Beginning in October 1943, the US Army Air Forces and the US Navy started bombing Hong Kong and surround areas. From some of the raids photos exist, mainly taken from US planes.
The following photos will start with an excerpt from R.E. Jones Wartime diary.
16 Nov 1943, R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Another raid at 12.45pm.
OBJECTIVE: Bomb Tien Ho airfield at Canton
TIME OVER TARGET: ~12:55 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT:
OBJECTIVE: P-40 pilots fly a “diversionary alert” over Canton
TIME OVER TARGET: ~12:30 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Seven P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Bell, Lt. Lundy, Lt. Meyer, Lt. Strantz, Bates, Lt. Gordon F. Bennett, La Touralle
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
RESULTS: None
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: Two Japanese fighters are spotted, but they do not engage.
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: One P-40 is lost when Lt. Bennett develops engine trouble and bails out.
OBJECTIVE: Bomb Kowloon docks and mine Victoria Harbor
TIME OVER TARGET: ~11:00 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Twenty B-24s from the 373rd, 374th, 375th and 425th Bomb Squadrons (308th Heavy Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Bomb Kowloon docks
TIME OVER TARGET: ~12:45 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT:
OBJECTIVE: Bomb Kowloon docks and godowns
TIME OVER TARGET: Due to heavy cloud cover, the bombers do not reach the target
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Nine B-25s from the 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group) and an unspecified number of escorting fighters, probably from the 74th and/or 449th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group). All aircraft are from the 14th Air Force.
OBJECTIVE: Bomb ships in Victoria Harbor
TIME OVER TARGET: ~2:00 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Ten P-38 Lightnings from the 449th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: 2nd Lt. Gregg; 2nd Lt. Newnom; 2nd Lt. Ivan A. Rockwell; 2nd Lt. Taylor
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: Four P-38s use skip-bombing tactics and drop 4 x 500-pound bombs, while six P-38s fly top cover
OBJECTIVE: Bomb Whampoa docks in Canton
TIME OVER TARGET: ~4:00 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Six P-38s from the 449th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Captain L.O. Gregg; 2nd Lt. Weber
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: Unknown, but since only four of the six P-38s carry bombs, probably 8 x 500-pound general-purpose bombs
RESULTS: P-38 pilots claim three hits on Whampoa docks
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: Up to seventeen Ki-44-II led by Captain Yukiyoshi Wakamatsu.
OBJECTIVE: Bomb riverfront godowns at Canton
TIME OVER TARGET: ~3:00 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Four P-38s from the 449th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: 1st Lt. Lewden Enslen; 2nd Lt. Billie M. Beardsley
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: 8 x 500-pound bombs
RESULTS: Pilots report direct hits on godowns
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS:
OBJECTIVE: Bomb White Cloud airbase at Canton
TIME OVER TARGET: ~11:45 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Eight B-25s from the 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group) escorted by eleven P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group). All aircraft are from the 14th Air Force.
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
