OBJECTIVE: Bomb military godowns, arms factory, railroad repair facilities, and Shell Oil facility at Canton
RESULTS: Haze and darkness make accurate bombing difficult. An estimated sixty percent of bombs fall within target area. Some errant bombs may have landed on barracks near Tien Ho airbase.
TIME OVER TARGET: 8:17 to 9:15 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Twenty-three B-24Js from the 373rd, 374th, 375th, and 425th Bomb Squadrons (308th Heavy Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Unknown
OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton airfields
RESULTS: Pilots overfly Tien Ho and White Cloud airbases to take pictures with recon cameras; they also overfly satellite fields and report that the White Cloud satellite field has been ditched to render it unusable.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~3:30 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-40s from the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (attached to 23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Major Edward O. McComas; Lt. Penning
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
OBJECTIVE: Block channels in Victoria Harbor with anti-ship mines
RESULTS: Five B-24s drop anti-ship mines into Victoria Harbor (Lei Yue Mun, Sulphur, Rambler, and Kellett channels); a sixth B-24 drops mines into the Pearl River.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~10:10 to 11:42 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Six B-24Js from the 374th, 375th, and 425th Bomb Squadrons (308th Heavy Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Unknown
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: Twenty Mark 13 and Mark 13-5 anti-ship mines
OBJECTIVE: Block Pearl River channels with anti-ship mines
RESULTS: B-24s drop anti-ship mines into the Pearl River
TIME OVER TARGET: Evening
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Three B-24Js from the 308th Heavy Bomb Group
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Unknown
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: Twelve anti-ship mines, most likely a mix of Mark 13 and Mark 13-5
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
OBJECTIVE: Weather reconnaissance over the Canton area
RESULTS: Pilots encounter scattered thunderstorms and are unable to observe Canton airbases
TIME OVER TARGET: ~5:00 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-51s from 76th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Rodier; Lt. Florance
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
OBJECTIVE: Harass Canton airfields and prevent JAAF from flying night bombing missions
RESULTS: At staggered intervals, two B-25s bomb White Cloud airbase and three B-25s bomb Tien Ho airbase. Damage to target is unknown.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~8:34 to 11:39 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Five B-25s from 491st Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Unknown
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: Sixty 100-pound fragmentation bombs
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
OBJECTIVE: Bomb ammunition and supply godowns at Canton
RESULTS: Damage to target is unknown, but eighty percent of bombs are estimated to fall in target area and the bombing ignites numerous fires.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~8:37 to 9:06 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Fifteen B-24Js from the 373rd, 374th, 375th, and 425th Bomb Squadrons (308th Heavy Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Unknown
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: 410 x 100-pound bombs; 158 x 100-pound incendiaries; 4,000 propaganda leaflets
OBJECTIVE: Harass Canton airfields and prevent JAAF from flying night bombing missions
RESULTS: At staggered intervals, B-25s bomb White Cloud and Tien Ho airbases. Damage to target is unknown, but two large and three small fires are ignited by the bombing.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:45 to 9:42 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Six B-25s from 491st Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Col. Clark; Captain Toney; Lt. Anderson; Lt. Cullen; Lt. Hexberg; Lt. Lesher
OBJECTIVE: Staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass Canton airfields and prevent JAAF from flying night bombing missions
RESULTS: Three B-25s bomb Tien Ho airfield. One B-25 bombs Canton itself after an accidental bomb release. One B-25 bombs an unidentified town east of Canton when the crew cannot locate Tien Ho airbase. Damage to targets is unknown, but incendiary bombs start fires in godowns near Tien Ho airbase.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~8:44 to 10:55 p.m.
OBJECTIVE: Staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass Canton airfields and prevent JAAF from flying night bombing missions
RESULTS: B-25s bomb Tien Ho and White Cloud airbases. Damaged is unknown, but bombs ignite a large fire in godowns near Tien Ho.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:24 to 11:00 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Four B-25J from 491st Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Major Main; Lt. Biswell; Lt Ley; Lt. Strom
OBJECTIVE: Bomb military targets in Canton
RESULTS: Eleven aircraft bomb the primary target, military facilities near Chungshan University. Six aircraft are unable to locate the primary target. Four of these planes bomb White Cloud airbase, and two bomb Tien Ho airbase.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:00 to 10:55 p.m. depending on the squadron
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Seventeen B-24J from 373rd, 374th, 375th, and 425th Bomb Squadron (308th Heavy Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton airfields
RESULTS: No aircraft are observed on the ground at Tien Ho and White Cloud airbases
TIME OVER TARGET: ~5:25 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-51s from 76th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Major Charles E. Griffith; Lt. Reeves
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: Eight Ki-44 that likely belong to the 85th Sentai attempt to intercept the P-51s without success.
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
OBJECTIVE: Fighter sweep over Canton airfields
RESULTS: Pilots spot Japanese bombers over White Cloud airbase, but are unable to close within firing range
TIME OVER TARGET: ~8:30 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Six P-51s from 76th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
OBJECTIVE: Test a new high-altitude dive-bombing procedure
RESULTS: Pilots tip over at 25,000 feet and release bombs at 18,000 feet over White Cloud airbase. They claim bomb hits on runways and taxiways.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~3:20 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Seven P-51s from 76th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
OBJECTIVE: Single-aircraft night raid to harass Canton airfields and prevent JAAF from flying night bombing missions
RESULTS: Bombs are dropped on Tien Ho, White Cloud, and White Cloud satellite fields, but damage is unknown.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:53 to 9:15 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One B-25J from 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group)
OBJECTIVE: Single-aircraft night raid to harass Canton airfields and prevent JAAF from flying night bombing missions
RESULTS: Bombs are dropped on Tien Ho, Tien Ho satellite, and White Cloud fields, but damage is unknown.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:40-8:40 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One B-25J from 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group)
OBJECTIVE: Staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass Canton airfields and prevent JAAF from flying night bombing missions
RESULTS: Due to cloud cover, B-25 #405 fails to find the target and does not release its bombs. B-25 #403 bombs Tien Ho and White Cloud airbases, but damage is unknown.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:55 to 10:20 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two B-25s from 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Fly nocturnal sea sweep mission to detect and sink Japanese ships in the South China Sea.
RESULTS: Due in part to bad weather, no enemy ships are detected during the sea sweep from Hainan to southern Formosa (Taiwan). The aircraft commander, Lt. Tilton, opts to bomb the Kowloon docks (the designated secondary target) on the return flight. Rain and darkness hamper accuracy of the bomb run, and some bombs are thought to fall in vicinity of the Tai Koo dockyard. Results of the bombing are unknown.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~1:00 a.m. on August 04
OBJECTIVE: Block channels in Victoria Harbor and Pearl River with anti-ship mines
RESULTS: B-24s drop anti-ship mines into Victoria Harbor (East Lamma Channel, Rambler Channel, and near Green Island) and into the Pearl River.
TIME OVER TARGET: 10:25 to 11:55 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Nine B-24s from the 373rd, 374th, 375th, and 425th Bomb Squadrons (308th Heavy Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Fly nocturnal sea sweep mission to detect and sink Japanese ships in the South China Sea.
RESULTS: Aircraft commander aborts sea sweep when radar unit fails. He attempts to bomb the secondary target, the Kowloon docks, but the bombardier fumbles the bomb run. Rain and fully alerted antiaircraft defenses preclude another bomb run. Clouds and rain prevent bomb run on Canton targets as well. Aircraft returns to base with a full bomb load.
TIME OVER TARGET: Unknown, but presumably after nightfall
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One B-24