Everything tagged: air raids

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 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 308^th Heavy Bomb Group

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Captain Armstrong

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.

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: 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, 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 308^th 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: 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 11^th Bomb Squadron (341^st Medium Bomb Group)

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 491^st Bomb Squadron (341^st 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: One B-25 bombs Tien Ho airbase and one B-25 bombs White Cloud airbase.  Damage is unknown.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:00 to 7:55 p.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two B-25s from the 491^st Bomb Squadron (341^st Medium Bomb Group)

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Shields; Lt. Patterson

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: Captain Perdew is unable to locate White Cloud airbase due to cloud cover, but drops propaganda leaflets over Canton.  He then bombs the town of Wuchow, his designated alternate target.  Lt. Sloat is assigned to hit White Cloud airbase, but he blows a landing-gear tire and is unable to take off for the mission.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:00 p.m.