December 1941: the early skirmishes
Dec 9, 1941: The JAAF 10th Hikodan--equivalent to a USAAF wing--moves to central Thailand so as to keep an eye on the bases at Mergui, Tavoy, and Moulmein in Burma, occasionally attacking these airfields with several aircraft. Though based in Thailand, the hikodan's planes are unable to reach Rangoon. The wing therefore begins to develop an airfield at Tha Hin, 120 kilometers north of Bangkok and 520 km from Rangoon, as a fighter base. It "borrows" 700 barrels of fuel from the Thai army and takes over the telephone line between Bangkok and Tha Hin, along with the local radio station, the Thai radio system at the airport, and the telegraph from Bangkok to Pnom Penh and Saigon.The 62nd Sentai (heavy bomber) is still recovering its strength from losses during the Malaya campaign, while the 77th Sentai Nate fighters can't cover long distances because they have no drop tanks.
Before war the Japanese invaded Malaya on Dec 8, Lieutenant General Sugawara Michio, commander of the 3rd Hikoshidan (equivalent to a USAAF geographical air force) had learned that there were 48 British fighters and 12 bombers in Burma, plus a squadron of the American Volunteer Group. The Japanese Southern Army headquarters and the 3rd Hikoshidan are very concerned about this enemy air power in Burma.
Dec 10: JAAF reconnaissance spots four enemy planes around Rangoon, type uncertain, but enemy fighters advance to the frontier and try to stop the Japanese reconnaissance activity.
Dec 15: General Sugawara sends orders to Bangkok to prepare for an attack on Rangoon with the 7th and 10th hikodans, so as to clear the way for the 3rd Hikoshidan main force to advance to Sungei Patani, Malaya, in late December. (That is, the action in Burma at this stage is intended only to prevent Allied air forces in Burma from interfering with the Malay operation.)
Dec 17: 10th Hikodan reconnaissance aircraft report the presence of 19 enemy fighters, 20 light bombers, and 5 heavy bombers at Rangoon; 10 heavy bombers at Toungoo; and 5 fighters at at a field 55 kilometers southeast of Tavoy. General Sugawara concludes that the Allied air strength had been increased. He therefore orders the 7th Hikodan to attack Rangoon while the rest of the hikoshidan presses forward in Malaya.
Dec 19: General Sugawara sends a message to Bangkok to attack Rangoon three times between December 23 and December 25. The 10th Hikodan commander, Major General Hirota Utaka, therefore rushes construction of facilities at Bangkok, Tha Hin, and Raheng. He also sends an urgent request for Nate drop tanks. The 77th Sentai moves part of its ground crews to Raheng on the Thai-Burma border, with the main force to follow as soon as construction is completed. (Part of the group stays remain in Bangkok for local air defense.) Meanwhile, the 31st Sentai (light bomber) moves all its Ki-30 attack planes to Tha Hin.
Dec 20: A new commander for the 62nd Sentai (heavy bomber) arrives, but the group's strength still not restored, so General Sugawara plans not to use it against Rangoon. However, the group demands to join the campaign, and it sends 12 Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" heavy bombers to Bangkok.
(Two groups will not take part in the Rangoon mission. The 12th Sentai lost 12 heavy bombers in Malaya campaign and is now rebuilding its forces, apparently drawing aircraft from the 98th Sentai. The 64th Sentai Ki-43 Hayabusa fighters from Kota Baru were supposed to take part, but are now diverted to attack a bridge crossing in Malaya. Meanwhile, the 21st Independent Sentai in Hanoi sets out to attack Kunming with the 82nd and 84th independent chutais. The attack force "advanced toward Kunming but realized that P-40 fighters were prevailing and a difficult foe." This was the AVG's first combat.)
Dec 21: The 60th Sentai (heavy bomber) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, prepares to join the Rangoon mission.
Dec 22: The 98th Sentai (heavy bomber) moves to Bangkok and gets ready for the Rangoon attack. The same afternoon, the reconnaissance planes of the 70th Independent Chutai scout southern Burma and report that the enemey has 11 medium bombers based at Toungoo; 2 large, 16 mid-sized, and 13 small planes at Rangoon; none at Moulmein; 6 small and 2 large planes at Tavoy; and 1 large plane at Mergui.
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