1941 Burma Air

[plan_D]

Yeah, they'd be great. You're being a great help, thanks.

[maxs75]

The 231 group existed for sure on 13th december 1943, when the air command South East Asia was estabilished. It formed the strategic air forces with the 7th Bomb. Group of 10th USAAF. Anyway I don't know if it was estabilished the year before.
I really don't think that in dec. 1942 RAF had Liberator bombers in CBI theater as main bomber. Wellington was the main one. Liberators arrived in number only in 1944-45.

Max

[plan_D]

It didn't say large numbers. 231 Group conducted a raid against Japanese transport links, and it only used 8 B-24s - so I doubt it's large numbers. I contacted the author and he's told me about this great book that's just come out. "A Bloody Shambles Vol.3" all about the Burma Air from April 1942 - September 1945...I'm going to get it, I think it'll answer all my questions.

[superunknown]

With any luck I'll be getting all three of the "Bloody Shambles" books before the end of the year! They are meant to be the best you can get on airwar in the CBI.

[maxs75]

Here you are the additional informations about IJAAF units on 20th march 1942:
5th air division (Burma and Thailand):

Sentai no./Base/ac strength:
50 Mingaladon, 17 Ki-27
8 " ,12 Ki-15+ 32 Ki-48
64 Cheingmai, 15 Ki-43-I
12 Lampang, 31 Ki-21
77 Maubin, 35 Ki-27
98 Nakorn Sawan 35 Ki-21
1 and 11 Pegu, 15+15 Ki-27
31 Muolmein, 25 Ki-30
47 chutai (squadron IIRC) Pegu, 4 Ki-44
51 ch. Mingaladon, 5 Ki-46+ 5 Ki-15
70 ch. Lampang, 2 Ki-51 + 9 light recce a/c

Plan_D, if you know where are these locations, please tell me. I don't know if they are in Burma or Thailand.

The 1st of April ald IJN a/c started combat operations in Burma. They were 18 G3M (Genzan kokutai) and 18 A6M2 of 22th Air flotilla.
Some H6K (Toko kokutai) were based on Andaman is. On the same days the carriers Akagi, Hiryu, Soryu Shokaku and Zuikaku raided the indian

Ocean, and the light carrier Ryujo the bay of Bengal.

Their air groups were about 18 A6M2, 18 D3A1, 27 B5N2 for Akagi, 18,18,18 each Hiryu and Soryu, and 18,27,27 each Shokaku and Zuikaku.

About RAF bombers
The first operational were no 99 and 215 With Wellington IC in april-june 1942. They received Wellington X during 1943 and Liberators in sept. 1944.
Later arrived no 159 (bomb) and 160 (ASW) with Liberators II/III in nov.1942, and feb. 1943.
no 203 was equipped with Wellington XIII (ASW) at the end of 1943 and B-24 (bombers) in october 1944.
Then arrived new squadrons with B-24:
200 (ASW/Bomb) 3/44
354 (ASW) 8/43
355 (Bomb) 11/43
356 (") 7/44
357 (Special) B-24/Hudsons
358 (Bomb) 1/45

At the end the 231 Group was composed by sqns 99,159,215,355-358, all with B-24 (except no.357 special duties).

This list is probably not 100% complete but gives a good idea of the RAF bomber strength.

Max