PoW Convoy attacked off Moulmein 15-1-1943

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Here is what is said by the official USN chronology:

"USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese convoy, sinking army cargo ship Nichimei Maru and damaging army cargo ship Moji Maru, about 200 miles south-southwest of Rangoon, Burma, 13°30'N, 97°30'E. Unknown to the aviators, Nichimei Maru is transporting Allied POWs, 500 of whom are lost. "

Source:
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/...hron-1943.html

AFAIK, B-24s in this area on this date should belong to 7th BG, and bingo, here is what is written in the book ""7th Bombardment Group/Wing, 1918-1995", by Robert F. Dorr:

"On 15 January 1943, seven B-24s of 9th BS, 7th BG, took off from "Panda" airfield at 5.30 a.m. to search for Japanese shipping south of Rangoon. One bomber aborted,; and six pressed on. Each bomber carried nine 500-lb demolition bombs. The crews sighted two merchant vessels and a sub chaser and made runs on the three ships, sinking one and damaging another. Antiaircraft fire was described as "... low and ineefective...," no Japanese aircraft were seen, and no B-24s were lost. This was a typical trip to Rangoon, lasting twelve hours thirty minutes, with the bombers recovering at 6:00 p.m."

The book then continued by saying that the attacked ships were carrying prisoners and that 'Tokyo Rose' admitted some days later the loss of the ship but also said to the American pilots that they had killed scores of POWs.

By the way, "Panda" = Pandasewar air base, India

More details on the attack here: http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources...vements_1.html

Rather curiously, the TROM of the escort vessel, CH-8, said both Japanese ships were carrying IJA troops:

9 January 1943:
CH-8 departs Singapore for Rangoon, Burma with auxiliary netlayer CHOKO MARU escorting convoy S-23 consisting of MOJI and NICHIMEI MARUs carrying IJA troops.


15 January 1943:
170 miles NW of Mergui, Burma. Convoy S-23 is attacked several times by Allied bombers. NICHIMEI MARU suffers several bomb hits and near misses. At 1550, she sinks. 97 troops and five crewmen and gunners are lost.

Source:
http://www.combinedfleet.com/CH-8_t.htm

Truth is probably that both IJA troops and POWs were aboard ???