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Bangkok was bombed by both the Japanese during their invasion of Thailand, and on numerous occasions by the Allies during World War II. It was also the target for the first combat mission by Boeing B-29 Superfortresses in June 1944. ==Japanese air attacks== Military targets at and near Bangkok were first attacked by 3rd Air Group's (第三航空隊) Mitsubishi Ki-30's of the 31st Sentai under Lt Col Hayashi Junji as part of the Japanese invasion of Thailand. Prior to the start of the invasion, fighters from the 77th Sentai and bombers of the 31st Sentai moved to Siem Reap close to the Thai border. On the morning of 8 December 1941, they were ordered to attack Aranyaprathet airfield on their way to Bangkok. Nine 31st Sentai bombers, escorted by 11 Ki-27s of the 77th Sentai led by Japanese air ace Major Yoshio Hirose (広瀬 吉雄), headed for the Thai capital. On their approached they were intercepted by three Thai Air Force Hawk III fighters from 43 Squadron. These were flown by Flight Lieutenant Chin Chiramaneemai, Flight Lieutenant Chai Sunthornsing and Flying Officer Sarit Potivetchagul and were based at Watana Nakorn airfield in Prachinburi Province. They had been advised not to engage the superior aircraft, but they took off anyway as a matter of national pride. Major Hirose, Lieutenant Yoshiro Kuwabara and Lieutenant Tsuguo Kojima shot down all three planes, killing the Thai pilots.〔http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/japan_hirose.htm〕 This was the only air raid during the Japanese invasion of Thailand, since the Thai government of Field Marshall Pibunsongkhram acceded to Japan's demands by 13:00 that same day, although fighting continued much longer on the ground until the cease fire was announced.〔Widespread enemy attacks, ''Auckland Star'', Volume LXXII, Issue 291, 9 December 1941, Page 7〕 On 21 December 1941, Thailand signed an alliance with Japan. On 25 January 1942, the Thai government declared war on the United States and the United Kingdom, although the regent refused to sign it in the name of the young king (who was studying in Switzerland). ==Initial British and American air raids== Allied bombing raids on the Thai capital city of Bangkok began even before Thailand had declared war, since the Empire of Japan was using the country as a staging area for its invasions of both Malaya and Burma, with the reluctant agreement of the Thai government after Japan's successful invasion of the southeast Asian country. The first raid came on 7 January 1942, when Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft flying from Rangoon, attacked military targets in the city.〔RAF hits Bangkok, ''Evening Post'', Volume CXXXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1942, Page 5〕〔http://113squadron.com/id120.htm Burma - Air Operations, Jan 1st to May 22, 1942, Air-Vice-Marshal D. F. Stevenson's report〕 The American Volunteer Group, together with seven No. 113 Squadron RAF and three No. 45 Squadron RAF Blenheim bombers, were involved in the first raid.〔Air fighting, ''Auckland Star'', Volume LXXIII, Issue 8, 10 January 1942, Page 7〕 No. 113 Squadron's planes were piloted by No. 60 Squadron's air crew. The second night raid was carried out by eight Blenheims on 24–25 January and included No. 60 Squadron RAF aircrew.〔Thai Capital Plastered, ''The Western Australian'', Perth, 26 Jan 1942, page 3〕 A final raid was made three days later by four Blenheims. This was the last raid by Blenheims until May or June 1945. After Rangoon fell to the Japanese on 7 March, heavy bombers, such as the RAF and American Tenth Air Force B-24s, based in India and China, attacked Thailand.〔Jap oil refinery destroyed, ''The Canberra Times'', 28 November 1942, page 2〕〔Support from Siam, ''Evening Post'', Volume CXXXV, Issue 3, 5 January 1943, Page 5〕 The raids were carried out because Bangkok by then had become a command centre for the Japanese on the Southeast Asian front. RAF and USAAF bombers carried out the raids as part of the Pacific campaigns. The bombers targeted installations used by the occupying Japanese military, but the raids were also intended to pressure the government of Thai military strongman Plaek Pibulsongkram to abandon his unpopular alliance with Imperial Japan. The major targets were the newly completed Port of Bangkok and the Thai railway system. Raids by RAF, USAAF, and other Allied air forces continued with growing intensity from India, and after the liberation of Rangoon on 3 May 1945, from Rangoon until the end of the war in August that year. Blenheim bombers and Mustangs operated out of Rangoon against Bangkok in this later phase of the bombing. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bombing of Bangkok in World War II」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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