New Research on Air War over China, Burma & India

[Edward]

Author Richard L. Dunn was recently written several articles on the air war in the CBI theater using primary source records (ATIS documents and Japanese air crew interrogation reports) to tell the stores of aerial combat over China, Burma and India during WWII.

Highest recommendation and all free.

"The Last Mission of Lieutenant Noriyuki Saito"
July 3, 2025
This article focuses on one pilot’s story—Lt. Noriyuki Saito, a Japanese fighter pilot who flew missions over Burma during WWII. Through his experience, we gain rare perspective and insight into the other side of the Burma air war.

"The Hankow Warhawks – Japanese Exploitation of Captured Aircraft"
December 5, 2024
The story of captured Allied aircraft in Japanese hands offers a fascinating glimpse into the improvisation and ingenuity necessitated by wartime constraints. Among these tales, the saga of the Hankow Warhawks—a squadron of P-40Ks abandoned on a Yangtze River sandbank and subsequently seized by Japanese forces—stands out for its blend of adventure, technological exploitation, and symbolic significance. This episode, set against the backdrop of shifting air combat dynamics in China during 1943, highlights how Japan’s tactical and strategic decisions were influenced not only by the acquisition of Allied equipment but also by the lessons learned from their use. From the dramatic recovery of these aircraft to their mysterious fate in Hankow, this article underscores the broader theme of how captured aircraft shaped the intelligence, tactics, and propaganda efforts of the war in the Pacific.

"The B-24 Liberator in Chinese Skies – Summer 1943"
Nov 27, 2024
The B-24 Liberator in China played a pivotal role in shaping the air campaigns of World War II, particularly during the summer of 1943. As one of the most versatile and far-reaching bombers in the Allied arsenal, the B-24 conducted daring missions over enemy targets, showcasing its unmatched range and defensive power. Operating under the Fourteenth Air Force, these bombers struck key Japanese strongholds, challenged advanced fighter tactics, and demonstrated their strategic importance in the Pacific Theater. This article delves into the lesser-known exploits of the B-24 in Chinese skies, highlighting its contribution to the Allied war effort and its encounters with fierce Japanese resistance.

"Japanese Air Raid on Calcutta – December 1943"
The Japanese air raid on Calcutta, India on December 5, 1943, while perhaps not of immense importance compared to many other events of World War Two, provides interesting perspective on the forces and tactics of the combatants in southeast Asia during the war. In the first half of 1942 the Japanese drove British and Chinese forces out of Britain’s colonial possession Burma (current Myanmar) to the borders of India. During Burma’s rainy or Monsoon season (mid-May through October) air operations were curtailed. Until the closing months of 1942 neither side was able to press vigorous ground operations. Air operations to interfere with the enemy’s lines of communication and attack strong points were conducted by both sides. The Allies (R.A.F. Air Headquarters India and U.S. 10th Air Force) intensified their attacks on Rangoon (Yangon), Burma’s most important port and supply center. In December 1942 with British forces having initiated an offensive from southeastern India toward Akyab (Sittwe) on the coast of Burma the Japanese decided to reciprocate with attacks on Calcutta (Kolkata).

"Part 2: The Myth of the Spitfire – The Spitfire Over Burma"
October 22, 2024
Continuing the story of the Spitfire in the Asia-Pacific, this article reviews the Spitfire in combat with Japanese army Type 1 fighters over India and Burma in late 1943 and early 1944. During most of 1943 the Royal Air Force contested air superiority along the India Burma border area against Japanese fighters with squadrons equipped with the Hawker Hurricane. The arrival of three squadrons equipped with the Spitfire Vc in early November 1943 (Nos. 136, 607 and 615 Squadrons) had an immediate impact.

https://rldunn.com/articles/