Baoshan, China - May 1942 - 'Maggot Bombs'

[Leendert]

In May 1942 Japanese bombers dropped so-called 'maggot bombs' on the Chinese town of Baoshan, west of Kunming and near the Burmese border.
The bombs contained cholera-infested flies that set off a regional epidemy with (hundreds of) thousands of fatalities as a result.
The infamous Unit 731 was all behind this, at the behest of their higher-ups.

Unfortunately Baoshan was not the only instance such insect warfare was waged in the China-Japan war.



Has it become known what Japanese bomber unit was tasked with the Baoshan bombings? Where did it operate from?



Thanks for any info.


Regards,


Leendert

[RSwank]

According to this it was the 94th Sentai flying K-21s flying from Mingaladon, Burma escorted by Ki-43s from the 64th Sentai that attacked on May 4. Charles Bond, (AVG) shot down one of the bombers.


https://books.google.com/books?id=Y7...201942&f=false

[Leendert]

Thanks, Rolland, for pointing me to that book with more details. Indeed, it was in another book dealing with the AVG that the Boashan disaster was described.


To all: a very fruitful 2020 for those seeking answers on this forum and for those who can provide them.


Regards,
Leendert

[Ryann1k2j]

Odd bit in that selection: "They were met by two AVG P-40s led by Charlie Bond....[Bond]was the only Flying tiger to get off the ground that day."

[RSwank]

Here is another account of the attack. This one says that two planes were on alert, ready to take off, but Bond was to only one to take off while the field was under attack. He then attacked the bombers by himself.

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/20...nds-air-duels/

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by RSwank

According to this it was the 94th Sentai flying K-21s flying from Mingaladon, Burma escorted by Ki-43s from the 64th Sentai that attacked on May 4. Charles Bond, (AVG) shot down one of the bombers.


https://books.google.com/books?id=Y7...201942&f=false

Rolland

Just in case someone does not bother to read the book page quoted, it was the 98th Sentai (which you of course know, but it is those darn fingers that fail everyone now and then...)

Cheers
Stig

[RSwank]

Stig, it is not just the fingers anymore, it is also the eyes...... ;-(

[Stig Jarlevik]

I see, you are my age then...

Well we all go down that road, don't we

Cheers
Stig