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: Two B-25s bomb Tien Ho airbase and one B-25 bombs White Cloud airbase.  Damage is unknown, but the bombing ignites a large fire at White Cloud airbase.  A fourth B-25 is unable to locate its target and returns to base with its bombs still in the bomb bay.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:13 to 17:38 p.m.

OBJECTIVE: Block approaches to Victoria Harbor and Pearl River with anti-ship mines and deny the use of the harbor and river to the Japanese.

RESULTS: Four B-24s drop anti-ship mines into the approaches to Victoria Harbor and the Pearl River.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Four B-24s from the 308^th Heavy Bomb Group

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Unknown

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: 22 x anti-ship mines

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None

AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None

OBJECTIVE: Block approaches to Victoria Harbor and Pearl River with anti-ship mines and deny the use of the harbor and river to the Japanese.

RESULTS: Two B-24s drop anti-ship mines into the approaches to Victoria Harbor and the Pearl River, while a third B-24 is unable to find the target zone and returns its mines to base.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Three B-24s from the 308^th Heavy Bomb Group

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Unknown

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: 9 x anti-ship mines

OBJECTIVE: Fly a fighter sweep over the Canton airbases and try to ambush the Japanese fighter pilots who have been patrolling the airspace over Samshui.

RESULTS: No Japanese aircraft are encountered and the fighter sweep is uneventful.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:15 a.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Eight P-51s from the 76^th Fighter Squadron (23^rd Fighter Group)

OBJECTIVE: Dive-bomb targets in town of Samshui near Canton and run fighter sweep over White Cloud airbase.

RESULTS: The P-40s and P-51s hit Samshui with high-explosive and incendiary bombs, causing numerous fires.  After completing their bomb run, the P-51 pilots are ambushed by Japanese fighter pilots and a short dogfight ensues.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~4:00 p.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Ten P-51s and four P-40s from the 76^th Fighter Squadron (23^rd Fighter Group)

OBJECTIVE: Dive-bomb targets in town of Samshui near Canton and run fighter sweep over White Cloud airbase

RESULTS: The American pilots encounter a formation of Japanese fighters, which forces the American pilots to abort the mission and engage in an extended dogfight.

TIME OVER TARGET: Morning

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Eleven P-51s from the 76^th Fighter Squadron (23^rd Fighter Group)

OBJECTIVE: Staggered single-aircraft night raids to bomb targets in Canton area

RESULTS: Two B-25s drop incendiary bombs on the Chungshan University area, causing fires and secondary explosions.  One B-25 bombs Tien Ho airbase and two more bomb nearby godowns.  One B-25 bombs White Cloud airbase.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~11:33 p.m. on September 08 to 12:58 a.m. on September 09

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

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Captain Hunt

OBJECTIVE: Staggered single-aircraft night raids to bomb targets in Canton area

RESULTS: Three B-25s bomb the Chungshan University area, causing fires and secondary explosions.  Three B-25s bombs Tien Ho airbase and nearby godowns, and one B-25 bombs White Cloud airbase.  Five B-25s hit godowns and other facilities in Canton area, igniting a number of fires.

TIME OVER TARGET: 10:50 p.m. on September 07 to 2:20 a.m. on September 08

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

OBJECTIVE: Fly nocturnal sea sweep mission to detect and sink Japanese ships in the South China Sea.

RESULTS: A small patrol boat is attacked near Hong Kong, but all four bombs miss.  The aircraft commander opts to drop his remaining bombs on the oil tanks at Lai Chi Kok during the return flight.  However, the bombs apparently fall to the north of Lai Chi Kok.  According to the BAAG, they strike a reservoir and temporarily disrupt water supplies in Kowloon.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~2:05 a.m. on September 8

OBJECTIVE: Staggered single-aircraft night raids to bomb targets in Canton area

RESULTS: Ten B-25s bomb town of Samshui.  Damage is unknown, but the bombing ignites two large fires.  One B-25 drops bombs on Canton in vicinity of Wongsha railroad station.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~10:05 p.m. on September 06 to 1:25 a.m. on September 07

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

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Sussdorf