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Notes continued

36. Note 26, id.; aircraft number identified in "Fighting Colors of the Chinese Air Force," Chung-ho, Taipei (1995). This publication is almost entirely in Chinese but the author has extracted a limited amount of information as indicated (copy provided by Osamu Tagaya)

37. Stillwell, (note 23), p.114; "American Cooperation." (note 24) p. 48 notes 12 P-43s turned over to the U.S. Army, most likely the two used by Scott and Chennault's ten.

38. Demin, "Soviet Fighters in the Sky of China (Pt. V)," Aviatsiia Kosmonavtika (1/2000), trans. George M. Mellinger

39. Note 4, p. 284; Hata, Izawa & Shores, Japanese Army Air Force Fighter Units and Their Aces, Grub Street, London (2002), p.61; SB-3 was apparently a misnomer used by the Chinese and others for the Tupolev SB-2bis (Jane's, All the World's Aircraft, 1943-1944, MacMillam, New York (1945) p. 145c)

40. Note 4, p.284

41. Note 26. It is quite possible that the I-153s mentioned by Demin and the I-15s mentioned by Ford (note 5), p.344 (I-15s in the Salween operations), refer to the same actions, namely the I-153s of the 17th Squadron (particularly since "elderly" I-15s were very unlikely to be in action at this late date and the Chinese seem to have referred to I-153s as I-15 IIIs). Demin (note 38) also mentions a couple I-153s of the 26th Squadron engaged in anti-drug operations.

42. Note 26, id.

43. For terms "combat efficiency" and "washout" see note 11; "glory" see, generally, Whelan (note 3), and Ford (note 5).

44. Memorandum for General Stillwell, "Resume of Aviation Situation China, Burma, India Theater," (Bissell), Jul. 26, 1942

45. Memorandum for Commanding General, "Air Force Units required to support offensive operations in Burma and maintain defensive operations in central, eastern, and northern China," (Chennault), Aug. 6, 1942

46. Mono. No. 76 (note 5), p. 110

47. Operational numbers from U.S.A.F. Historical Study No. 109, The Fourteenth Air Force to 1 October 1943, App. 7, ("Aircraft Strength.31 July 1942-31 October 1943")

48. Note 38, id.; Gen. Chow Chih-Juu, Chinese Commission on Aeronautical Affairs, "Results of Missions Performed since July 1, 1942 to January 28, 1943" (table IV attached to "Information requested from General Chow at a meeting with him on Jan. 26, 1943", report requested by 10th Air Force)

49. AMMISCA rad. No. 39 to A.G. War Dept., Aug. 13, 1942

50. Cornelius & Short, Ding Hao - America's Air War in China, Pelican, Gretna, La. (1980), p. 212. Unless otherwise noted, details of U.S.A.A.F. P-43 combats can be found in intelligence summaries, histories, and mission reports of the units concerned or Cornelius & Short, or Molesworth (note 15).

51. Barnum chased his opponent close to Canton where three aircraft of the 18th Squadron were based (note 46). Type 100 performance (604 k.p.h. at 5,800 meters) from Airview, General View of Japanese Military Aircraft in the Pacific War, Kanto-sha, Tokyo (Eng. ed. 1956)

52. Hata et al. (note 39), p. 62

53. Memorandum for Lt. Gen. Stillwell, "Decisions taken at September meeting at Chungking," (Chennault), Sept. 11, 1942

54. Aerial demonstration - "Twenty Fighter Planes Presented to Government Before Crowd of 50,000 at Chungking Airport," Chinese News Service (dateline Chungking; Eng. version, New York) October 13, 1942 (hereafter CNS); Mission results - "Results of Missions Performed." (note 48)

55. "Results of Missions Performed." (note 48)

56. id.; Although Chow's data shows no loss on the escort mission, Demin (note 38) says the 21st Squadron lost one aircraft (piloted by Dexiang He) in combat with a reconnaissance plane (if correct, this was likely the first combat loss of a P-43)

57. "Results of Missions Performed." (note 48); "History.", (note 24), p. 48 gives C.A.F. strength in U.S. aircraft in November 1942 as 9 P-40s, 36 P-43s, 37 P-66s and 15 A-29s.

58. id.

59. id.; "Chinese Destroy 8 Jap Planes, Cause Heavy Damage in Air-raid Over Hupeh" CNS, Jan. 12, 1943; "Notes." (note 26), states eight P-43s were involved and three Japanese aircraft destroyed on the ground. It identifies one P-40 pilot killed by Japanese AA fire, Mo Tongzhe of the 23rd Squadron.

60. "Two Jap Planes Downed in Raid Over Itu," CNS, Jan. 15, 1943; Chow's data (note 48) agrees. It is not clear what Japanese aircraft were encountered but they certainly were not navy Type Zero fighters

61. "Present Condition of Operational Units of the Chinese Air Force (a/o Jan. 29, 1943)" another attachment (table III) in Chow's report (note 48)

62. "Summary Report of Activities in China," (Kenneth M. Warder, Vultee Service Representative), Feb. 1, 1943. Warder's report cites many instances of Chinese misuse of U.S.-supplied equipment and poor maintenance practices. Chinese figures for serviceable aircraft as of Feb. 19, 1943 are close to Warder's figures: 8 A-29s, 39 P-66s, 14 P-40Es and 16 P-43s; also 6 SB-3s (letter, Chow to Chennault, dtd. Feb. 26, 1943, attached table 1).

63. Note 47, id.

64. Mono. No. 76 (note 5), p. 119

65. id.

66. ibid., p. 123; The P-43s engaged bore the C.A.F. serial numbers 2104, 2105 and 2113 ("Fighting Colors." note 36); "Notes." (note 26) says ten Japanese fighters escorted eighteen bombers and that Xu Xiaomin was mortally wounded when shot down in P-43 No. 2104.

67. id.; Hata et al. (note 39), p. 62 (Japanese accounts); Demin (note 6) mentions the loss of five P-43s of the 21st Squadron without a date although he says it was during a joint mission with P-40s

68. Stillwell (note 23), pp. 274-275. Romanus suggests this situation was pregnant with implication: "Only a reinforced China Air Task Force could assume the mission. This meant an end to the China Air War Plan. Again the demands on Hump tonnage that would be made by protecting Chungking with U.S. resources could not fail to affect plans to develop the Y-Force." p.275 (Y-Force was the 100,000 man Chinese contribution to the invasion of Burma on the Yunnan front). Romanus seems to overstate the importance of the Chinese request for air support for Chungking. The C.A.T.F. had performed that mission previously and, as will be seen, the C.A.F. resumed the mission by summer 1943. Despite this request C.A.T.F. fighters deployed eastward to advanced bases at the end of March. It is quite possible General Chow's request for support was merely a dramatic gesture to emphasize that "gas and material" were "urgently required" by the C.A.F. (Chow letter to Chennault, note 62). The Chinese had previously complained about poor treatment in that aviation fuel loaned to the Americans had not been replaced (U.S.A.F. Historical Study No. 104, The Tenth Air Force, 1 January -10 March 1943, p. 65).

69. Note 47, pp. 58-59 gives the Chinese analysis of Japanese intentions; the Japanese also intended to capture about 20,000 tons of shipping idle near Ichang to replenish their shipping losses (Mono. No. 71, Army Operations in China December 1941 - December 1943, p. 148)

70. Note 64; The P-43 apparently belonged to the 16th FS and needed repairs (Molesworth, note 5, p. 113)

71. Demin (note 6)

72. ibid.; A Japanese source credits the loss to a combination of ground and air action: "Nippon Wild Eagles in collaboration with ground forces, this afternoon shot down a P-40.on the foremost front." ("Foe Raider Downed,": dateline May 19, Domei, Mainichi, May 21, 1943) All references to Mainichi are to the International edition in English

73. "Wild Eagles Make Widespread Raid on Liangshan," (Domei, May 20), Mainichi May 21, 1943; According to the Chinese 25 aircraft were involved in the attack and they took off from Itu, CNS, May 21, 1943

74. Demin (note 5); Hsu & Chang (note 4), p. 285, gives slightly different figures, to wit: 326 fighter sorties, 80 bomber sorties, and 41 aerial victories. The victories seem to include the results of joint U.S.-Chinese missions including the B-24 escort mission on the 31st of May when B-24 gunners claimed 20 victories. Other than the missions mentioned in the text P-43s were involved in at least one other escort mission. This took place on June 5th and involved four A-29s, three SB-3s, five P-43s and eleven P-40s. Itu was bombed but no additional details are given (14th Air Force Weekly Intelligence Summary). Japanese figures for the "latest operations up to and including June 6" were 17 shot down, 22 destroyed on the ground for 4 lost ("Army Eagles In China and Burma Down 80 Foe Planes, Destroy 62," Mainichi, June 9, 1943).

75. 14th A.F. Daily Intelligence Extract (May 31, 1943)

76. 14th A.F. Daily Intelligence Extract (June 2, 1943) reference P-43s; "Two Chinese Aces," China Newsweek (London) Nov. 18, 1943; Hata et al. (note 39), pp. 138, 295; e-mails from H. Ichimura Feb. 22 & 26, 2002; "Gen. Chiang Awards Highest Honor to 2 Fliers, One For Saving Life of U.S. Air Ace," CNS, June 15, 1943. Molesworth (note 15) ignores this incident. Cornelius & Short (note 50), pp. 271-272 discuss Alison's last mission without mentioning Tsang.

77. Mono. 76 (note 5), p. 126

78. Note 4, p. 285; Actually only 12 P-40s returned. Thirteen were on the mission but one was shot down (cable report to 14th A.F.); Japanese sources admit the three losses, "Liangshan and Enshih Heavily Raided," (Domei, June 8), Mainichi, June 9, 1943

79. "Two Chinese Aces." and "Gen. Chiang Honors." (note 76); 14th A.F. Daily Intelligence Extract (June 8, 1943) cites the C.A.F. as the source that a P-66 shot down three Japanese bombers. Losses on ground, same Extract.

80. "Liangshan." (note 78)

81. 14th A.F. (note 79); Demin (note 6) states that Chen Zhaoji of the 41st Squadron claimed a victory on June 6, 1943, without giving specifics. Likely these two reports relate to the same encounter. The pilot of the Japanese bomber was a Lt. Iwamura ("Lieut. Iwamura Meets Heroic Death," Mainichi, June 9, 1943)

82. Kunming rad. to AGWAR, (June 17, 1943), beginning at this point the 14th Air Force began reporting on C.A.F. strength to Washington

83. Kunming rad. to AGWAR (June 15, 1943)

84. Note 47, pp. 59-60 (new fighters in May); 14th A.F. Weekly Intelligence Summary, Jul. 21, 1943 (weather scrubbed missions); Note 47, app. 6 (P-43s off 14th A.F. strength reports). Kunming rad. to CG AAF, 1 August 43, 1347Z, (31 July msg); P-43s from the 14th A.F. may have been turned over to the C.A.F., "History.table 1" (note 24) shows four P-43s delivered to the C.A.F. in 1943.

85. Mono. No. 76 (note 4), p. 127; the Japanese may have sighted the reported number of fighters but their figures do not reflect C.A.F. operational strength. The C.A.F. reported to the 14th Air Force that in mid-June it had 5 P-40Es, 9 P-43s and 46 P-66s (note 82). These figures obviously do not reflect aircraft in factory repair and returned to service later as well as 15 P-40Ms received by the C.A.F. soon afterwards.

86. Mono. 76 (note 5), pp. 130-137

87. ibid., p. 132

88. Kunming rad. to AGWAR (Aug. 9, 1943) giving C.A.F. aircraft status as of July 28, 1943

89. The Japanese perspective comes from Monograph No. 76 (note 5); an abstract of information from China Area Army Air Operations, p. 363 (vol. 74, Boeicho Kenshujo Senshishitsu, Senshi Sosho, Tokyo) provided by Osamu Tagaya; and, additional sources in notes below.

90. Kunming rad. to AGWAR (Aug. 25, 1943) re number of C.A.F. interceptors and U.S. interception attempt; Aircraft types from C.A.F. August status report (Kunming rad. to AGWAR Sep. 1, 1943); Specific numbers of aircraft from "Notes.", note 26.

91. "Nippon Planes Bomb Chungking," (dateline Tokyo, Aug. 25, 1943), Greater Asia (Rangoon), Aug. 29, 1943

92. Hata et al. (note 39), p. 64 indicates seven claims (4 certain, 3 probable) were made by the 25th FR; Monograph 76 agrees as to the number of claims and BKS vol. 74 agrees both as to the number and 25th FR making the claims (note 89). Elsewhere in Hata (p. 285) total claims are given as five certain and three probables and (p. 271) Sgt. Major Mitsuo Yamato of 33rd FR is credited with a victory over Chungking.

93. "Fighting Colors." (note 36), names translated by `Christine,' East Asia Room, McKeldin Library, Univ. of Maryland (who confirmed that the text indicated these pilots were killed); Hata et al. (note 39), p. 249 (re Seino): "Notes." (note 26) mentions the name of only one pilot lost Yan Guihua, squadron leader of the 42nd Squadron.

94. Chinese Aeronautical Commission communique, Chungking, Aug. 23, 1943

95. August status report (note 90)

96. "History." (note 24), p. 53

97. ibid., p. 48 (re numbers of aircraft; according to Dan Ford in an Oct. 1. 2001 message posted on Warbird's Forum, www.warbirdforum.com, the P-66s were listed as "obsolescent" in a strength return in November 1943 but P-43s were not); Details of November combat from "Notes." (note 26) which states Gao Yuxin, squadron leader of the 21st Squadron, led the P-43s and Yang Xu was missing in action; and, Hata et al. (note 39) p. 65. "Notes." also states P-43s were withdrawn from C.A.F. service in December 1943, presumably a reference to combat service.

98. "History." id.

99. A couple examples will suffice to make the point that pilots thought well of the P-43: "The A.V.G. pilots were enthralled by the P-43." Ford (note 5), p. 305; ".P-43As. These were good, fast-climbing little fighter ships." Scott (note 28), p. 66; British ace Robert Stanford Tuck flew P-43s with the 1st Pursuit Group during a visit to the U.S. in October 1941. He found that the American pilots "just didn't appreciate how important an advantage height was in modern air fighting." Forrester, Fly For Your Life, Frederick Muller, Great Britain (1956), Bantam ed. (1973), p. 286. This suggests U.S.A.A.F. pilots and brass may have under-valued the P-43's strong points.

100. Quotes from "The Fourteenth Air Force." (note 47), pp. 131-132; The Type 2 fighter was used in small numbers beginning in the Spring of 1943 but first made a big impact in July 1943 with the arrival of a fully equipped Regiment (85th FR). In their first combat on July 24th eight Type 2 fighters of 2/85th FR took on a dozen U.S. fighters near Hengyang including P-40s of the 74th FS and a couple P-38s. This combat mainly took place at low and medium altitude and two of the Japanese fighters were shot down, as was one P-38. The Type 2 fighter was not immediately recognized as a new and superior fighter in this combat. The high altitude tactics were apparently initiated on August 20th. The change in tactics thus appears to play an important role in the call for improved fighters as all the quotations date from late August and September.

101. "The Fourteenth Air Force." (note 47), p. 132. This was not the first time high-altitude performance was an issue. As early as January 8, 1943, General Bissell "expressed a need for at least 12 high-altitude fighters to deal with Japanese reconnaissance planes." ("Tenth Air Force." note 68, p. 20). Bissell's plea was rejected based on other priorities. Bissell probably had P-38s in mind as high-altitude fighters but the situation is still ironic since it was Bissell who recommended the scrapping of a few dozen P-43s just six months earlier.