Evening star., 1942-12-21
chennauh' 5 Planes
Deal Heavy Blows 10
Jap Base atLashio
Raids on Eastern Burma,
Coincide With Lond
Thrust in Northwest
BY ]. REILLY 4O'SULLIvAN,
Associated Press war correspondent


Associated Press War Correspondent.
WITH AMERICAN FOFcEs IN
CHINA, Dec. 40 Delayed Brig.
Gen. Claire L. Chennault's bombers
and fighters dealt devastating blows
at the japanese air base and mill
tary warehouses; at Lashio In East
ern Burma today while Allied forces
advanced down the northwestern
coast from India toward Akyab in
the first land thrust to retake
Burma. -
saw more than seven tons of
bombs rain down on the big air
drome and on large storehouses in
the central and southwestern part
Of Lashio, northern railroad of the
line from Rangoon and the starting
point Of the Burma road to China.
A medium bomber flight headed
by 1t. Col. William Basye OF Inde-
pendence, Mo-, with 1t. George
Stout OF Emporia, Kans., the lead
ing bombardier, raided the airdrome
several miles from the city. Five or
six heavy bombs crashed down on
hall the length Of the north south
runway and tore huge craters which
probably will make it useless for
several days. Others hit among air
port buildings, starting q fire which
possibly was in an oil dump.
The second element, headed by
Capt. John Ruse of Lagrange, Ill,
deputy flight leader in whose bomber
/ rode, took the city as a target.
Saw Bombers Speed Toward Mark.
In the glass nose Of q B-25, look
ing over the shoulder of 1t.
Stephen Dennis Of Richmond, Va,
1 watched him line up his sights
on large group Of Shedlike build
tngs in the heart OF town on the
run in. Nearly over the target
he pressed the bomb release, and
leaning forward I could see the
bombs speeding true to their mark.
Bombers on either wing let 20
almost simultaneously.
One big warehouse received 4
direct hit and was blown to smith
Greens. A big fire broke out. An
other was directly hit and numerous
other fires were started in the
wreckAse Of other smashed build
ings.
As we pulled away from the target
area, bombs burst on the airdrome
from the Basye fight. On the way
past the airdrome toward the city |
anti-aircraft guns opened up on us.
Flashes could be seen from one gun
emplacement on the edge of the
field.
Bursts Of AA fire broke, but It. !
John Lyman of Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
Co-pilot 1t. Roland Hill of Mar
garettsville, N. Y. and Gunner
Sergts. Pat Boudreaux of Port Ar
thur, Tex, and Ames Broughton
OF Brownwood, Tex, said the ack-
ack wasn't dangerously close.
No Fighter Interception.
No planes were seen on the air.
drome and there was no fighter
interception. leading to belief the
japanese may have pulled out their
forces for Akyab. All American
planes returned safely.
Part of the fighter escort went
down to do some straf1ng. Capt.
Charles Bair Of Detroit, Mich, few
down on the smoke -obscured run
way at low altitude and poured |
bullets into a truck and shack.
II kept the guns open until I I
reached the end Of the runway"
he said
Other fighters strafed three
trucks loaded with men moving
northward along the Burma Road
near Tengyueh.
AT least two trucks were de-
stroyed by fire." said 1t. William
Miller of Stephens Point, Wis, !
whose plane came back with two
bullet holes in the tail, apparently |
from rife fire.
These fighters also strafed the
guard gate at Tengyueh.
The bombers had clear weather
and an almost cloudless sky A
strong wind spread the fires at
Lashio, and two huge columns of
smoke could be seen so miles away |
on the homeward flight
The supplies destroyed were be-
lieved intended for Japanese forces
along the Salween River front fac
tx~ ~