13.07.2008, 23:37
I admit that before this map arrived I had little knowledge about the role Thailand played in the war. Since then I've learned more. Here is some information that others may not know...
Early in the war the Japanese attacked British Burma from their bases in Thailand.
Later in the war (1944-45) as the Japanese were being pushed out of Burma the air campaign grew increasingly larger against targets in Thailand.
USAAF B-24s and RAF Liberators, B-25s, Beaufighters, and Mosquitoes all targeted Thailand's infrastructure and Japanese bases and shipping. B-24s and Liberators flew some of the longest missions of the war...On 25 January 1945 the longest flight to date was made in an RAF Liberator MK VI - 21 hours, 55 minutes, landing at Chittagong on return.
The Air Commando Group also made ground attack raids in Thailand when they received P-51Ds and even made some raids into French Indochina at Vinh.
The JAAF late in the war was weak when they were pushed back into Thailand but they were still able to put up some fight against the allies.
So you see, FabianFred's Thailand map may seem insignificant in the broader scheme of WW2 but there were numerous "forgotten" air battles in this area in which hundreds of airmen fought and died for.
Early in the war the Japanese attacked British Burma from their bases in Thailand.
Later in the war (1944-45) as the Japanese were being pushed out of Burma the air campaign grew increasingly larger against targets in Thailand.
USAAF B-24s and RAF Liberators, B-25s, Beaufighters, and Mosquitoes all targeted Thailand's infrastructure and Japanese bases and shipping. B-24s and Liberators flew some of the longest missions of the war...On 25 January 1945 the longest flight to date was made in an RAF Liberator MK VI - 21 hours, 55 minutes, landing at Chittagong on return.
The Air Commando Group also made ground attack raids in Thailand when they received P-51Ds and even made some raids into French Indochina at Vinh.
The JAAF late in the war was weak when they were pushed back into Thailand but they were still able to put up some fight against the allies.
So you see, FabianFred's Thailand map may seem insignificant in the broader scheme of WW2 but there were numerous "forgotten" air battles in this area in which hundreds of airmen fought and died for.