28 Oct 1942, WW2 Air Raids over Hong Kong | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

28 Oct 1942, WW2 Air Raids over Hong Kong

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Submitted by David on Thu, 2014-02-20 14:42
Book / Document: 
WW2 Air Raids over Hong Kong & South China
Date(s) of events described: 
Wed, 28 Oct 1942

Henry Ching notes that his father's diary mentions the third American air raid on Hong Kong happened on this day, and that:

In Edwin Ride’s book on the BAAG he states “the first of regular 14th Air Force bombing raids over Hong Kong took place during 25-28 October 1943 (sic)”  - he says “there were all told three raids, 3.30 p.m. Oct 25th, 1.30 a.m. Oct 26th and 11 a.m. Oct 28th”.

R E Jones and Barbara Anslow also mention the raid, see this page.

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Submitted by Lawrence Tsui on Sat, 2014-02-22 05:46.

BAAG Waichow Intelligence Report of October 1942 reported the Allied bombing raids over Occupied-HK:

Various eye witnesses reported:  No air raid warning was issued and no ARP arrangement made.  Blackouts not enforced.  Shops in Kowloon closed for two days after the 25th October raid.  People took it that only military installations were targeted, except for strays  Japanese did not scramble its fighters until the bombers were gone.  Small amount of AAGuns fired from Bowen Road Hospital; HSBC; Naval Dock; Stonecutters Is; Blackhead Hill noticed.

Raid 25th October 13:30hrs:  Indian Barracks at Gun Club Hill; Whitfield Barracks; Japanese officers’ mess at Cameron Road; Jordan Rd - Wusung St; Haiphong Rd – Nanking Rd (hose of Japanese Manager of CLP); Kowloon Godown-Star Ferry Pier.

26th Oct raid 01:30hrs:  Power station at North point.

28th raid 11:30hrs:  Harbour & Kaitak; Kowloon Docks.   

General assessment was that the raids could not be regarded as successful from the military point of view as the main targets of the Docks, Power Stations, Gas Works as well as Whitfield Barracks; only Whitfield Barrack received successful hits.  Most of the bombs missed the targets.  Damage to shipping was minimal.

 

Further bombing raids at the end of November 1942.

Submitted by Admin on Sun, 2014-02-23 04:27.

Here's how the raid was reported in the Hong Kong News the next day:

Air Raids on Hong Kong-October 1942

Submitted by ssuni86 on Wed, 2014-02-26 08:57.

Just to confirm, the clipping above is for Oct. 29, 1942?

Submitted by Admin on Thu, 2014-02-27 03:07.

Yes, the clipping above is for Oct. 29, 1942. (If you click on the clipping, you can see IDJ mentioned the date when he uploaded it.)

Regards, David