OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton and Hong Kong
RESULTS: Pre-strike photos are taken of Victoria Harbor. Pilot reports that numerous ships are in port. No photos are taken of the Canton airbases, which are obscured by cloud.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:45 to 9:55 a.m. over Hong Kong
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One F-5B (#388) from Flight B, 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
OBJECTIVE: Sink merchant vessel anchored on south side of Hong Kong Island
RESULTS: Pilots strafe a motor launch and claim four direct hits on a tanker in or near Repulse Bay. Possibly, this is the oiler IJNS Kamoi, but if so, the ship suffers no damage during the attack.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~3:00 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-51s from the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Pascoli and DeVeer (26th Fighter Squadron) <Read more ...>
OBJECTIVE: Bomb aircraft revetments at White Cloud airbase in Canton
RESULTS: Bombers claim to destroy six to seven enemy aircraft in revetments and inflict additional damage on buildings and other installations at the airbase
TIME OVER TARGET: ~2:50 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Twenty-eight B-24s from all four squadrons (373rd, 374th, 375th, and 425th) of the 308th Heavy Bomb Group escorted by 50 fighter aircraft from the following squadrons: <Read more ...>
OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton and Hong Kong
RESULTS: Numerous reconnaissance photos taken of Tien Ho airbase in Canton and Kai Tak airbase and Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong. Pilot observes thirteen large ships in Victoria Harbor.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~12:15 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One F-5B (#262) from Flight B, 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
OBJECTIVE: Destroy radar station near White Cloud airbase at Canton
RESULTS: Pilots bomb and strafe the radar installation, causing substantial damage. The pilots also strafe and set alight two fighter aircraft (or dummy aircraft) on the ground at White Cloud.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~6:30 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-51s of the 76th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Major Slocumb (23rd FG) and Lt. Oran S. Watts (118th TRS) <Read more ...>
OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton, Hong Kong, and Sanchau Island
RESULTS: Pilot takes a series of recon photos. Pilot reports 15 ships in the 200 to 400-foot range in Victoria Harbor and a large 400-foot tanker in a bay on the south side of Hong Kong Island. Engine failure prevents coverage of Sanchau Island.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~1:00 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One F-5E from Flight B, 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Snyder in aircraft #305
OBJECTIVE: Fly nocturnal sea sweep mission to detect and sink Japanese ships in the South China Sea.
RESULTS: The radar-equipped B-24 fails to locate any Japanese ships. The aircraft commander then opts to bomb the Kowloon docks (the designated secondary target) on the return flight. Damage is unknown.
TIME OVER TARGET: Late evening
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One B-24 from the 308th Heavy Bomb Group
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Captain Armstrong in plane #823
