| | The weather began to improve during October, allowing the 10th to increase the pace of its operations against the enemy. The Meza railroad bridge was attacked on the 10th resulting in the destruction of the 3 on the eastern end. On the 13th Japanese fighters appeared in strength over Sumprabum, Burma, attacking flights over the Hump. The enemy planes evaded US patrols and shot down 3 transports. This action resulted in the 10th opening an offensive against airfields from which fighters might operate against Hump flights. The offensive began with an attack on the airfield at Myitkyina by P-40s on the 13th. On the 14th fighter patrols were increased from 4 to 8 aircraft with little effect on enemy marauders over the Hump, on the same date A-36s bombed Sumprabum, Burma. Naba was bombed by both heavy and medium bombers on the 17th. The Meza railroad bridge was again bombed on the 20th, 23rd and 31st. On the 22nd B-25s attacked the railroad bridge in the Ye-u branch line over the Mu river for the final time during 1943. P-40s used 1,000 lb bombs on the airfield at Myitkyina in an attempt to knock out the Japanese base from which fighters were attacking ferrying operations. The P-40s flew 4 strikes and did considerable damage to the base.
During the month of October, HQ 80th Fighter Group and it's 88th Fighter Squadron transferred from Karachi to Nagaghuli and Mokelbari, India respectively with P-40's.
HQ 311th Fighter-Bomber Group transferred from Nawadih to Dinjan, India on the 11th.
The 89th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, transferred from Karachi to Gushkara, India with P-40's on the 15th.
The 530th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 311th Fighter- Bomber Group, transferred from Nawadih to Dinjan, India with A-36's on the 18th.
The 1st Troop Carrier Squadron, Tenth Air Force, transferred from New Delhi to Sookerating, India with C-47's, and the 529th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 311th Fighter-Bomber Group, transferred from Nawadih to Dinjan, India with A-36's, both on the 19th.
The 530th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 311th Fighter- Bomber Group, based at Dinjan, India with A-36's sent a detachment to operate from Kurmitola, India on the 21st.
The 71st Liaison Squadron, US Army Forces, CBI, transferred from Ramgarh to Ledo, India with L-4's and L-5's On the 26th.
|
