Dateline: Burma, July 10, 1943..."Japanese Air Raid Repulsed with Heavy Losses"
By Richard Jenkins
A small Chinese village surrounded by rice paddies became the focus of one of the largest most sustained aerial assaults mounted thus far by the dastardly forces of Imperial Japan. Code named "V33", this non-descript village was located adjacent to a Chinese Army military depot, drawing the unwelcome attention of the Japanese agressors.
The onslaught was successfully repulsed by the gallant heros of the USAAF 23 Figther Group, the direct decendant unit of the American Volunteer Group, the world-famous "Flying Tigers." They were aided on the ground by the sharp-shooting gunnery skills of the US Army, which had fortuitously stationed a mobile anit-aircraft platoon at the base. Several enemy fighters and dive-bombers were downed by the American P-40 Warhawk fighters, with a half-dozen more falling victim to accurate anti-aircaft fire.
"The Japs just kept coming at us!" exclaimed SSgt Roland Jersy, a gunner stationed at V33. "Our fighters would bait them Jap pilots into following them, then lead 'em right over the top of us. It was like shoot'n fish in a barrel!"
American aircraft losses were reported as light.
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Great fun, guys. I flew for the first half of my time on-line, then switched to an M16 when my squadie had to log off. Great pics, btw. to the IJN, for their determined efforts.
Sabre
CT Staff
