| August began with 10th Air Force B-25s hitting several points along the rail lines between Naba and Hopin, and fighter-bombers attacking Shwegu, bridges in the Mohnyin area, and supoprting ground troops in the Myitkyina and Taungni sectors on the 1st. P-51s, P-47s and A-36s attacked the Taugni area in support of ground forces, P-51s and P-47s on patrols and armed reconaissance hit targets of opportunity in the areas around Katha, Mainghka, Meza, Helon, Mohnyin, Bilumyo and Namma, while P-40s attacked gun positions and strongpoints at Myitkyina on the 2nd. On the 3rd B-25s hit Eanling, knocked ut a bridge at Panghkam and attacked bridges along the rail lines from Naba to Myitkyina. At the same time P-51a and P-47s in support of ground troops north of Tauhgni and near Sahmaw hit the towns of Shwegu and Mosit, attacked a factory area at Mohnyin and pounded boats, troop concentrations and gun positions at Myitkyina and Maingna. The 4th saw B-25 bombing Sahmaw in support of advancing Allied ground troops; P-51s suporting ground troops in the Sahmaw-Taungni area; fighter-bombers hitting various targets including towns, gun positions, troops and communications lins in the Shwegu, Pinbaw, Kasu, Bhamo, Myitkyina, Bilumyo, Mawhe, Mainghka and Onsansaing areas. On the 5th 14 B-25s hit the town area of Taungni and stores areas at Bilumyo, P-51s also pounded the Taungni area while P-47s attacked targets of opportunity throughout the Bhamo area. 6 B-25s bombed Mohnyin, while 2 others destroyed a bridge at Hsenwi, 21 P-51s hit 4 railroad bridges in the Naba-Pinbaw area, destroying 2 of them, P-51s and P-47s hit targets of oportunity at Mohnyin, Hopin, Bhamo, Katha, Indaw and other points across northern Burm, and P-40s straffed targets of opportunity in the Myitkyina area on the 6th. The 7th witnessed B-25s destroying 2 bridges and damaging 2 others as well as hitting targets of opportunity in the areas around Naba and Mawhun; fighter-bombers attacking Moynyin, Myohit and Pinbaw, hitting the motor pool at Namana, damaging 2 bridges south of Bahmo, attacking targets of opportunity during sweeps Onbauk Airfield and the town of Bhamo and supporting ground troops in the Taungni area. Weather was a major factor in operations on the 8th, forcing B-25s to abort attacks on their primary target of Shwkyina and instead concentrate on the destruction of the Meza bridge damaging 3 others, and bombing the rail lines between Naba and Meza at several points, and severely curtailing fighter-bomber missions. The weather improved on the 9th allowing 24 fighter-bombers to make attacks in the Taungni-Sahmaw area in support of ground troops, while others made n unsuccessful attack on a bridge north of Hopin and bombed Tagwin. On the 10th 9 B-25s hit Shwekyina while P-51s provided support for ground fources by hitting the railroad station at Mingon. The weather worsened again on the 11th, forcing 4 of 9 B-25s to abort an attack on encampments and underground shelters at Kadu as 6 P-40s attacked a Japanese occupied temple at Shwekyina and a Head Quarters at Bhamo. On the 12th the weather improved enough to allow fighter-bombers to hit Shwekyina, the railroad yards at Pinwe, troops in the Myothit area, a bridge near Mania and a river boat near Bhamo, as well as operate in support of ground forces in the Taungni-Pinbaw area. The 13th saw 20 fighter-bombers hitting troops and supplies at Mankwi, Myothit and Tali; 7 others knocking out one bridge at Kyauktalon and damaging a second near Namkwin. @6 other fighter-bombers attacked Pinwe and targets of opportunity neat Mawlu and Pinbaw, and, finally, 9 B-25s struck a bomb storage area at Pinwe, destroying it and causing considerable damage in the village. Mohnyin and Indaw received the attentions of the B-25s on the 14th. In addition 18 P-51s pounded targets in the Myothit are as 46 other fighter-bombers attacked various targets in northern Burma, including Naba juntion, the active area near Pinbaw, a building and targets of opportunity at Thaikwagon, a comand post at Hopin, the motor pool at Nansiaung Forest, ammunition and supplies in the Mohnyin area , and bridges south of Bhamo. More than 70 P-40s, P-47s, P-51s and A-36s hit numerous targets across northern Burm including a monastary at Pegu, troops eas of Mawhun, Loiwing and Lasio Airfield, rail targets between Naba and Hopin and targets of opportunity, in addition, they made close suport strikes for ground ofrces in the Pinbaw and Naba areas, hit supply dumps at Mainghka, and burned out two villages north of Karu on the 15th. As the last Japanese resistance in India ceased on the 16th 20 P51s hit airfields at Lashio, Nawnghkio, Shwebo, Anisakan, and Onbauk; 37 P-40s and P-51s hit strong points, pillboxes, and machinegun positions in the Pinbaw area; 19 P-47s and P-51s attacked targets of opportunity at Katha, a bridge S of Bhamo, the town of Tagwin, railroad targets of opportunity between Naba and Hopin, an enemy held monastery, and an ammunition dump at Pegu. 47 fighter-bombers supported ground forces in the Pinbaw area; 9 B-25s bombed Katha; 12 fighter-bombers pounded the town areas of Nanyinbya and Bilumyo; and 12 other fighter-bombers attacked artillery positions and storage areas in the Momauk area as India is cleared of all Japanese forces on the 17th. On the 18th 16 P-47s and P-51s knocked out a road bridge, attacked town areas, and hit general targets of opportunity in the Bhamo area; 4 P-47s knocked out both approaches to a bridge in Hsenwi; a troop concentration in Moda was pounded by 15 P-47s and P-51s and an A-36; 39 P-47s, P-40s and P-51s operated in close support of ground forces in various Pinbaw area sectors; 8 P-47s swept Lashio Airfield, strafing several targets of opportunity. On the 19th 4 P-47s operated in support of ground forces southwest of Thaikwagon; and 4 others strafed trucks carrying troops between Bhamo and Myothit. 24 P-47s and P-51s fly close support strikes for ground forces immediately S of Thaikwagon; 4 P-51s hit targets of opportunity at Myintha and Aledaw on the 20th. The 21st saw 6 B-25s knock out and damage 3 river bridges in the Mu area and at Hsipaw, 36 P-51s support ground forces near Pinlon, Ingyingon, and Nansankyin; and 8 P-51s bomb a storage area at Chyahkan. On the 22nd P-51s and P-47s flew 53 sorties against Tengchung, China in support of attacking Chinese forces. In Burma, 28 P-47s attacked buildings, supply dumps, troops, and gun positions near Ingyingon, Nansankyin, and Pinlon; 8 P-47s straffed targets of opportunity between Tingka, China and Bhamo; 2 rocket-firing P-51s seriously damageed several buildings at Aledaw; and 9 B-25s bombed Hopin. 32 P-47s supported British advances down the railroad in the Pinbaw area hitting gun positions, troops, and HQ buildings, immediately north of Pinbaw, and along Nansonti Creek; and 6 P-47s pounded Onsansaing, and 8 P-51s bombed an encampment near Kadu. In China, 4 P-51s hit Lungling and Mangshih; 5 others attacked guns, fuel dump, and other targets of opportunity along the Burma Road from Wanling to Lungling while 7 more hit buildings and vehicles during sweeps of the general Mangshih-Chefang area; 12 P-51s hit targets of opportunity SW of Lungling and 2 P-40s straffed trucks at Chefang on the 23rd. The 24th saw 9 B-25s bomb Kangon; 3 P-47 flights supporting British troops northeast of Pinbaw, hitting forces and gun emplacements near Namyin Te and Nansankyin; 4 P-47s bomb Nankan; and 4 P-51s strafe vehicles along the Shweli River and bomb a storage area S of Hopin. On the 25th 9 B-25s bombed Kondangyi; 4 P-47s knocked out a bridge south of Bhamo and hit several targets of opportunity in the area; 2 P-51s bombed a probable factory at Hopin; 6 flights of P-51s attacked buildings and targets of opportunity at Pinlon and Kyagyigon; 32 other P-51s supported ground forces at Ingyingon and along the Hsai-hkao and Namsang River. Weather was a major factor for the remainder of the month, grounding all aircraft on the 26th and allowing only limited operations on the 27th when 23 P-47s flew in support of ground forces in the Pinbaw area, hitting Kondangyi and troops and strongpoints near Pinbaw. On the 28th 4 P-47s bombed a tank pool at Momauk, while 5 others hit Myintha; and 2 P-47s supported ground forces in the Pinbaw area. 8 B-25s attacked targets in Katha and hit 2 bridges just N of the town area; 8 P-51s attacked Bilumyo; 5 P-47s destroyed a road bridge at Mainghka and 5 others hit buildings in Bhamoon the 29th. Weather on the 30th allowed only a handful of P-47s to bomb abd strafe Man Sai, Burma. The 10th closed out August with 6 B-25s bombing targets of opportunity at katha, and 3 hitting bridges at Bawgyo and Hsenwi.
Movements and changes during August:
The 89th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, based at Nagaghuli, India with P-47s, sent a detachment to operate from Dergaon on the 1st.
HQ 3d Combat Cargo Group moves from Sylhet to Dinjan; and the 315th Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Sookerating to Ledo, India with C-47s on the 2nd.
10th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3d Combat Cargo Group, moves from Sylhet to Dergaon with C-47s on the 5th.
The detachment of the 315th Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, operating from Shingbwiyang with C-47s returned to base at Ledo, India on the 8th
On the 9th the 426th Night Fighter Squadron, Tenth Air Force, arrived at Madhaiganj, India from the US with P-61s (first mission is 21 Nov).
On the 12th the 427th Night Fighter Squadron, Tenth Air Force, arrived at Pomigliano, Italy with P-61s; the was to fly missions in the MTO for training before arriving in the CBI Theater.
The 2nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, moved from Dinjan, India to Shingbwiyang with C-47s on the 14th
The 9th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, based at Barrackpore, India, sent a detachment to operate from Tingkawk Sakan with F-5s on the 16th.
On the 20th the detachment of the 88th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, operating from Myitkyina with P-47s returned to base at Shingbwiyang.
HQ 1st Combat Cargo Group and the 1st Combat Cargo Squadron arrived at Sylhet, India from the US with C-47s on the 21st (first mission is 10 Sep) on the 22nd.
On the 25th the detachment of the 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, ceased operating from Myitkyina with P-40s and returned to base at Kisselbari, India (the squadron is operating from Tingkawk Sakan).
The 490th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), moved from Kurmitola to Dergaon, India with B-25s on the 26th
The 90th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, moved from Moran, India to Tingkawk Sakan with P-47s. In India, the 2d Combat Cargo Squadron, 1st Combat Cargo Group, arrived at Sylhet from the US with C-47s all on the 27th
On the 29th HQ 80th Fighter Group moved from Nagaghuli, India to Tingkawk Sakan.
The 3d Combat Cargo Squadron, 1st Combat Cargo Group, arrived at Sylhet, India from the US with C-47s on the 30th.
|