OBJECTIVE: Bomb Tien Ho airfield in Canton. This is the first raid on a target in the Pearl River delta by the China-based 14th Air Force, the successor unit to the China Air Task Force (a unit of the India-based 10th Air Force). This is also the first raid on a Pearl River delta target by the 308th Heavy Bomb Group, and only the unit’s second combat mission.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~1:30 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT:
OBJECTIVE: Bomb shipping at Whampoa docks in Canton. This is the first raid in a sustained anti-shipping campaign by the 14th Air Force that begins in July 1943.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~1:15 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Seven B-25s from the 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group) and twenty-two P-40s from the 23rd Fighter Group
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: P-40s: Lt. Col. Clinton D. Vincent; Lt. Col. Samuel “Tex” Knowles
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: Forty-two 500-pound demolition bombs (B-25s)
OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton
TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:30 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-40K from 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Major Norval C. Bonawitz; Lt. Anderson
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
RESULTS: Due to clouds and rain, pilots are unable to see the ground in the Canton area
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
OBJECTIVE: Bomb a Japanese freighter reported to be at anchor near Stonecutters Island
TIME OVER TARGET: ~3:15 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Six B-25s from the 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group) and ten P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group). Possibly pilots and aircraft from the 16th Fighter Squadron are involved as well. All aircraft are based at Kweilin and belong to the 14th Air Force.
OBJECTIVE: Bomb HK & Whampoa dockyard
TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:15 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Six B-25s from the 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group) escorted by nine P-40K and P-40Ms from the 74th FS (23rd Fighter Group). All aircraft belong to the 14th Air Force.
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Bomb shipping and dockyards in Hong Kong
TIME OVER TARGET: ~2:45 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Eighteen B-24s from all four squadrons of the 308th Heavy Bomb Group. Fighter escorts include twelve P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron and three P-38s from the newly arrived 449th Fighter Squadron. Both fighter squadrons are part of the 23rd Fighter Group.
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance of Canton area
TIME OVER TARGET: ~Noon
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-40 fighters from the 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Captain Arthur W. Cruikshank; Lt. Jarmon
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
RESULTS: Pilots report there are no aircraft visible at the Canton airfields and that there is very little river traffic.
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
OBJECTIVE: Bomb Tien Ho airfield at Canton
TIME OVER TARGET: ~2:37 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Six B-25 medium bombers from the 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group) and ten P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton area
TIME OVER TARGET: ~6:00 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-40s from 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group, 14th Air Force)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Captain Morrison; 1st Lt. Harlyn Vidovich
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
RESULTS: No activity noted at Canton and much of area obscured by clouds
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
OBJECTIVE: Bomb Tai Koo dockyard
TIME OVER TARGET: ~4:12 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Seven B-25s from the 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group). All of the B-25s and many of the pilots and aircrew are on their second run of the day to Hong Kong. Escorting fighters include six P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron and seven P-40s from the 76th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group). All aircraft are from the 14th Air Force.
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Bomb HK & Whampoa dockyard
TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:45 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Eight B-25s from the 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group) and seven P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group). All aircraft are from the 14th Air Force.
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Bomb HK & Whampoa dockyard
TIME OVER TARGET: ~12:40 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Fourteen B-24s from 323rd, 325th, and 425th Bomb Squadrons (308th Heavy Bomb Group). Fighter escort consists of seven P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron and ten P-38s from the 449th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group). All aircraft are from the 14th Air Force.
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton
TIME OVER TARGET: Just after daylight
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One P-40 fighter plane from 76th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: 1st Lt. William Steffano
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
RESULTS: No significant Japanese activity observed
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
OBJECTIVE: Bomb Tien Ho airfield at Canton
TIME OVER TARGET: ~11:20 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Five B-25C medium bombers from the 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Squadron) escorted by eleven P-40s from the 16th and 76th Fighter Squadrons (23rd Fighter Group). All units are from the China-based 14th Air Force.
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Fighter sweep and reconnaissance flight over Canton
TIME OVER TARGET: ~11:30 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Three P-40Ks from 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: 1st Lt. William B. Hawkins; 1st Lt. Samuel P.M. Kinsey; 1st Lt. Richard Mauritson
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
RESULTS: Pilots report there is very little air activity and river traffic in Canton area
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
OBJECTIVE: Skip-bomb ships in convoy near Hong Kong. This is the first time that American fighter pilots in the China theatre attempt skip-bombing, which will become a widespread tactic used by 14th Air Force pilots to attack Japanese ships.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~1:15 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Four P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group, 14th Air Force)
OBJECTIVE: Bomb shipping in Victoria Harbor
TIME OVER TARGET: ~1:45 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Three P-40s from 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group, 14th Air Force)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Captain Morrison; Lt. Mimmack[?]; Lt. Robert M. Cage
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: Two 500-pound bombs and 1,500 rounds of .50-caliber heavy machine gun ammunition
RESULTS: One 450-foot freighter or tanker possibly named the Shirogane Maru damaged near Stonecutters Island. One 50-foot launch sunk.
OBJECTIVE: Bomb POL (petroleum, oil, and lubricants) depot at Lai Chi Kok
TIME OVER TARGET: ~11:30 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Ten B-25s from the 11th Medium Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group) escorted by three P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group). Two additional P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron are tasked with skip-bombing ships in Victoria Harbor. All aircraft belong to the 14th Air Force.
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Take reconnaissance photographs of Kowloon
TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:15 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One F-4 or F-5 (photo-recon version of the P-38)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Unknown
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
RESULTS: Recon photos of Kowloon show no evidence of damage from the B-24 raid the previous evening (Nov. 15). Numerous ships are at the HK & Whampoa dockyard.
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
OBJECTIVE: Attack shipping in Victoria Harbor
TIME OVER TARGET: ~10:50 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two B-25s from the 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: