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For reasons lost in my memory, several of our pilots
were away from our basha when a Lieutenant from the Sixty-Ninth Composite
Wing enter my room. He inquired if I would fly a recon and bombing
run against the retreating Japanese near the China/Burma border area. I
replied that I would be happy to provided two provisions were put into
the pot. First we had to safely arm any bombs involved and second no other
officer of higher rank than myself be informed lest he would want to fly
the mission.
We took off with maybe ten frag cluster bombs rolling in the back of our
C-47. It did not take long to orient the plane into the valley that runs
S/E from Myitkyina. A few minutes later we spotted the headlights of the
evacuation trucks of the enemy. I then sent word to our makeshift bombardiers
to get ready to drop on the bell. Tech/Sergeant BURKS, Andrew readied the
bombs, part inside and part outside of the door area. After sending the
bombs on their way I immediately made a turn to the left so I could observe
the burst of light that meant detonation. The truck lights went out. The
night was black but I was able to see clear enough to make pass after pass
with some degree of certainty. On the last past I was able, by shadows
to know the trucks were stopped on the road and scattered across the countryside.
I believe every man aboard felt, as I, that with God’s help we achieved our goal. For once we took a strike at our enemies.
SHARP, Neil D.
Harry A. Blair
