US air raids on mainland Asia

[Kamerad06]

Taiwan (Formosa), the Okinawa chain (Ryukyu Islands) and the main islands of Japan were repeatedly attacked by US bombers. But what about elsewhere in NE Asia?

Were Japanese bases on the Korean peninsula and in Manchuria subjected to significant US air raids? Or were they mainly beyond the range of most Allied bombers?

[Windward]

B-29 based in Chengdu bombed Showa Steel (the second largest iron steel factory in Japanese controled area) in Anshan, southern Manchuria, on July 9, July 29, Sep 8 and Sep 26 1944, and on Feb 1/2 1945.

B-29 also bombed Mukden, Dairen, Fushun and other Manchurian industrial cities in August and September 1944. In 1944, B-29 also bombed Tientsin (Tianjin) and Zhengzhou on July 29, Kaifeng, Luoyang on Sep 26, Nanking on Nov 11, Taiyuan (Steel Works) on Dec 9. Chinese and American bombers also bombed some mainland railways and Japanese airports on Hainan Island in 1944.

[Windward]

I draw a map with placenames mentioned above.

regards

[Kamerad06]

Fantastic response! Tahnk you very much.

I wonder if anyone knows whether there were eligible targets for B-29 raids o the Korean peninsula. Korea had been in Japanese hands officially since 1910, and there must have been shipyards and military bases located there. But were they significant enough to risk long-range bomber attacks, I wonder?

[Goldfish]

Other American bomber types flew against Chinese cities throughout the war. The B-24's of the 308th Bomb Group (Heavy) frequently bombed Hong Kong, Hankou, the Shanghai docks, and other targets. They also bombed Taiwan on occasion and Indo-china frequently. The largest B-29 raid in China might have been the massive raid on Kankou that Stilwell vetoed but his successor, General Wedemeyer, approved. I will try to get the dates and details of this raid.

[Kamerad06]

Thank you. I'm looking forward to that.

[Windward]

Fantastic response! Thank you very much.

I wonder if anyone knows whether there were eligible targets for B-29 raids o the Korean peninsula. Korea had been in Japanese hands officially since 1910, and there must have been shipyards and military bases located there. But were they significant enough to risk long-range bomber attacks, I wonder?

Japanese built industries in Korea include large steel works in Gyeom'i po, Hwangju (both south to Pyongyang, belong to Mitsubishi group), Chongjin (part of Nippon Steel), chemical industries and coal mines in Hamhung and Hungnam, power dams on Yalu River. No shipbuilding, no machine manufacturing or war industries.



Gyrom'i po steel works

regards

[David Thompson]

Kamerad06 -- This site may be helpful in tracking such raids:

The Army Air Forces in World War II : Combat Chronology, 1941-1945
http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Pu ... nology.pdf

[Gustav_SC]

There was definitely a B-29 raid on Singapore in late 44 or early 45 (can't remember which).

[David Thompson]

Singapore raids:

11/5/44 Twentieth AF
24 Marianas-based B-29’s bomb 2 Iwo Jima A/Fs, starting tac operations against the island in preparation for its invasion. 53 Calcutta-based B-29’s bomb Singapore naval base putting the King George VI Graving Dock (one of the world’s best drydocks) out of operation for 3 months, and blast other tgts at the base. 7 other B-29’s bomb secondary tgt and Pangkalanbrandan refinery while 4 more hit other tgt.

1/11/45 Twentieth AF
25 B-29’s out of Calcutta bomb 2 large drydocks at Singapore. Around 15 others bomb Penang I, Mergui, and various T/Os.

1/26/45 Twentieth AF
During 25/26 Jan, 70-plus B-29’s of XX BC mine the 6 approaches to Singapore harbor and at Saigon, Camranh Bay, Pakchan R, Penang harbor, Koh Si Chang Channel, and Phan Rang Bay.

2/1/45 Twentieth AF
67 B-29’s bomb the Admiralty IX Floating Drydock (and vessel berthed in it) at Singapore navy yard. 21 other B-29’s bomb West Wall area of the naval base. 21 others hit alternate tgts at Martaban and George Town.

2/24/45 Twentieth AF
In an all-incendiary attack 105 B-29’s hit Empire Dock area at Singapore, burning out about 40 per cent of the warehouse area. This is the last 100-aircraft strike of XX BC.

3/2/45 Twentieth AF
Around 50 B-29’s bomb shop and warehouse area at naval base in Singapore. 5 others hit alternates on Bukum I, at Arang Hill, and at Khao Huakhang.

3/28/45 Twentieth AF
During 28/29 Mar, 10 B-29’s mine mouth of the Hwangpoo R and S channel of the Yangtze R at Shanghai. About 50 other VHBs fly missions mining waters at Saigon, Camranh Bay, and in Singapore area.

8/4/05 FEAF
B-25’s over Kyushu hit industrial area near Takanabe, bombing warehouses, factories, railroad bridge, and M/Y. B-25’s and P-38’s spt ground forces on Luzon, hitting Japanese forces near Santa Ines, in Butitio area, and near Mount Obudan. B-24’s spt ground action S of Fabrica. B-24’s bomb Miti A/F. P- 38’s on sweep over Singapore claim 2 Japanese planes downed.

8/13/45 FEAF
B-24’s and B-25’s from Okinawa pound shipping in waters off Korea and Kyushu and in Inland Sea claiming several vessels sunk and damaged. P-47’s over Keijo encounter 20 aircraft and claim at least 16 shot down. B-25’s attack Japanese forces near Palaciaan. P-38’s hit shipping in Singapore area.

The Army Air Forces in World War II : Combat Chronology, 1941-1945
http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Pu ... nology.pdf

[David Thompson]

For more on the subject of mainland bombing raids see Dr. Joe G. Taylor, Air Interdiction in China in World War II, USAF Historical Studies No. 132, USAF Historical Division, Research Studies Institute, Air University, Sept 1956
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/AAF ... HS-132.pdf