76thFS/23rdFG Flight operations in Northern Burma 1943

[Oberst]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anybody had the P40 flight operation records of the
76thFS/23rdFG in Northern Burma during 1943.Doing some historical
research but cannot find much. Base of operations, engagements over
Northern Burma, enemy aircraft types engaged/spotted, etc. Thank you.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Chris Shores "Air War for Burma" published by Grub Street.
it is the 3rd in the Bloody Shambles series.
As I have book to hand so - noted on pages -
48,Notes combat on Wednesday 30th December 1942 by 2Lt. William E. DiStefano claimed a Zero s/d east of Lashio airfield and 1Lt. Mortimer D. Marks claimed a Zero damaged, No Japanese record of such encounters discovered.
49,Notes Saturday 2nd January 1943 Capt Jeffrey O. Wellborn claimed a "I-45" twin engined fighter s/d in the Bhamo/Myitkyina area.
423 Notes that the 23rd FG did not operate over Burma but was frequently in action against the JAAF units based there. Further that the 16th Squadron was attached from the 51st Fg in Assam until the latter unit moved to China. Aldo that in July/August 1943 the 449th Squadron was formed with P-38's but operated as an independent unit until the arrival of the 51st FG in China.

Not much but has a wealth of info on the overall situation and units involved.

There is also the www.armyairforces.com/forums website that may be of some help to you.

Alex

[Oberst]

Hello, and thanks for the information. I did find this from the 14th A/F:

Stations: Kunming, China, 4 Jul 1942; Kweilin, China, c. Sep 1943; Liuchow, China, 8 Sep 1944; Luiliang, China, 14 Sep 1944; Liuchow, China, Aug 1945; Hanchow, China, c. 10 Oct-12 Dec 1945

Commanders: Col Robert L. Scott Jr., 4 Jul 1942; Lt Col Bruce K. Holloway, 9 Jan 1943; Lt Col Norval C. Bonawitz, 16 Sep 1943; Col David L. Hill, 4 Nov 1943; Lt Col Philip C. Loofbourrow, 15 Oct 1944; Col Edward F. Rector, 12 Dec 1944-c. Dec 1945.

Aircraft: P-40, 1942-1944.

Operations: The 23 Fighter Group initially owed its planes, several of its pilots, and its nickname to Claire Chennault's American Volunteer Group, "The Flying Tigers." Upon activation, the group used the shark-nosed P-40s made famous by its predecessor. The group provided air defense for the Chinese terminus of the Hump route from India; conducted a campaign against Japanese aircraft, both in the air and on the ground, strafed and bombed Japanese forces, installations, and transportation; escorted bombers, and flew reconnaissance missions. It intercepted Japanese planes attempting to bomb Allied airfields; attacked Japanese airdromes; strafed and bombed river craft, troop concentrations, supply depots, and railroads; and protected bombers that attacked Hong Kong, Canton, Shanghai, and other targets. Its area of operations extended beyond China to Burma, French Indochina, and Formosa. The "Flying Tigers" operated against the Japanese during the enemy's drive toward Chansha and Chungking in May 1943 and supported Chinese forces during the Japanese offensive in the Tungting Hu region in Nov 1943. Despite bad weather and heavy flak, the group received a DUC for actions it took in the effort to halt a Japanese force that pushed down the Hsiang Valley in Jun 1944 by repeatedly striking boats, trucks, aircraft, troops, and other objectives. During the following spring, the group helped stop a Japanese offensive, then proceeded to bomb and strafe retreating enemy columns

[bearoutwest]

Hi Oberst,

Try sourcing a couple of books by Carl Molesworth:
a) Sharks over China - the 23rd FG in WW2,
b) Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 35 - P-40 Warhawk Aces of the CBI.

Both deal significantly with P-40 operations of the 23rd FG over Burma and China.

Regards,
...geoff

[Oberst]

Thanks, bought P-40 Warhawk Aces of the CBI from Amazon. Also a BIG thanks to drgondog for a wealth of information on 74/75/76th victories over Burma.

[bearoutwest]

Missed one off the list before:

Osprey Aviation Elite Units No31 - 23rd Fighter Group 'Chennault's Sharks"
- covers the period from the disbandment of the 1st AVG to the end of the war.

Regards,
...geoff

[knusel]

Originally Posted by Alex Smart

...
49,Notes Saturday 2nd January 1943 Capt Jeffrey O. Wellborn claimed a "I-45" twin engined fighter s/d in the Bhamo/Myitkyina area....

Good afternoon,

I think Wellborn's claim was scored in a P-43, not in a P-40 and his given name is spelled Jeffery.
I'm still looking for the other two P-43 claims of the USAAF.

Cheers,

Michael

[Edward]

"For the American P-43s the New Year began with a routine weather reconnaissance flight to Schwebo in Burma by a single P-43 of the 76th FS. A similar mission to Bhamo on January 2nd proved anything but routine. Capt. Jeffrey O. Wellborn was on his return flight when he encountered an "I-45." The Japanese aircraft was above the P-43 but Wellborn climbed on to its tail without being detected. Wellborn's first burst took the Japanese by surprise. The Japanese aircraft then attempted to escape by diving but Wellborn followed and shot the aircraft down in flames. Like Barnum in the P-43's first combat the previous August, Wellborn probably encountered a Japanese reconnaissance plane rather than an I-45 (Japanese designation, Type 2 two-seat fighter or Ki 45). It was quite a start to the New Year for the P-43 and Wellborn's only aerial victory."

"Republic P-43 Lancer and China's Air War"
by Richard L. Dunn © 2004
https://www.warbirdforum.com/richdunn.htm

[knusel]

"23rd Fighter Group: Chennault’s Sharks" by Carl Molesworth indicates that the 23. FG was the only group in the USAAF to register any combat claims in the P-43 and that Jeffery Wellborn's 2Jan1943 claim was the only confirmed Lancer victory of the war.
This omits that the P-43 was flown by the Chinese pilots Kao You-Hsin (two kills in the type) and Chow Chi-Kai (1 kill).

[Edward]

Michael,

I assume that you have a copy of Raymond Cheung's excellent book, Aces of the Republic of China Air Force (Osprey 2015).

Edward