FROM: LGEN Sakai, Takashi. 23rd Army HQ. Canton.
TO: GEN. Hata, Shunroku. China Expeditionary Army. Shaohing.
SUBJECT: Hong Kong Report (first week).
DATE: Dec 14th, 1941.
513 sorties have been flight over Hong Kong from 3rd Air Division units with attached elements from China Expeditionary Army. 15 aircrafts have lost by all causes.
Raids were like following:
Dec 7th, 1941:
Morning Air Raid with 7 Ki-27 and 6 Ki-44 escorting 27 Ki-36 and 24 Ki-51 under Clear Sky. No enemy or own losses.
Afternoon Air Raid with 15 Ki-21 attacking over DD Scout at anchor on Hong Kong. NO hits reported.
Dec 8th, 1941:
4 Ki-27 escorting 25 Ki-48 and 18 Ki-51. 2 Walrus at CAP. 1 of enemy FP downed by our fighters. 2 runway hits reported.
A second wave in the morning with 21 Ki-36 attacked AF reporting 12 runway hits.
Third wave under moderate rain with 9 Ki-48Ib attack on 102nd RN Base Force.
Fourth wave with 13 Ki-21IIa reported another 6 hits on runway.
Fith wave with 3 Ki-48-Ib reporting no hits.
Dec 9, 1941:
Under Thunderstorm weather condition, 4 Ki-27 escorting 3 Ki-48 and 17 Ki-51 have clash with 6 enemy H-81a3. 1 Ki-27 and 1 Ki-48 were downed by air bandits.
Second wave with 21 unescorted Ki-36 met on CAP 6 enemy H81a3. ONe of our bombers was downed.
Third wave with 5 Ki-48Ib attack over HK Fortress. Enemy CAP but no own losses.
Chinese Air Forces have attack on this day over 38th Infantry Division marching to H.K. 1 Ki27 with 2 Ki-44 downed 1 of enemy bombers.
Dec 10, 1941:
21 Ki-36, 17 Ki-51 with 9 Ki-44 like escorts have met an enemy CAP with 7 H81A3 and 1 Walrus FP.
1 Ki-44 was downed by enemy fighters. 9 hits were reported over AF and 1 bomb struck on XAK HAI LEE.
Dec 11, 1941:
1st Wave with 19 Ki-48 and 5 Ki-51 escorted by 5 Ki-44 strike on HK Port: 1 bomb hit was reported on XAK Nanning.
2nd Wave with 21 Ki-36 and 12 Ki-51 escorted by 9 Ki-27 strike on HK Port: 1 bomb hit was reported on XAKL Chengtu.
Dec 12, 1941:
Under Partial Cloud sky, 17 Ki-51 & 21 Ki-36 escorted by 9 Ki-27 met enemy CAP with 6 H81A3. 1 Ki-51 downed. Port smashed by our bombers: reported hits on XAKL Yat Shing, xAKL Soochow, xAKL Chengtu, xAKL Kanchow and XAKL Hai Lee (1 bomb on each).
At afternoon, under severe storm weather condition, 17 Ki-48Ib were intercepted by 5 H81A3. 2 of our bombers were downed. xAK Haraldsvang struck by 1 bomb hit and xAKL Chengtu hit by another bomb.
A second air attack at afternoon, under severe storms, 3 D3A1 intercepted by 1 H81A3. NO own Losses. our pilots reported 1 bomb hit on XAK Nanning and 1 bomb hit on XAK Haraldsvang.
1st Day of Ground Bombardment: 21 allied casualties reported.
Dec 13rd, 1941:
8 Ki27 & 7 Ki-44 escorting 10 Ki-51 met on CAP 6 enemy AVG fighters (H81A3). 1 enemy fighter was downed. 1 runway hit was reported.
At afternoon, a first wave with 15 Ki-36 reporting 6 runway hits. Second wave in the afternoon with 4 Ki-48Ib rerported another 5 hits on runway.
2nd Day of Ground Bombardment: 6 allied casualties reported.
Dec 14, 1941:
7 Ki-27 & 7 Ki-44 escorting 6 Ki-36, 3 Ki-48 and 17 Ki-51 under overcast skies. 18 runway hits reported by our pilots.
A second wave with 15 Ki-36 reporting another 20 hits on runway.
Third wave on morning, with 4 Ki-48Ib reports 1 bomber downed by Flak and 1 hit over enemy runway.
3rd Day of Ground Bombardment: 27 allied casualties reported.
AIR LOSSES REPORT AT HONG KONG CAMPAIGN:
10th I.F.Chutai: 1 Ki-27 A2A.
44th Sentai: 1 Ki-51 by Flak.
44th Sentai Det : 1 Ki-15-II WOff and 2 Ki-15II by Flak.
45th Sentai: 1 Ki-36 Ops, 1 Ki-36 WOff and 1 Ki-36 by Flak.
47th I.F.chutai: 1 Ki-44 WOff and 1 Ki-44 A2A.
18th I.F.Chutai Det: No losses.
82th I.F.Chutai: 1 Ki-48 Woff, 2 Ki-48 A2A and 2 Ki-48 by Flak.
(1) Incoming orders from IGHQ:
38th Infantry division will be divided in three combat brigades after Hong Kong falls. Two first Brigades will be sent to Borneo to be ready for the Palembang Operation. The Third Brigade (Eastern Detachment) will join to Ambon Invasion Forces.
Minesweeper Div 1 will arrive to Hong Kong the day after HK falls in our hands.
2nd Fleet HQ will be transfered to this base when mine sweeps end.
Long Live to the Emperor !!
END //
