OBJECTIVE: Fly a series of staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass airbases at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
RESULTS: Four B-25s hit Tien Ho and five B-25s hit White Cloud. An estimated 50% of bombs fall within target zone, though damage is unknown.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:00 to 10:20 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Nine B-25s from the 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group)
OBJECTIVE: Fly nocturnal sea sweep mission to detect and sink Japanese ships in the South China Sea.
RESULTS: No enemy ships are detected during the sea sweep. The aircraft commander, Lt. Bacalis, opts to bomb an unspecified area of Kowloon (the designated secondary target) on the return flight. Damage is unknown.
TIME OVER TARGET: Unknown, but likely early morning on September 30
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One B-24 from the 308th Heavy Bomb Group
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Bacalis and nine-man crew
OBJECTIVE: Fly a series of staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass airbases at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
RESULTS: All nine B-25s drop their bombs on Tien Ho airbase and vicinity, but damage is unknown.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~6:52 to 10:15 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Nine B-25s from the 491st Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Fly a series of staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass airbases at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
RESULTS: Nine B-25 crews are briefed for the mission, but poor weather conditions over the target forces the cancellation of the mission. However, two aircraft that are already airborne proceed with the mission and bomb the town of Wuchow, the alternate target for the mission, when they are unable to locate the Canton airbases. Damage is unknown.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~5:55 to 6:45 p.m.
OBJECTIVE: Bomb Tien Ho airbase in Canton and disrupt JAAF air operations in the Pearl River delta region
RESULTS: Bad weather and darkness hamper the mission, and only nine B-24s bomb Tien Ho airbase. Five B-24s bomb alternate targets, including White Cloud airbase, the town of Samshui, and two auxiliary airfields on the coast. Damage to all targets is unknown. Fifteen B-24s jettison their bomb loads or return their bombs to base.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:01 to 9:52 p.m.
OBJECTIVE: Fly a series of staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass airbases at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
OBJECTIVE: Fly nocturnal sea sweep mission to detect and sink Japanese ships in the South China Sea.
RESULTS: No enemy ships are detected during the sea sweep. The aircraft commander, Captain Armstrong, opts to bomb naval facilities on Kowloon waterfront. Damage is unknown, but some bombs apparently fall on the typhoon shelter.
TIME OVER TARGET: Unknown, but likely in the very early morning hours of October 01
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One B-24 from the 308th Heavy Bomb Group
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Captain Armstrong
OBJECTIVE: Fly a series of staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass airbases at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
RESULTS: Six B-25s bomb White Cloud airbase and three B-25s bomb Tien Ho airbase. One B-25 returns its bombs to base after it encounters a thunderstorm over the target and is unable to complete its bomb run. Damage to targets is unknown.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~6:35 to 9:20 p.m.
OBJECTIVE: Fly a series of staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass Tien Ho airbase at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
RESULTS: Due to weather conditions, no B-25s hit Tien Ho airbase. Instead, they strike alternate targets that include the town of Wuchow (six aircraft), river traffic (one aircraft), and White Cloud airbase (two aircraft). The bombing ignites large fires in Wuchow.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~6:40 to 8:30 p.m.
OBJECTIVE: Fly a series of staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass airbases at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
RESULTS: Nine B-25 crews are briefed to bomb the Canton airbases. The first aircraft to take off later returns to base with its bombs still aboard when the mission is cancelled due to poor weather. When the weather report is determined to be inaccurate, the remaining eight planes continue with the mission. The results are variable:
OBJECTIVE: Fly a series of staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass airbases at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
RESULTS: Eight B-25 crews are briefed to bomb the Canton airbases. Six aircraft are unable to locate the target and return their bombs to base. One B-25 commanded by Lt. Hexberg bombs White Cloud airbase. One B-25 commanded by Lt. Ley bombs the town of Samshui.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~6:50 p.m. over White Cloud and ~11:03 p.m. over Samshui
OBJECTIVE: Fly a series of staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass airbases at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
RESULTS: Due to solid cloud cover over the Canton airbases, the first four B-25s hit alternate targets of Wuchow and Samshui. When the cloud cover begins to break up, three B-25s bomb Tien Ho airbase and one B-25 bombs White Cloud airbase.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~8:20 to 9:27 p.m.
OBJECTIVE: Fly a series of staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass airbases at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
RESULTS: Two B-25s bomb White Cloud airbase. Three B-25s hit Tien Ho airbase, where the bombing ignites a large fire. One B-25 bombs Pingnam when it cannot locate White Cloud. One B-25 bombs and strafes small craft on the West River. Two of the B-25s that hit other targets also strafe small craft on West River.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:40 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.
OBJECTIVE: Fly a series of staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass airbases at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
RESULTS: One B-25 bomb White Cloud airbase, three B-25 bomb Tien Ho airbase, and two B-25s bomb the designated alternate target of Wuchow.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:00 to 11:32 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Six B-25s from the 491st Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Reconnoiter the flight path for low-altitude attacks on Kai Tak airbase
RESULTS: Flying on the deck, the pilot successfully simulates future airstrikes by following the planned low-level route into Hong Kong and over Kai Tak, where no enemy aircraft are observed.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~2:20 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One P-51D from the 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Unknown
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
OBJECTIVE: Fly a series of staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass airbases at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
RESULTS: Two B-25s bomb Tien Ho airbase and one B-25 bombs White Cloud airbase. Damage is unknown, though fires are started in the bomber revetments at White Cloud and the barracks area of Tien Ho.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:46 to 11:45 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Three B-25s from the 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group)
DATE OF AIR RAID: October 06, 1944
OBJECTIVE: Destroy river traffic east of Pingnam and fly staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass airbases at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
RESULTS: One aircraft bombs Tien Ho airbase, one aircraft bombs White Cloud airbase, one aircraft bombs Wuchow, one aircraft bombs Samshui, and one aircraft bombs Pingnam. Damage is unknown. Two aircraft bomb and strafe small craft.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~10:00 p.m. on October 6 to 2:00 a.m. on October 07
OBJECTIVE: Fly a series of staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass airbases at Canton and prevent JAAF pilots from flying night bombing missions against American airbases in China.
RESULTS: One B-25 bombs aircraft revetments at White Cloud airbase and two B-25s bomb barracks at Tien Ho airbase. Two B-25s bomb and strafe small craft on the West River, sinking or setting on fire five small boats and sampans. A sixth B-25 is unable to take off for the mission due to a Japanese air raid on the American airbase at Liuchow.
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:
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
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