02 Mar 1944: RTAF Ki-21 destroyed on ground at Kengtung (T08)

02 Mar 1944: Four USAAF 16th Squadron P-40s were tasked with attacking Kengtung, but two had mechanical problems and had to abandon the mission. The remaining two attacked Kengtung and claimed destroying an RTAF 62nd Squadron Mitsubishi Ki-21 heavy bomber, which appeared to be deadlined; no corroborating evidence was found in Thai documents.1

References:2

  • ประว้ติกองท้พอากาส ในสงครามมหาเอเชียบูรพา ระหว่าง พ.ศ.-๒๔๘๔-๒๔๘๘ (นครราชสีมา: สมบูรณ์การพิมพ์, พ.ศ.๒๕๖๔) [History of the Royal Thai Air Force during the Great East Asia War, 1941-1945 (Nakhon Ratchasima: Somboon Printing, 2021)], p 179

Detail as noted in introductory paragraph above.

  • Steve Dark/Ozel, Thai Air Accidents (offsite link), p 79:
    • Date: 02Mar43
    • Type: Mitsubishi Ki-21
    • Operator: Thai AF
    • Serial: —
    • Location & details: Destroyed on ground at Kengtung

NOTE: The year here is believed to be in error — it should be 1944 to coincide with other sources.

THURSDAY, 2 MARCH 1944
CBI – THEATER OF OPERATIONS – CHINA (14AF): In French Indochina, 4 B-25s sink a small steamer near Mon Cay and bomb railroad shops and coal treating plant at Campho. In China, 10 P-38s damage 2 bridges and strafe 2 barracks areas N of Nanchang; 2 P-40s bomb and strafe the airfield and barracks at Kengtung.

  • Hammel, Eric. Air War Pacific Chronology (Pacifica Military History. Kindle Edition):

CHINA: Ten 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s armed with 1,000-pound bombs dive-bomb bridges along the Yangtze River between Chiuchiang and Nanchang. Three direct hits are claimed. Also, two Fourteenth Air Force P-40s attack a barracks and airdrome at Kengtung.

Supplemental information:

Aerial photo of Kengtung area, taken 11 May 1944, two months after the attack of 02 Feb 1943:3

 

Major Revisions List
Rev
Date
Description
0
2026 Jul 31
 First published on Internet

 

Last Updated on 1 September 2026

  1. Photo: Ki-21 (offsite link) [↩]
  2. Google Maps extract, annotated by author using LibreOffice Draw[↩]
  3. Aerial photo: Spot Number B8070, Sortie 21PR-4MA-69, Exposure TV-13, May 11, 1944 21.30083057, 99.61534895 – Ban Hua Fai, Shan, Myanmar NAID: 214988053 (offsite link) Container ID: ON215244; my ref: \03400 US Archives-MAPS\Kengtung RG373_AERIALFILM_B8070 ENH2-red.jpg[↩]
Back To Top
Translate »