CaS Scenario: Burma Has Tigers (WWII Flying Tigers aircraft)

Burma Has Tigers

CaS Scenario

by Jimmy Sperling
Photo: Imperial War Museum

. . .LIKE SHOOTING DUCKS STOP WOULD PUT ENTIRE JAP FORCE OUT OF COMMISSION WITH GROUP HERE STOP. . . .

Arvid 'Ole' Olson,
commander of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron,
American Volunteers Group, in a cable
to Claire Chennault on December 26, 1941.

Introduction: When the whirlwind of the Japanese offensive broke over Southeast Asia on 8 December 1941, it caught the Allied air force ill-prepared with many air units consisting largely of newly-trained aircrews and only a smattering of experienced pilots. One notable exception was the American Volunteer Group or AVG, more commonly known as the "Flying Tigers." This Nationalist Chinese Air Force group, consisting of three fighter squadrons, was formed by former USAAC Major Claire Lee Chennault.

Chennault was an unconventional man who, unlike many in the Air Corps, disagreed with the current "air gospel." In particular, he broke with the Douhet dogma that "the bomber will always get through." His belief was that, given an effective network of ground-based air observers, a defensive fighter force could, with enough advance warning, get into position to effectively defend airspace. Compelled to retire from the USMC in 1937, Chennault went to China to become air advisor to Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-Shek.

In October 1940, Chiang and Chennault conceived the idea of a fighter unit manned by expatriated US military fliers granted discharges through an arrangement with the US State Department. Officially employed as advisors to the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Corp. (CAMCO), this subterfuge was in reality a mechanism to bypass neutrality laws and permit US fliers to fight against the Japanese without a declaration of war.

The AVG had been turned into an effective fighring unit by the beginning of December 1941, working up at Kyedaw airfield in Burma and equipping with Lend-Lease Tomahawk IIBs (P40Cs).

Location: Mingaladon Aerodrome, 12 miles NW of Rangoon, Burma, 1100 hrs 23 December 1941

Operational Situation: With the outbraak of war on 8 December, Chennault, apprehensive about the inadequacies of Rangoon's early warning system, recalled the 1st and 2nd Pursuit Squadrons of the AVG from Burma to Kunming, China, while the 3rd Squadron Hell's Angels flew the short hop from their training base at Kyedaw Aerodrome to the main RAF base outside Rangoon.

The Japanese, delayed by the need to secure Siam (Thailand), did not attack. One glance at a map, however, would show anyone that Burma controlled Southwest Asia and the door to India, and that the Burma Road was China's last remaining land link to the outside world (via the port of Rangoon). Therefore, everyone knew that sooner or later, the ax would fall.

Tactical Situation: Rangoon had already suffered two false alarms on 23 December when the sirens' mournful wail went off again at 1100 hours. The Allies have just detected a major Japanese raid and are attempting to scramble their fighters to intercept the incoming aircraft.

Environment: Sky clear, wind 090 at 10 knots. Visibility 100%.

Japanese Forces: 10th Hikodan (Air Brigade), Japanese Army Air Force, 54 Ki.21-IIb [Sally], 20 Ki.D-Ib [Nate]

Japanese Orders: Attack the airfield and other British installations at Rangoon.

Japanese Victory Conditions

Decisive:

Tactical:

Allied Forces: 3rd Pursuit Squadron, American Volunteer Group, Nationalist Chinese Air Force (the "Hell's Angels"), 16 P- 40C; 67 Squadron RAF, 20 Buffalo I. The AVG pilot experience level is:

The RAF level is:

Ground defences include three batteries of Royal Artillery AA (.303 to 3.7- incb) and a UK LW search radar (see US SCR-602). Area AA = 1.0, Light AA. 1.0.

Allied Orders: Japanese aircraft have been sghted heading this way. Take to the skies and take them out. Priority targets: bombers.

Allied Victory Conditions:

Decisive:

Tactical:

Setup: The Japanese bombers set up 30 nm south of the airfield at 4500m, course 315 degrees at cruise speed, in a vee of vee formation of 27 aircraft each and 15 minutes apart.

The first formation has just been plotted by the British radar. The Allied fighters begin the scenario on the ground and must take off to intercept the bombers. Only one Japanese formation may attack the airfield.

Special Rule: Trained in the special offensive doctrine and tactics of Major Chennault, the AVG pilots have been schooled above all to avoid dogfighting with Japanese fighters. Therefore, unless boxed in, the AVG fliers must stay in pairs, use purely slashing attacks, and break off from defending escorts by diving away rather than mixing it up.

Variations: Shortly before the battle, CAMCO delivered three Curuss-Wright CW-21B Demon fighters to the AVG, but all three were test in accidents while being ferried from Rangoon to Kunming on the very day the action took place. Delay the ferry mission and add 3 CW-21B Demons to the Allied force.

Historical Outcome: Chennault's fears were confirmed as none of the defending fighters got up in time to stop the first bombers. However, the second wave would not be so lucky. Climbing to 5500m, the Allied fiighters attacked. While the RAF Buffalos tangled with the fighter escort, tbe AVG pilots tore into the bomber formation.

Two-plane teams made the first diving passes, and the formation began to straggle. One pilot, Duke Hedman, became an ace in his first air battle, bringing down three bombers and two fighters.

Despite the best efforts of the Allied fighters, some of the Japanese managed to get through. British anti-aircraft fire was inaccurate and some bombs rained down on the field. The RAF operations office, a hangar and a gas pump were damaged. The AVG office was strafed and some ten British planes were destroyed. Forty men were killed on the ground (none of them AVG personnel).

Meanwhile, the other group of bombers pounded Rangoon's docks and installations. This was the city's first big air raid, and hundreds of curious Burmese and British civilians were killed as they looked up at the bombers.

Success came at heavy cost for tbe Japanese, when the day's work was done, the AVG shot down 25 confirmed Japanese aircraft for a loss of three planes and two pilots. The British downed another seven, with a loss of 11 aircraft and five pilots.

In this battle, the AVG pilots discovered a Japanese weakness they exploited in the coming months. The JAAF 'Nate' Fighters though astonishingly maneuverable, were quite slow. They could hardly keep up with their bombers, and they were 50 knots slower than the P-40. In future combat, the AVG pilots would tangle for a while with the escorts to separate them from the bombees, then dive away and strike tbe bombers before the escorts could catch up.

A second battle on Christmas Day netted an additional 13 victories to bring the sqadron's score to 39 for a further loss of two planes and no pilots. Their success caused the squadron commander, Arvid 'Ole' Olson, to cable Chennault on December 26:

ALL PILOTS RETURNED AFTER BATTLE ON DECEMBER 25 SHOT DOWN TEN FIGHTERS NINE BOMBERS STOP LIKE SHOOTING DUCKS STOP WOULD PUT ENTIRE JAP FORCE OUT OF COMMISSION WITH GROUP HERE STOP HAVE ELEVEN PIANES LEFT STOP OLSON.

At that point, Chennault ordered the squadron rotated out of Rangoon, and they departed on New Year's Day. The Hell's Angels had done their part in ending the apparent invulnerability of tbe Japanese juggernaut, for they showed that the Japanese were not invincible in the air. They supplied the Allies with heroes at a time when heroes wae sorely needed, and so entered the canon of modern folklore and myth.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Naly, Bernard Charles. Tigers over Asia. New York: Elsevier-Dutton, 1978.
Schultz, Duane P. The Maverick War: Chennault and the Flying Tigers. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1987. Szuscikiewicz, Paul. Flying Tigers. New York: Gallery Books, 1990.

BT,/B>

Buffalo I (B-339E) Fighter

Gun Atk: 1.5
Damage Value: 5
Man. Rating: 2.5/2.0
In Service: Aug 41
Performance

Speed in Knots

Throttle Setting

Altitude Rng Cruise Cbt Cruise Full Power

V/Low: 90 125 275

Med: 100 155 290

High: 90 145 265

Ceiling: 8317m
Endurance Data

Drop Tank Desc. Fuel Wt. Range Add

500 lit. aux tank 331kg 251nm

Ordnance Loadouts

Off Guns

Def Guns

2 100lb bombs

Remarks Pilot armor, no self-sealing fuel tanks

KJ21-1b [Sally]

Gun Atk: (.1)
Damage Value: 8
Man. Rating: 1.0/.5
In Service: 1941
Performance

Speed in Knots

Throttle Setting

Altitude Rng Cruise Cbt Cruise Full Power

V/Low: 110 153 213

Med: 150 200 252

High: 110 153 213

Ceiling: 10000m
Endurance Data