Colder weather
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No fresh news.
Received news that our 150 word letters have been delivered.
Cig issue.
Great excitement, many planes about, very high. Some people saw ack-ack puffs later (Olive did). I thought I heard bangs too - grand if so, though it's probably goodbye to our Red Cross parcels.
Mr G. Buchanan died suddenly. On Bowling Green. I went to Mr Carrie (W.J.) about funeral arrangements. Mr Puckle ((Director of Air Raid Precautions, my boss)) lives there too.
The first American air raid on Hong Kong and parts of it are seen by the internees.
Details of the raid:
3.30 pm - HK raided
(Short)
Memorial service for OBS & CBA Upsdell ((sp?))
Death of Mr. George Buchanan (67).
On roof when sudden air raid. Loud explosions, smoke and fires at Kowloon. Great fire Lai Chi Kok way. Later about fourteen Japanese planes swept about until nightfall.
My first big air raid
My brother and I had the misfortune to be caught up in the very first air raid which the Americans launched against Hong Kong. I was five at the time, and my brother was seven. We had gone to visit a Russian family which had three daughters, each older than us.
HK & K ((Hongkong & Kowloon)) bombed by our planes at 3.30 PM. Great excitement. At last we are convinced that our lads are near us again.
OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance over Canton airfields
TIME OVER TARGET: ~1:00 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One P-43A Lancer loaned to the 75th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group) by the Chinese Air Force
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: 1st Lt. Joseph H. Griffin
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
RESULTS: 15-20 aircraft observed on the ground at White Cloud airbase
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: Aircraft observed on the ground
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
OBJECTIVE: Bomb targets in Kowloon and draw Japanese fighter pilots into a dogfight on terms favorable to American fighter pilots. This is the first American air strike on Hong Kong during the Second World War.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~1:30 p.m.
By all accounts, an air raid over Hong Kong last night, and there have been planes around all day.
Mabel fed up and spotty. Pulse better after concert.
Selwyn-Clarke was expected, but didn't turn up, which may mean that raiding is real. I'm afraid for the boys perhaps working at Kai Tak.
The American bombing of Hong Kong continues.
Requested not to look up at sky.
No paper from town.
1.30 am - HK raided
Awakened at 1.30 a.m. Bombs and gunfire. Reportedly Whitfield Barracks in Kowloon hit. Fire Lai Chi Kok way still burning. Palace Hotel said wrecked. Cameron Road where many Japanese live received stick of bombs. Bomb in Shanghai Street killed many. Percy Ismail says 1.30 a.m. raid was North Point. Bomb hit road. Tram tracks out of action. Aw Boon Haw Mansion reportedly hit. Nuisance raids. More nuisance to us civilians than to Japs. Big crater Jordan Road. House in Hankow Road demolished. Six reported killed.
The weather recently has been warm and overcast, but three nights ago the wind veered to the N.E. and blew half a gale from that direction. It seemed to blow the clouds right out of the sky and the thermometer dropped about 15 – 20 degrees so that, from sleeping in thin silk night attire (a pair of shorts in my case) and covered only with a sheet, we were still cold last night with two blankets and flannelette pyjamas.
1.30 AM. Planes raided HK & K. Saw flash of bombs & A.A.fire. Planes active all day.
No paper.
Lorry coolies ordered to hold no conversation with Internees.
http://www.usaaf.net/chron/42/oct42.htm says:
(Tenth Air Force): CHINA AIR TASK FORCE (CATF): P-40's continue to hit the Hong Kong-Canton area, using dive-bombing tactics for first time in the area.
OBJECTIVE: Tien Ho airfield at Canton is the primary target, but when ground fog obscures the airbase, the bombers hit gasoline storage facilities and godowns instead.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~4:15 a.m.
AMERICAN SQUADRONS AND AIRCRAFT: Three B-25s from 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group, China Air Task Force)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance over Canton and Hong Kong
TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:00 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One P-43A Lancer on loan to the 23rd Fighter Group (China Air Task Force) from the Chinese Air Force
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Major Bruce K. Holloway
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
RESULTS: Pilot reports no apparent damage from strikes on October 25 and 26, 1942, and this assessment is confirmed by aerial photographs of Kowloon taken during the mission.
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None