Barb
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64th Sentai war diary entry No.231
Date: July 26th, 1942 Tokyo time
Meiktila airfield where the 3rd Chutai arrived just before dawn and where the 59th Sentai was based became the target of enemy bombers during the night – the men jumped into every possible hole to take cover and the sleep was quickly forgotten when the bombs started falling around.
8 Hudson bombers of the RAF were first to appear on the scene despite the thunderstorms raging around. Releasing their bombs from about 7000 feet they managed a direct hit on one of the 59th Sentai Haybausas parked near the runway. The Hayabusa immediately disappeared in the mass of flames and smoke. Other bombs fell wide and large around the area, but failed to cause any serious damage or injuries. USAAF also participated with 8 B-25 Mitchell bombers which arrived about half hour later and dropped from 18000 ft – in thunderstorms at night most of the bombs fell outside the perimeter of the base.
Another 8 Hudson bombers of the RAF arrived in the next hour at lower altitude, but their bombs were off by a good margin causing no damage.
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Rest of the 64th Sentai spend the night quietly at Mandalay, but were roused out of their beds early – another big mission was planned, although the target was Comilla airfield. Early breakfast and briefing were quickly behind the pilots and ground crews were already working on their planes. 33 of the 34 planes safely took off – WO Kaoki U., assigned to fly a wingmen to Lt.Col. Ariyoshi N., leader of the 2nd Chutai could not take off due to some pressure problems on manifold. As soon as the Sentai formed over the airfield, a bomber formations it was assigned to protect arrived – 15 Type 97 Heavy bombers and 29 Type 99 Light bombers. Assuming the position above the bombers the 64th Sentai departed for target. Weather along the way was bad and the formation encountered several storms – the trailing Type 99 Light bomber formations become dispersed and only 8 of them remained with the main force. The rest was spread along the route trying to re-assemble.
First in the Comilla area was 11th Sentai – and encountering 21 Hurricanes and 10 Warhawks quickly became engaged in a furious melee with three squadrons of RAF fighters and two squadrons of the USAAF. Both sides traded blows and many planes went to the ground their pilots dead or bailing out. Soon the 11th Sentai was forced to retreat from the area.
Next came the Navy with 26 of their Type 1 attackers and 19 Type 0 carrier fighters – only 5 Hurricanes and 1 Warhawks were able to oppose them – such was the good work of the 11th Sentai! Yet the allied fighters took their toll – having the advantage of speed and height they slashed into the Navy formation destroying one of the Type 0 fighters and 4 Type 1 attackers were turned to flying coffins with several more damaged before the intervening fighters drove them off. AA fire was accurate and accounted for another bomber before bomb release. The Navy bombers however stick to their bomb run and dropped accurately destroying several British Blenheim bombers on the ground.
About an hour later the 64th Sentai arrived with its charges – after the harrowing flight through the storms and half bomber size as planned they took over the job. Lt.Col. Ariyoshi N. leading the 2nd Chutai was flying alone behind and above his Chutai when a lone Hurricane fighter appeared and sneaked on him from behind. Before anybody could have warned him, his Hayabusa was riddled by bullets and leaving a smoking trail. He immediately turned for home nursing his plane back over the friendly lines before he was forced to bail out of the stricken plane. The daring Hurricane escaped. AA fire was even more accurate than before and accounted for one each of the heavy and light bombers and damaging a lot more. It was so thick one could have walked on it. But the bombers had not diverted from their target and bombed accurately.
A little later the ragged flock of 21 Type 99 Light bombers arrived – the ones that become separated from the main formation managed somehow to reform – although not into anything resembling a solid bombing formation. AA fire continued to be accurate and heavy damaging 6 planes, but the bombs were dropped on target. Several more enemy Blenheim bombers were destroyed and many more damaged.
Last over target was 1st Sentai – performing sweep that should have arrived before the bombers but delayed en route by the weather they swept the empty skies and covered the damaged and retreating bombers on way home.
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3rd Chutai at Meiktila - deprived of sleep and rest during the night kept the local CAP during the day, while the 59th Sentai flew away on their morning mission. As the day wore on, the 59th Sentai returned from their mission and their crews were in the middle of refueling and rearming their planes, the air raid was sounded. The 3rd Chutai, keeping the CAP duty and having 3 Hayabusas in the air, was immediately scrambled and vectored towards the enemy bombers. Flying at about 7000ft were 7 of the big 4 engine beasts with twin tails – American B-24 bombers called Liberators. Each of them carrying 10 heavy machine guns for the total of 70 was much more firepower than the 3rd Chutai could get into air.
The American formation was already on its bombing run when the first trio of Haybausas slashed into them from ahead and above. Even to this direction the American heavies were able to direct 21 machine guns – and their effect was soon felt by the Japanese pilots. Slashing through the formation they managed to damage 2 of the beasts, but in return the plane of the 2nd Lt. Makino C. leading the flight got riddled by bullets and started smoking. He quickly turned towards the airfield. The other two Hayabusas piloted by 2nd LT. Senda R. and WO Mitsumasa O. turned around to pursuit the Americans. Before they could get back to threaten the beasts, the Liberators released their bombs with deadly accuracy on the repair area – 2 of the 3rd Chutai Hayabusas in the shops were smashed along several of the planes from the 59th Sentai. Several more planes were damaged by blasts and flying fragments.
Rest of the 3rd Chutai was striving to reach altitude or even to take off amid the falling bombs – in all another 7 planes got into the air and started to pursuit the retreating American formation. Pilots were starting their attacks as soon as they reached suitable positions and came in uncoordinated. The accuracy of the American gunners was telling and their formation remained tight even when 4 of their planes suffered serious damage and several of their crews suffered casualties too. The Hayabusas were forced to turn back one after another – either the ammo run out, or the accurate defensive fire caused damage to their planes.
All pilots of the 3rd Chutai managed to return to base, but several of their planes were shot up pretty hard. Starting the day with 12 ready and 3 planes in maintenance they were down to 7 planes operational and 6 in repairs. Probably more important was that the repair shop was all but destroyed by the daring American attack. In the evening all flyable Hayabusas of the 3rd Chutai were sent back to Lashio – for rest and repairs.
A B-24D Liberator of the 7th Bomb Group:
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< Message edited by Barb -- 7/26/2017 6:40:34 AM >
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