harbor.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~12:15 p.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One F-5B (#262) from Flight B, 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Stevenson

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None

AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None

SOURCES: Original mission reports and other documents in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).


OBJECTIVE: Sink merchant vessel anchored on south side of Hong Kong Island

RESULTS: Pilots strafe a motor launch and claim four direct hits on a tanker in or near Repulse Bay.  Possibly, this is the oiler IJNS Kamoi, but if so, the ship suffers no damage during the attack.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~3:00 p.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-51s from the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Pascoli and DeVeer (26th Fighter Squadron)

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: 4 x 500-pound bombs and 1,710 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None

AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None

SOURCES:

  • Original mission reports and other documents in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).


OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton area

RESULTS: Numerous reconnaissance photos taken of Canton area

TIME OVER TARGET: ~2:30 p.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One F-5B (#301) from Flight B, 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Schmidt

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None

AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None

SOURCES: Original mission reports and other documents in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).


The raid was reported in the Hongkong News:

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1944

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1944

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1944


OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton and Hong Kong

RESULTS: Pre-strike photos are taken of Victoria Harbor.  Pilot reports that numerous ships are in port.  No photos are taken of the Canton airbases, which are obscured by cloud.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:45 to 9:55 a.m. over Hong Kong

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One F-5B (#388) from Flight B, 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Neely

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: One aircraft of unknown type/unit attempts without success to intercept Lt. Neely’s aircraft.

AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None

SOURCES: Original mission reports and other documents in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).


Photos of the bombing of the Kowloon Docks at Hung Hom on 16 Oct 1944, which also hit many of the houses in the area, killing many civilians.

Air Raid 1944-10-16 (3)
Air Raid 1944-10-16 (3), by Klaus

 

Air Raid 1944-10-16 (2)
Air Raid 1944-10-16 (2), by Klaus

 

53-112(4)
53-112(4), by Klaus

 

Aerial view of HK Harbour US Airforce Bombing
Aerial view of HK Harbour US Airforce Bombing, by Herostratus

 

Aerial Photo of US Airforce Hung Hom Bombing
Aerial Photo of US Airforce Hung Hom Bombing, by Herostratus

The raid was reported in the Hongkong News:

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1944


The raid was reported in the Hongkong News:

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1944

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1944


The raid was reported in the next day's Hongkong News:

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1945


The raid was reported in the next day's Hongkong News:

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1945

It's mentioned in the 18th Jan issue too, this time talking about the bomb that hit Stanley camp:

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1945

And again in the 19th Jan issue, this time talking about Grumman fighter planes attacking Hong Kong:

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1945

and also printing a letter from F C Gimson in Stanley Camp:

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1945


The raid was reported in the Hongkong News later in the week:

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1945


Here's how it was reported in the next day's issue of Hongkong News:

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1945


The raid was reported in the next day's Hongkong News:

Air Raids on Hong Kong-1945