Lampang Airport: 1944

Lampang Airport
1. Lampang Airport
2. Lampang Airport: 1943
3. Lampang Airport: 1944
4. Lampang Airport: 1945
5. Lampang Airport: Casualties
6. Lampang Airport: Appendices

1944

03 Jan 1944: CBI – THEATER OF OPERATIONS – CHINA (14AF): In China, 28 B-24s attacked the railroad yards at Lampang.1

This was the second major attack on the Lampang rail yards in four days.

This flight was escorted by two USAAF 449th Fighter Squadron P-38 Lightnings. Four Thai fighters sent up did not engage.2

09 Jan 1944: In the first record currently available of an Allied surveillance aircraft overflight of Lampang, a USAAF P-38 (F-5A) outfitted with aerial photo equipment recorded the area from 26,000 feet (8000 m) at 1535 hrs:3

The flight path, as determined by the target locations, followed the railroad — aside from Ko Kha, a satellite airstrip about 13 km southwest of the Lampang airport. No aerial photography related to this report has been found as of 30 September 2013.

Allied intel’s Airfield Report for January 1944 included only this information about Lampang — an airfield miniature summary:4

Note that “Shelters” had increased from 32+ reported in October 1943, to 37 reported in November 1943 to 49 here in January 1944. The increase was in keeping with this observation noted in the January 1944 Airfield Report:5

As with previous corrections noted, it is unfortunately unclear which previous report this was intended to corrected.


24 January 1944: An overflight observed no aircraft on this date, per a note in a report previously shown here which had consolidated several observations.

01 Feb 1944: This sketch of Lampang Airfield has been reoriented so that north is to the top of the page (the north arrow on the sketch is in error). Applicable notes from the bottom of the original sketch follow; coding in the map sketch is incomplete as stated on the last line. Annotations merely clarify hard-to-read text in the sketch.6

((ibid, extract, rotated.))

Comment:

One sentai of light bombers: “up to 30 aircraft”.7

Note 5, “Completion of approach road and shelters scheduled for 2 March” strongly implies that there was an intelligence source on the ground.

Note that the sketch here does not conform well with that of the “miniature” near the top of this page, nor the aerial photos dated 22 October 1943 and 25 December 1943. The sketch’s crudity, and its lack of similarity to aerial photos and other sketches, suggests again that the information for it was provided by an on-the-ground source.

07 Feb 1944: Aerial photos were taken at Lampang plus about 85 km along the roadway north (Phahonyothin Road (future Thai Route 1)) to Ngao8 (N18°45.6 E99°59.2)9 , this the road to the border crossing into Burma at Mae Sai / Tachilek (in all, about 290 km distant from Lampang):1011

Sighting activity on the ground similar to this from the air may have initiated the order for surveillance of the road north from Lampang:12

The Allied intel monthly report on enemy airstrips noted that, though only one “small” aircraft was recorded as observed, construction work continued:13

24 Feb 1944: Lampang was cloud-covered this day for aerial photo purposes:14

26 Feb 1944: Aerial photos were taken of Lampang A/D (airdrome) and Lampang (presumably the city):15

28 March 1944: Construction activity at Lampang appeared to have been quite intense when this observation was made. Most important potentially was the appearance of a separate airstrip newly under construction 1,200 yards (1,100 m) to the ESE of the south end of the existing runway; however, this was never mentioned again and might have been referring to one leg of an extensive taxiway / “taxi track” system to the east of the north-south runway:16

No orientation was given for that “new strip”: if it were a new strip and not a taxiway, it might have been intended as a parallel runway, the philosophy of which was described by Allied intel here.

Note that resurfacing was clarified in the next month’s report with the runway surface defined as “rolled earth“; probably “resurfacing” for the dirt runway consisted of “smoothing”; ie, low spots and rutting were filled in, fill edges were feathered out, and the whole of the runway was then rolled. It is curious that such work was performed just prior to the onset of the rainy season; normally such remedial work was conducted after the ravages of a rainy season. This therefore might have been done in anticipation of providing support for the IJA’s imminent attempt to invade India.

April 1944

The Airfield Report for April included some substantial analyses. Regarding Lampang were “Comments on Current Development”, which offered some perspective on local conditions in Thailand:17

TRANSCRIPT (of relevant portion):

The . . . main [feature] of aircraft intelligence on Thailand over the last month has been . . . the steady preparation of maintenance work on their main base prior to the southwest monsoon season. This has been noted at Don Muang, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Nakorn Sawan, Koko Kathien, Phitsanulok, and Uttaradit. . . .

From this, it would appear that Allied intelligence was attributing maintenance work on airfields solely to anticipated weather.

However, that view was modified on the next page of the report in an analysis titled “Review of Airfield Development in Thailand”:18

TRANSCRIPT of relevant parts, (emphasis mine):

By November 1943 evidence began to accumulate that the enemy were paying greater attention to their Thailand bases. Their Burma positions had been consolidated and with the threat of the increased pressure which it must have been anticipated the Allies could apply, it was apparent that some secondary form of defence line was necessary, not only because of the possibility of relinquishing territory in Burma, but also to accommodate such increased air strength as they might consider necessary for employment in operations either planned or threatened. . . .

. . . Between these two important bases [of Chiang Mai and Bangkok] and along the railway which provides facilities from the one to the other, has been the area of steady and progressive development and this does in fact constitute the main Thailand line of airfields. At the northern end, in close proximity to Chiang Mai, Lampang and Ko Kha [runways] have been extended and additional facilities have been provided. . . .

This then constitutes the position as it appears today, though it is considered that this is not necessarily a complete picture and that it is but the commencement of the Japanese objective. The Chiang Mai group of airfields is bound to be strengthened in view of its strategic position for providing air cover over Rangoon and the whole of the Irrawaddy Valley . . . .

Note that this review was prepared before the IJA’s not defensive effort, but rather its offensive began with its attempt to invade India. At the mentioned date, November 1943, Lampang had just been designated a transfer point for troops and supplies moving towards the invasion point in Burma — north by rail from Bangkok to Lampang; thereafter by foot or vehicle on the road north through the Thai-Burma border towns, Mae Sai and Tachilek; on to Kengtung in Burma; and then west to assembly points for the IJA invasion of India.

While evaluating Thai airfield improvements as possibly to “accommodate . . . increased air strength”, Allied intelligence, in noting the many aircraft at Bangkok at this time, seemed to fail to consider the consistent lack of aircraft reported on airfields in the northwest of Thailand: for example, despite 32 aircraft shelters at Ko Kha, no aircraft were ever sighted there. Having 50 shelters, Lampang was never recorded with many aircraft sighted, save for 15 November 1943 (and this dearth continued with the next report, of 21 April 1944, though this would apparently have been a testimony to the success of the RTAF, and possibly the IJAAF, in hiding aircraft since RTAF Squadrons 11, 12, 16, and 62 plus possible IJAAF units were located there). The point here is that Allied intel did not seem aware of an absolute decrease in number of IJAAF aircraft because of an inability of Japanese factories to produce sufficient aircraft to replace those lost in battle.

An important concept was first presented here, “the main Thailand line of airfields”. It would first be graphically presented in October 1944’s Airfield Report.

21 April 1944: Surveillance was becoming more consistent and never found more than “two or three aircraft” at Lampang:19

Numerous improvements were being implemented at the airfield; four more aircraft shelters had been added to bring the total to 54:20

24 Apr 1944: Lampang was “covered” by aerial photography:21

30 April 1944

In the April Airfield Report was a more formal and detailed presentation about the facility, evidencing a growing sophistication in Allied intelligence gathering and reporting:22


A key detail to note: the 28 March 1944 report described “resurfacing” in progress, which this report a month later clarified: the surface was “rolled earth” and “unserviceable in rainy season”. Curiously, the Ko Kha airstrip, assumed by Allied intel to be a satellite of Lampang, was “metalled”; ie, surfaced with crushed stone, and truly all-weather.23

“The original ENE-WSW runway”, said to have been abandoned in the Remarks: there is no specific information currently available about that original runway and its alignment, though that information can be inferred, as indicated in the March 1940 entry here. The earlier mention of a ENE-WSW runway said that it had been “probably abandoned” [in] October 1943″ and attributed it to a Japanese effort, not a Thai effort (and ironically the ENE-WSW runway next appears in January 1945 with remark “revived and extended” with a length of 1400 yards under construction).

May 1944

Detailing of airfield improvements continued in Allied reporting:2425

TRANSCRIPT of second report above:

Red earth, with patches of rough grass; f/w [fair weather].
Runway being hard-surfaced; believed a/w [all weather].
Rolled earth strip u/c [under construction] 3600′ ESE of S end of runway.
([Date of observations] May 44).

15 May 1944:Five anti-aircraft emplacements were noted around the airfield, only two of which were evaluated as armed:26

25 May 1944: Construction of an additional two new anti-aircraft gun emplacements (numbers 6 and 7) was recorded, neither one armed.27

While the locations may appear well defined, they suffer from three major sources of error:

1. The south end of the runway is used as a reference point in locating six of the seven emplacements. The south end is itself not clearly defined.

2. Distances appear to be stated to the nearest 50 yard increment, that is, ±25 yards. To give that some perspective, the width between painted margins on the current runway at Lampang measures 13 yards; so, accuracy is plus or minus two runway widths.

3. The bearings are measured from true north; however, with the bearing of the runway assumed constant and with a current true bearing of 355°, per Google Earth, a comparison of north arrows among different views of the airfield finds significant differences between what is used as “true” north.28

28 May 1944: It is not clear whether two aircraft were observed, one on 25 April and the other on 15 May; or whether both aircraft were seen on those two dates:16

29 May 1944: Report of an aerial photo operation which overflew Lampang, among other locations:29

June 1944

Attack on Lampang: With date unspecified, the following series of three photos titled “War Theatre #11 (Lampang A/F, Thailand) – BOMBING” was released for publication on 23 June 1944.30) Photos have been reoriented with approximate north towards the top of the page and scales standardized amongst the three.

Location of the three is in the area of the north end of the current N-S runway as outlined below in white, which seems to coincide with that of the WW2 runway:31

Photo 1 of 3: Original caption: Lampang Airfield, Thailand was target for one of the 7th Group’s most effective missions. Two squadrons were briefed to bomb parking area [at lower left], third, runways, and fourth, installations at end of runway [upper right].((Photo and caption source: NARA Reference Number: 342-FH-3A04832-51516AC via Fold3: Lampang Airfield, Thailand.))

Photo 2 of 3: Original caption: Bombing of Lampang Airfield, Thailand.32

Photo 3 of 3: Original caption: Bombing of Lampang Airfield, Thailand after last two squadrons had attacked. Installation and runway had been neatly pinpointed. The long shadows, noticeable particularly in the third photo, indicate the attack occurred quite late in the afternoon.33

 

The various features in the three photos above, looking similar to “U” or “V” in different orientations, were aircraft shelters. For further analysis of the detail in the photos, see discussion under January 1945.

Here is a substantial enlargement from one of the aerial photos above of a typical aircraft shelter:34

Curiously, the USAAF Chronology for 1944 does not mention any activity near this time around Lampang.

July 1944

Per Japanese Monograph No 177, “Outline of Army Disposition in July 1944”:

161st Independent Infantry Battalion [was] stationed at Lampang in Northern Thailand and responsible for security in the area. . . .35

17 August 1944: Improvements continued at the Lampang airfield:36

TRANSCRIPT:

Lampang Airfield:

Activity: No aircraft observed. (17/8/44)

Development: Resurfacing and rolling at the north end of the runway have been carried out since the middle of May. New tracks have been cleared and partly rolled to the east of the runway to form loops linking the north end of the site with the centre and southern end. Several lengths of taxi tracks have been re-rolled in the southeast dispersals. (17/8/44)


16 September 1944: an aerial photo aircraft overflew Lampang, but “cloud cover” prevented photography:37

22 September 1944: While the aerial photo mission targeted Lampang town and airport, it reported photographing a railroad bridge south of the town (1140 hrs) plus the airfield (1155 hrs):38

26 September 1944: The Allied Intel monthly report again recorded continuing routine maintenance:39

TRANSCRIPT:

Lampang Airfield

Development: Post-monsoon airfield reclamation work in progress. E-W runway being rolled. (26/SEPT/44)

October 1944

Allied intelligence views of Japanese strategy had been presented in April 1944 and, though written before the IJA failed attack at Kohima and Imphal in India, it had been prescient and the term, “main Thailand line of airfields”, had been introduced to describe a potential IJA line of support for Burma and defense from Allied air attacks. Clarification in the form of a map entitled “Thailand Line of Airfields” only appeared six months later in the October Airfield Report:40

The map itself in more detail:41

A closer view of northwest Thailand in that map:41

The information block for Lampang on the “Thailand Line” map reads:41

Transcript:

LAMPANG AF

N-S 1950 yards
ENE-WSW 1200 yards u/c [under construction] N-S Runway surfaced [with what is not clear] Cat: B [Category B: believed all weather] 54 A/C [aircraft] shelters

Considerably developed over recent month. Well equipped and operational to all types of enemy aircraft

Note that “Shelters” had not increased from the 54 noted in 21 April 1944 above.

22 October 1944: The Allies’ monthly report on enemy air facilities implied that the lack of aircraft observed at Lampang was a function of “infrequent” coverage during the month. Work to repair rainy season damage was seen to continue:42


25 October 1944: a USAAF aerial photo outfitted P-38 (F-5E) photographed Lampang “city” (1325 hrs):43

26 October 1944: a USAAF aerial photo outfitted P-38 (F-5E) assigned to photograph Lampang was prevented by “overcast”:44

05 November 1944: A USAAF reconnaissance aircraft crashed in bad weather near Lampang with pilot, Franklin McKinney, apparently killed.45

The USAAF Chronology showed no activity around Lampang on this date.

11 November 1944

On this date, Allied intelligence generated a detailed map sketch of Lampang Airfield, which it published in the January 1945 issue of Airfield Reports.46

From the USAAF Chronology:

CBI – THEATER OF OPERATIONS – CHINA (14AF): . . . 70+ P-40s, P-51s and P-38s over S China and N Indochina on armed reconnaissance hit targets of opportunity at several locations, concentrating on Lampang, Thailand, and the Changsha, Lingling, and Hengyang, China areas.47

The USAAF strafed and damaged a locomotive between Chiang Mai and Ban Dara; then strafed the Lampang Airfield.48 Five Ki-27s from RTAF Squadron 16 at Lampang engaged them. In one dogfight, RTAF CWO Chuladit Detkanchorn49 was credited with the shootdown of a P-51. Two P-51s were damaged. All five Thai aircraft were shot down; four of the pilots were wounded, and one, CWO Nat Sunthorn, was killed.50

A USAAF fighter aircraft (the P-51 reported shot down above) was apparently downed in a dogfight near Lampang with pilot, Henry Minco, killed. 51

Young summarized:

The American fighters flew ten more missions over northern Thailand during the month [November 1944], and on five of these they strafed the airfields at Chiang Mai, Lampang, and Chiang Rai.52

The Airfield Report for the month recorded for 11 November 1944:5354

The RTAF reported downing four enemy fighter aircraft this date; one each in:

Lampang
Phayao
Chiang Rai
Shan State55

14 November 1944: Attack on Lampang:56

TRANSCRIPT:

12 Beau [Beaufighters] attacked enemy communication lines in Chiang Mai-Lampang area . . .

15 November 1944: Another detailed report on the airfield, with little new information, but with format further sophisticated: the report appears to have been printed, in contrast to the previous report (30 April 1944), which had been typed and probably mimeographed.57

There appears to be an inconsistency here: with a surface of “rolled earth”, the serviceability was nonetheless “believed all-weather”. Elsewhere “metalled” surfaces generally seemed to have been the only type rated “all-weather”.

23 November 1944

Information about the photo reads in part:58

Salbani, Bengal, India. 1944-11-23. Informal group portrait of RAAF members of No. 355 (Liberator) Squadron RAF being briefed by Wing Commander (Wg Cdr) J. Martin DFC, RAF, for a mission against Lampang, railhead for the road running into the Shan States through Chiengmai in Thailand.

The above description of the mission is somewhat garbled: Lampang was the target. However, the railhead for the Thai Railway was at Chiang Mai, north of Lampang. Nonetheless, the main road connecting to the Shan States, ie, Kengtung, ran north from Lampang through Mai Sai, not Chiang Mai.

25 November 1944: From USAAF Chronology:

25 November 1944: CBI – THEATER OF OPERATIONS – CHINA (14AF): . . . 75 P-40s, P-51s, and P-38s on armed reconnaissance attack river, road, and rail traffic, troops, buildings, and other targets of opportunity at several Thailand, Burma, S China, and N French Indochina locations, including areas around Bhre [Phrae] and Lampang, Thailand . . . .47

 

27 November 1944

TRANSCRIPT, as relevant:59

THAILAND AREA:

15 Liberators dropped 39 tons bombs over loco [locomotive] sheds — Chiang Mai-Lampang area causing large fires. Meager and inaccurate light AA [anti-aircraft fire] encountered . . . .

27 November 1944: CBI – THEATER OF OPERATIONS – CHINA (14AF): . . . 56 P-40s, P-51s, and P-38s on armed reconnaissance over E Burma, N French Indochina, and vast areas of S China attack town areas, railroad targets, bridges and other targets of opportunity around Lampang, Thailand . . . .47

30 November 1944: Five P-38s and four P-51s destroyed what was possibly a Squadron 62 Ki-21 heavy bomber while strafing the Lampang Airfield.60

December 1944

Young summarized:

. . . Allied air raids continued into December, with fighters and heavy bombers flying twelve missions, there were no further encounters with the Thai Air Force.61

03 December 1944

The relevant text above reads:62

Rail targets at . . . the Chiengmai-Lampang rail sections were attacked by RAF Liberators. . . .

07 December 1944: Circumstantial evidence indicates that a USAAF P-51 crashed in the Lampang area with pilot, Thomas Ankrim, killed.63

The USAAF chronology recorded no action over Thailand on 07 December 1944.47

08 December 1944: Japanese Monograph No 177 recalled:

. . . the [IJA] Southern Army received orders from Imperial General Headquarters to reorganize the Thailand Garrison Army into the 39th Army. On the same day, the Thailand Garrison Army was redesignated the 39th Army with no change in mission.64

26 December 1944: From USAAF Chronology:

26 December 1944: CBI – THEATER OF OPERATIONS – CHINA (14AF): . . . 46 P-51s, P-38s, and P-40s hit railroad targets, shipping, storage and other targets of opportunity at or near Kinkiang, Anking, and Ka-chun, China; Lampang, Thailand . . . .47

31 December 1944: An area map led the report on the airfield at the end of 1944:65

TRANSCRIPT:

Coordinates — 18°16N; 99°31E
Altitude (feet above mean sea level) — 900 (approximately)
Map Reference — Siam 1/4″ NE-47J
Local Position and Landmarks — 1 mile south of Lampang town and 1‑1/2 miles east of Lampang railway station. Wang River runs through town. Railway 1‑1/2 miles southwest of airfield runs NW-SE, crossing the river 1/2 mile west of station from which runs a main road east. Peak height of 2904 feet 4 miles east.
Landing Area (dimensions in feet) — Runway and strip in X formation:
Runway: N-S 5250 x 240   Strip ENE-WSW 4200 x 150
Obstructions —
Surface — Runway probably metaled, strip rolled earth.
Serviceability — Serviceable in dry weather only. Heavy rains during SW monsoon, May to October.
Installations —
     (a) Administration and Living Accommodations — Many airfield
buildings. Living accommodations in airfield barracks.
(b) Hangars and Workshops —
(c) Storage —
(i) Fuel and Oil — In blast shelters.
(ii) Bomb and Ammunition — In blast shelters.
(iii) General Stores — In blast shelters.
     (d) Telephone, W/T, Signals, etc —
(e) Night Landing —
(f) Water —
Aircraft Dispersal —
(a) Dispersal Areas —
Local: Meager.
   Southeast: Moderate.
  Southwest: Extensive.
     (b) Aircraft Shelters: — See “Record of Major Development”
overleaf.
Defenses — See current report on “Japanese AA Defenses”
Access —
(a) Rail — Nearest railway station Lampang (1 1/2 miles west)
on main Bangkok-Chiang Mai railway.
(b) Road — First-class road NNE to Chiang Mai and SSW to [Ko Kha].
(c) Water — Wang River

Last Updated on 8 February 2024

  1. The Official Chronology of the US Army Airforce in World War II: 1944. (hereafter USAAF Chrono 1944). [↩]
  2. Young, ibid, p 201. [↩]
  3. 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (hereafter 21PRS) Report Mission No. 13-4A, 09 Jan 1944 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A0878 p 0197). The aerial photo reconnaissance reports included here record coverage of Lampang by only the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (21PRS) starting in January 1944. Other Allied units provided similar coverage, but their flight records have not yet been released (Nov 2012). [↩]
  4. Airfield Report No. 18, Jan 1944, unnumbered page (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 p 422). [↩]
  5. Airfield Report No. 18, Jan 1944, p 36 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 p 475). [↩]
  6. Publication No. 3.II: Plans of Airfields in French Indo-China and Siam, (?: Southeast Asia Translation and Interrogation Center 30 Nov 1944), unnumbered page (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8023 p 454). Maps are reoriented as necessary so that north is “up” the page to ease comparison amongst all maps. [↩]
  7. Wikipedia, Imperial Japanese Army Air Service: Operational Organization. [↩]
  8. Aka Luangnuea, LuangNua (Thailand Operations Record, Japanese Monograph No 177 (Washington: Department of the Army, 1953?), p iii; Ban Luang Nua (Weekly Intelligence Summary, No. 30 (?: Headquarters Eastern Air Command, 30 Mar 1945), p 22 also Wang Neua (source?). This note added 29 Nov 2013. [↩]
  9. Coordinates from Google Earth [↩]
  10. Distances per A2Z Atlas of Northern Thailand (Bangkok: PN Map Center, 2006), pp 2, 16. [↩]
  11. 21PRS Report Mission No. 14/6 A, 07 Feb 1944 (USAF archive microfilm reel A0878 p 0155). [↩]

  12. Photo from Axis History Forum. Wisarut Bholsithi in that forum on 21 Jun 2004 suggested the probable locale for the photo: the main road between Lampang and Mae Sai on the border with Burma.

    He also indicated that the work pictured would likely have occurred during 1942-1943 to facilitate RTA troop movement to the eastern part of Shan State in 1942 and IJA troop movement beginning in Nov 1943 towards western Burma in support of its attempted invasion of India in early 1944.

    No aerial photo flight reports are currently available prior to Jan 1944; so this report was perhaps a continuation of an effort to monitor activity along the road. On the other hand, no mention of such activity is made in any Allied report (currently available) prior to this time.

    [↩]

  13. Airfield Report No. 19, Feb 1944, p 24 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 p 524). The “small” aircraft periodically recorded might have been a mail plane that connected Lampang, RTA facilities in Burma, and Bangkok in the south via Phrae and Phitsanulok, described by Young, ibid, p 216. [↩]
  14. 21PRS Report Mission No. 14/22 A, 24 Feb 1944 (USAF archive microfilm reel A0878 p 0122). [↩]
  15. 21PRS Report Mission No. 14/23 A, 26 Feb 1944 (USAF archive microfilm reel A0878 p 0118). [↩]
  16. Airfield Report No. 22, May 1944, p 14 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 p 752). [↩] [↩]
  17. Airfield Report No. 21, Apr 1944, p 3 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 p 679). [↩]
  18. Airfield Report No. 21, Apr 1944, p 3 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 pp 0680-0688). [↩]
  19. Airfield Report No. 21, Apr 1944, p XVII (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 p 0713). [↩]
  20. Airfield Report No. 22, May 1944, p 14 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 p 0752). [↩]
  21. 21PRS Report Mission No. 4 MA 62, 24 Apr 1944 (USAF archive microfilm reel A0878 p 0050). [↩]
  22. Airfield Report No. 21, Apr 1944, unnumbered page (USAF archive microfilm reel A8055 p 0669). [↩]
  23. Definition of the term, “metalled road” is discussed here in Notes column. [↩]
  24. Airfield Report No. 22, May 1944, p III (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 p 728). [↩]
  25. Provisional Airfield List: Southeast Asia, Enemy Airfield Information, Report No. 3 (Washington: Office of Assistant Chief of Air Staff, 2? Jul 1944) p 62 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A1284 p1412 (rpt start p1349) [↩]
  26. “Thailand: Alphabetical List of Main Target Areas”, Record of Japanese Anti Aircraft Defenses, (?: CIO, HQ, AC, SEA, Jul 1944 ?), unnumbered page – USAF Archive microfilm reel A8063 p 399. Quality of accompanying aerial photo on p 400 too poor to reproduce. [↩]
  27. “Amendments to Target Areas”, Record of Japanese Anti Aircraft Defenses, (?: CIO, HQ, AC, SEA, Jul 1944(?), p 5 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8063 p 168). [↩]

  28. In the late 1960s, I enjoyed hiking in the mountains overlooking Japan’s Inland Sea from Iwakuni to Hiroshima. One of those hikes took me to an overlook above Hiroshima where I found concrete foundations for an anti-aircraft battery.

    I had hoped that such might be visible here, but the locations provided are nebulous. Also, cement was not common in northern Thailand at that time, as evidenced by the lack of concrete roads and runways.

    Further, AA field units would probably have been used and these were designed to be secured on raw earth with stakes:

    Hence there would be no evidence to be seen on the ground today.

    (Photo: Handbook Japanese Military Forces (Washington: USGPO, 1944), reprint: Isby, David and Jeffrey Ethell – Baton Route: Louisiana State University Press, 1991, p 236

    [↩]

  29. 21PRS Report Mission No. 4 MA 72, 29 May 1944 (USAF archive microfilm reel A0878, p 10). [↩]

  30. Pantip website incorrectly uses “23 June 1944” to date the event. The back of the photo reads:

    Rel for Pub [released for publication] BPR [?] 23 Jun 44 (1) WD.

    (Note added 14 Apr 2014)

    [↩]

  31. Image consists of: Google Earth Imagery data: 22 April 2010 ©2012 TeleAtlas Image ©2012 GeoEye N18°16.9′ E99°30.20 Eye alt 12.63 km Annotation with rectangular overlay by author using Microsoft Publisher. [↩]
  32. Photo and caption source: NARA Reference Number: 342-FH-3A04833-51517AC via Fold3: Bombing of Lampang Airfield, Thailand.. [↩]
  33. Photo and caption source: NARA Reference Number: 342-FH-3A04834-A51517AC via Fold3: Bombing of Lampang. [↩]
  34. Extract from aerial photo recorded in note 1 of 3 above; annotation added with Microsoft Publisher. [↩]
  35. Japanese Monograph No 177, p 15. It is not clear when this assignment in Lampang began: the battalion is listed as early as Nov 1943 as having been part of the 29th Independent Mixed Brigade, within Thailand (p 13) which became part of the Thailand Garrison Army in January 1944 (p 14). [↩]
  36. “Record of Airfield Activity and Development”, Airfield Report No. 25, Aug 1944, p 8 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 p0863). [↩]
  37. 21PRS Report Mission No. 4 MA 115, 16 Sep 1944 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A0878 p0441). [↩]
  38. 36b.^ 21PRS Report Mission No. 4 MA 118, 22 Sep 1944 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A0878 p0476). [↩]
  39. “Record of Airfield Activity and Development”, Airfield Report No. 25, Aug 1944, p 8 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 p0988). [↩]
  40. Airfield Report No. 27 (Oct 1944), facing p ii (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 pp0999-1002) [↩]
  41. ibid (excerpt). [↩] [↩] [↩]
  42. Airfield Report No. 27, Oct 1944, p 14 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 p1019). [↩]
  43. 21PRS Report Mission No. 4 MA 132, 25 Oct 1944 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A0878 p0551). [↩]
  44. 21PRS Report Mission No. 4 MA 133, 26 Oct 1944 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A0878 p0552). [↩]
  45. For details, see McKinney. Enquiries are in progress. [↩]
  46. The map sketch is presented and discussed at considerable length under Jan 1945 (when it was presented) in order to preserve the continuity of comparatively intense activity here. [↩]
  47. USAAF Chrono 1944. [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
  48. J-aircraft notes a single engined aircraft destroyed on the runway
    (Japanese aircraft in RTAF and RTN service during WWII). [↩]
  49. Identified as Kamrob Plengkham in Royal Thai Air Force Museum Paintings which include a rendering of the air battle. [↩]
  50. Young, ibid, p 205. Both RTAF 1913-1983 (p 330) and RTAF WW2 (p 164) date this encounter as 17 Nov 1944; further, both RTAF histories identify RTAF aircraft as Ki‑61‑1‑Otsus. Assignment by the IJAAF of Ki-61s to the RTAF is not confirmed by any other source. [↩]

  51. For details, see Minco.

    [↩]

  52. Young, ibid. [↩]
  53. Record of Airfield Development and Activity”, Airfield Report No. 28, Nov 1944, p 8 (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 p1133). [↩]
  54. Photographic Interpretation Review No. LB/4, (?: CPIC, SEA, 01 ‑ 15 Dec 1944), unnumbered page (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8056 p0607). [↩]
  55. RTAF WW2, p 165.
    RTAF histories both date this activity as occurring on 17 Nov 1944; however other sources date the same circumstances as 11 Nov 1944. The digit that varies is 1 or 7, and Thais differentiate the two primarily by “crossing” the 7; perhaps a transcriber early on inadvertently “crossed” his “1”.

    If the date were 11 Nov, then the pilot downed at Lampang was Minco. Verification of downed aircraft at the three other locations has not been found in any other source.

    [↩]

  56. Summary for 14 November 1944: Brief of Principal Air Operations Reported (?: ), unnumbered page (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8202 p0356). [↩]
  57. Airfield Report No. 28, Nov 1944, unnumbered page (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8055 p1083). [↩]
  58. Photo and text from Salbani, Bengal, India, Australian War Memorial website. “Copyright expired”. [↩]
  59. Summary for 27 November 1944: Brief of Principal Air Operations Reported (?:), unnumbered page (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8202 p0339). [↩]
  60. Young, ibid, p 205. [↩]
  61. ibid. [↩]
  62. Summary for 03 December 1944: Brief of Principal Air Operations Reported (?: ), unnumbered page (USAF Archive microfilm reel A8202 p0331). [↩]
  63. For details, see Ankrim. [↩]
  64. Japanese Monograph No 177: Thailand Operations Record, p 19. [↩]
  65. Siam (Thailand): List of Airfields and Seaplane Stations (Washington: Office of Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence, 1945), unnumbered page (USAF Archives microfilm reel A1285 pp1221-1223). Information is dated in pages following as 31 Dec 1944. [↩]

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