Did the Japanese bomb U.S. airfields at Kungming, China as late as 1944? Are there any details?

David Wilma
Son of 1LT Francis R. "Dick" Wilma (1920-2005)
ATC, Chabua, India, '44 - '45
http://home.comcast.net/~davidwilma/Index.htm

I think by late 44 we had it pretty locked up there.although a Jap or two may have hit it.
 
Terry T.
 

By late 1943 the 14th AF began operating out of bases in eastern China, hitting Japanese air bases, industry, shipping and railroads.  These raids were increasingly effective.  There were not many ground forces to protect these areas where the bases were.  Chennault thought that his air units were adequate protection.  The Japanese were being pounded by these air attacks by Chennault's air forces in eastern China and wanted to get rid of the threat.  In the spring of 1944, the Japanese launched a massive ground offensive to neutralize the 14th's successful assaults.  The Japanese offensive pushed aside all resistance on the ground and terrorized the civil population it over ran.  The US saw the writing on the wall; air bases at Kweilin, Hengyang, Luichow and Tanchuk were evacuated and destroyed by the US.  One thousand pound bombs were planted in the runways and taxiways and detonated.  Fuel and ammo stores were blown and buildings were torched in order to prevent the Japanese from capturing anything intact.  Once the civilian population observed the US evacuating these bases, chaos broke out.  People fled by any possible means.  Many were just barely able to keep one town ahead of the advancing Japanese.  Literally millions of Chinese civilians fled to the countryside; many starved to death.  When their resources ran out, some families committed mass suicide.  Hundreds of thousands of Chinese died of starvation or at the hands of Japanese armed forces.  Many thousands of Chinese stayed in the hills and country side and waited out the war.  The Japanese juggernaut threatened to overun all of China.  Chinese forces and the U.S. "Mars" Force were able to miraculously stop the Japanese from over running the Burma road area.  There was considerable political difficulty between US General Joseph Stilwell and Chiang.  In December, the only forces able to actually stop the Japanese from over running Kunming and Chungking was Chennault's air forces and a small Chinese ground force.  Allied ground forces were airlifted into the area of Kunming but it was too late--the Japanese had out run their own supply lines.  They were forced to pull back.  In early 1945, allied forces were able to begin driving the Japanese back. But not without cost--Allied forces mistakenly attacked and badly damaged Chinese units operating in their areas while attempting a link up.  The allies were eventually able to get it together and begin driving the Japanese back.  It was a bad episode but it could have been worse. 


See:

STILWELL AND THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IN CHINA

VINEGAR JOE'S WAR

CHINA BURMA INDIA

TonyM.  

TonyM,

"Fire and Fall Back", Gen Casey Vincent's story of his three years in CBI, highlights his frustration with Stillwell, Chennault and Kaishek related to the Japanese 'Ichigo' offensive. Of course his viewpoint, as well as Chennault's, were quite different than Stillwell's.

My father experienced the Japanese 'Ichigo' offensive, up close and personal, from the upper turret of a B-25H. On Sep 12, the day before Kweilin was ordered to be evacuated, he had three missions, bombing and strafing Japanese forces and supplies in close support of the Chinese units... in just over six hours.

The targets were reached less then 20 minutes from taking the runway for takeoff. Two or three passes and head back to base. As soon as they shut down engines the bombs and ammunition were being loaded. Between the second and third mission fuel was being loaded simultaneously with the bombs and ammunition. Four 491st BS and four 11th BS B-25Hs performed this ritual, in flight of two, 10 to 15 minutes apart. Many P-51s from the fighter squadrons at Liuchow and Kweilin were also flying close support missions.

Another eight B-25D/Js had flown night attacks Sep 11th, and did so again on the 12th but flew on to Liuchow rather than land at Kweilin. The aircrew assisted in prepping their H's for one last mission from Kweilin. Early on the 13th the bombed and strafed the Japanese forces less than 20 miles from Kweilin then flew to Liuchow. About 7:00 AM, 14 Sep with all aircraft and men gone the bombs buried in the runway were set off by Chinese forces.

Nearly three weeks of poor weather kept 14th AF units from mounting effective attacks, and by mid-October the offensive was only a few miles from Liuchow. It was defended and evacuated in a similar manner on 31 October.

In fairness to Amerian airmen and Chinese ground forces we must note that all their supplies had to be flown over the Hump, then distributed across China. Unfortunately the heroic efforts of the transport crews were insufficient to the need. With improved weather, both the flow of supplies and the effectiveness of combat operations led to reoccupation of Liuchow within 100 days.

The photo shows 68th Composite Wing personnel awaiting C-46 transports to complete the evacuation of Kweilin on 13th of Sep.

[image]local://6988/B2A65ABA15B94AADAF1DDD2799125F6E.jpg[/image]

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Tony Strotman, MSgt (ret.), USAF
Son of T/Sgt Francis E. Strotman, Engineer-Gunner,
491st Bm Sq / 341st Bm Gp (M), Yangkai, China
"USAAF in CBI Tribute" http://www.usaaf-in-cbi.com

TonyM,   Just read this Thread with your Excellent Summary to David's post!  Would also suggest for some excellent reading in addition to your bibliography the following:  Flying Tigers by Daniel Ford Published in 1991; THE B-24 IN CHINA by A.B. Feuer; and Chennault's Forgotten Warriors - The Saga of the 308th Bomb Group in China by Carroll V Glines. These might also add some insight.  Best Regards!  Steven

Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl
Willow Run Historian  (RET.)  
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators
Life Member: Yankee Air Museum

ORIGINAL: WillowRun

TonyM,   Just read this Thread with your Excellent Summary to David's post!  Would also suggest for some excellent reading in addition to your bibliography the following:  Flying Tigers by Daniel Ford Published in 1991; THE B-24 IN CHINA by A.B. Feuer; and Chennault's Forgotten Warriors - The Saga of the 308th Bomb Group in China by Carroll V Glines. These might also add some insight.  Best Regards!  Steven

 
Thank you Steven; The Ichigo Offensive is a part of WWII history that seems to fall through the cracks.  TonyM. 

The last daylight raid on Kunming was 22 December 1943. The 51st Fighter Group USAAF intercepted in force and claimed 17 Japanese fighters and bombers shot down.
 
Carl Molesworth
author, Sharks Over China, P-40 Warhawk Aces of the CBI and others

Carl,  Thanks for posting, and, more imporantly thanks for the information from your book!  I've already been on amazon.com.  I've had a passing interest on the CBI and the 14th AAF after having done research on a peer's father. Best Regards!  Steven

Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl
Willow Run Historian  (RET.)  
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators
Life Member: Yankee Air Museum

Carl,  In the process of ordering your book on line I found several others of interest, but they were "outside my budget."  I am attaching the link to one of my earlier Threads in which posts 7 thu 11 were the critical ones.  Thanks to Site Members steering me in the right direction, we were able to come up with not only informtion but also a pic for my peer at work.  Best get off here as I've strayed from the original topic!  Best Rgards!  Steven 

http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_124225/mpage_1/key_14th%2cAAF/tm.htm#124342

Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl
Willow Run Historian  (RET.)  
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators
Life Member: Yankee Air Museum

Carl,  Received a copy of Sharks Over China yesterday, and it's "in queue" as my next book to be read.  I am sure that I'll be quoting from it in the future and may have a comment or two on the Book Corner sub-forum. From the reviews and my own quick perusal, I am sure I shall enjoy it.  Again, thank you for the tip!  Best Regards!  Steven

[image]local://11777/F4E38C957D974C9F89452EE51A3EA441.jpg[/image]

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Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl
Willow Run Historian  (RET.)  
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators
Life Member: Yankee Air Museum