New Article "Zeros Over Southern China: Japan’s Forgotten Air War of 1943–1944"

[Edward]

"Zeros Over Southern China: Japan’s Forgotten Air War of 1943–1944"
by Richard L. Dunn

excerpt
"On 26 October [1943], 11th Bomb Squadron (BS) B-25s struck shipping at Hoihow in the morning without being intercepted. In the afternoon six more B25s carried out a low-level attack against shipping and Kiungshan airfield. The B-25s observed twelve aircraft on the field claiming a twin engine aircraft destroyed and a Zero damaged by strafing. Ten Zeros got up and at least two engaged the B-25s. A Zero pressed an attack on a B-25 from above, in front and slightly from the left (10 o’clock). Machine gun and cannon hits on the B-25’s right wing caused an explosion breaking off the wing just outside the engine nacelle. B-25D No. 41-30455 piloted by 2Lt. Herbert Hempe crashed into the sea. A second damaged B-25 crashed on the mainland while attempting to return to base. The Japanese fighters claimed two B-25s destroyed while a Japanese press report made it three crediting a combination of air and AA action. B-25s claimed a Zero probably destroyed. Two Zeros went down. After these losses Air Group 254 had sixteen Zeros of which only nine were operationally available. Six were overdue for depot overhaul (probably those inherited from the original Zero contingent) and could not be used operationally."

https://rldunn.com/zeros-over-southern-china/