Formosa 1942 Need Info

[Carl Schwamberger]

I've run across several second hand descriptions of the Japanese air forces on Formosa 8th Dec 1941. It appears the principle units were the IJN 11th Air Fleet & the IJA 5th Air Group, 400 aircraft is given as the nominal air strength.

The primary strike force was to have launched before dawn & struck the US airfields on Luzon shortly after dawn (06:00 - 07:00). A ground fog covered most or all of the airfields on Fomosa, & prevents the aircraft from taking off both for the air strike & for defense patrols against US bombers.

One Japanese strike group was able to take off shortly after dawn & attacked the small satellite airfields at Baguio & Tuguegaro with 32 bombers shortly after 09:00.

The remaining Japanese planes, including 192 aircraft of the 11th Air Fleet departed the Formosa airfields at approx 09:00 & reached the Manilia area at 12:00

Are there any experts here who can confirm or correct these items, and recommend some releiable sources for the Japanese airstrike? I am particulary curious about the weather condition that prevented the attack from departing on time. Information on the exact composition of the Japanese airforces on Formosa would be very welcome as well.

Thanks & Domo
Carl Schwamberger
Forum Staff