 | March 1943 |  |
| | March 1943 | |
March began with P-40s hitting targets of opportunity in the Nsopzup area and the Hukawng Valley on the 1st. B-24s kept the pressure on transportation targets on the 2nd with three separate raids; one on the Ahlone docks, one on the Mahlwagon roundhouse and one on the bridge at Pazundaung. Raids against Myitkyina, and a camp and storage area at Lamaing also took place on the 2nd. B-24s returned to Mahlwagon on the 3rd to bomb the marshaling yard, with attacks also taking place against the dock area of Rangoon, and the railroad sheds at Maymyo. On the 3rd, railroad facilities at Ywataung were bombed. Shipping near Pagoda Point, along with the airfield, the lighthouse on Alguada reef, a lightship off China Park and a radio station at Diamond Island were bombed by B-24s on the 6th, along with Myitnge bridge. Gokteik Viaduct was bombed by B-25s on the 7th, with the Myitnge Bridge and the Bassein docks being hit on the 8th along with targets near Pebu and Wan-Hat. The 9th saw P-40s attacking the bridge and town area at Mogaung. Rangoon was bombed at two points on the 10th, with 5 B-24s hitting the Pazundaung bridge while 4 pounded the runways, buildings and revetments at Mingaladon Airfield. The bridge at Myitnge was hit yet again on the 11th with little damage while B-24s returning to the Pazundaung on the 12th and 13th had the same results against that target. On the 14th the Moulmein docks were bombed by B-24s, while B-25s hit the Gokteik Viaduct, returning on the 15th. The Myitnge bridge was bombed on the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th before finally being rendered unserviceable. The approaches to the Pazundaung bridge were bombed on the 16th, while P-40s hit positions north of Sumprabum on that date. On the 17th P-40s hit bridges at Kadrangyang and northeast of Myitkyina, as well as the motor pool at Hpunkizup. P-40s bombed and strafed Seniku and Nalong, while the B-24s bombed the Pazundaung bridge and B-25s hit AA positions in the Myitnge area on the 18th. The next day, a single P-40 carrying a 1,000 lb bomb attacks the bridge near Mogaung as part of an experiment to see if the P-40 can carry and deliver heavy bombs effectively; despite the fact that the bridge suffered negligible damage the mission was considered a success. On the 20th B-25s hit the Myitnge bridge yet again, and returned on the 21st along with several B24s; also on the 21st B-24s bombed the Gokteik Viaduct causing considerable damage. P-40s armed with 1,000 lb bombs hit targets in the Mogaung area while others attacked targets of opportunity in Indochina also on the 21st. The Gokteik Viaduct was again a target on the 22nd as it was hit by 2 waves of B-25s. B-25s also hit the Thazi rail junction on this date. On the 23rd barracks, warehouses, railroad tracks and the airfield at Meiktila were bombed. A mixed force of B-24s and B-17s hit the Myitnge bridge again on the 24th, and on the 25th the engine sheds at Maymyo were bombed for the second straight day. Two groups of B-24s headed for Rangoon on the night of the 26th/27th; while one group bombed the Mingaladon Airfield, the others mined the Rangoon river. Targets bombed on the 29th included the harbor area at Tavoy, the railroad yards at Maymyo and a possible Japanese HQ north of Maingkwan. The 10th closed out operations for March by bombing the rail yards of Maymyo again the 30th, and the marshaling yard at Pyinmana on the 31st. The 1st Troop Carrier Squadron, Tenth Air Force, transfers from Chabua, India to New Delhi, India on the 7th The China Air Task Force (CATF) is is absorbed by the Fourteenth Air Force on the 10th with all USAAF units in China falling under the responsibility of the new Air Force. The 14th is commanded by Major General Claire L. Chennault. A detachment of the 9th Photographic Squadron (Light), begins operating from Dinjan, India on the 18th.
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